Air Conditioning Not Cooling Properly
An air conditioning system that runs but doesn't cool is rarely broken in a dramatic way.
An air conditioning system that runs but doesn't cool is rarely broken in a dramatic way. In most cases airflow has been restricted somewhere, or the refrigerant charge has dropped because of a small leak. Both are diagnosable in a single visit, and handling refrigerant legally requires F-Gas certification — which is why this is not a DIY job.
Airflow first
Indoor unit filters clog with dust and pet hair and can halve airflow within a season. Outdoor units get blocked by leaves, fencing built too close, or garden growth. Both restrictions reduce the system's ability to move heat, and both are simple to correct. Filters should be cleaned by the owner several times a year.
Refrigerant charge and leaks
If the charge is low the system will run continuously and still fail to reach the set temperature, often with icing on the pipework at the indoor unit. Topping up alone is not a repair — under F-Gas rules the leak must be found and fixed. We're REFCOM registered and carry out leak detection, repair and recharge properly rather than just gassing a system back up.
Sizing and expectations
Sometimes the unit was simply undersized for the room, the glazing or the heat gain. If a system was specified for a bedroom and is now cooling an open-plan space, no repair will make it perform. We calculate the actual load and tell you whether the answer is repair, an additional indoor unit, or a different outdoor capacity.
Heating mode matters too
Modern split systems are heat pumps and provide efficient heating as well as cooling. A system that cools poorly often heats poorly too, and many owners never use the heating mode at all — we'll set the controls up properly so you get the benefit you already paid for.
Common questions
Why does my air con run constantly but not get cold?
Restricted airflow or low refrigerant charge are the two common causes. Cleaning filters and clearing the outdoor unit resolves a good share of cases; if it doesn't, the charge and the coil temperatures need measuring.
Can anyone top up the refrigerant?
No. Handling F-Gas refrigerants legally requires certification. We are REFCOM registered, and we locate and repair the leak rather than simply recharging a system that will lose it again.
How often should air conditioning be serviced?
Annually for a domestic split system, and more often in dusty or commercial environments. Regular servicing keeps efficiency up and is normally required to maintain the manufacturer guarantee.
Do you install as well as repair?
Yes — we install air conditioning across the area, and 0% finance is available on Worcester Bosch air conditioning installations, subject to status.