Air conditioning unit no longer cooling or dripping inside – quick checks you can do yourself

If the air conditioning unit is no longer cooling, the air filter is usually clogged or the heat exchanger has iced up. Switch the unit off and open the front cover of the indoor unit: remove the filter frame, rinse it with lukewarm water, allow it to dry, and reinsert it. If condensation water is dripping inside, the condensate drain is often blocked – carefully clear the drain hose using a pipe cleaner or compressed air. Allow any iced-up fins to thaw (set the unit to fan-only mode, not cooling), then switch back to cooling mode. If the unit is still not cooling after these steps, the refrigerant is likely low – this must only be topped up by a certified refrigeration engineer, as refrigerant is pressurised and has environmental implications.