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What does an AC 'revizie' (annual service) actually include? I don't want to pay for nothing

Editorial guide · Updated 18 September 2026

In short Short answer: a serious annual service means a full visual inspection, actual washing of the evaporator, fan, drain pan and outdoor unit with pressure water, sanitising, a drain test, a temperature and noise check – and it takes 1.5–2 hours, not 15 minutes. 'Freon top-up' is not part of maintenance: a sealed unit does not lose refrigerant.

This page explains a situation in an editorial format. It is not an open discussion board or a verified customer review. Contact us on WhatsApp about your own appliance.

Situation discussed

Hi, I live in Colentina near Doamna Ghica, a 2-room flat in a 4-storey block. I have a 12,000 BTU LG, about 4 years old. Everyone tells me 'get it serviced', but when I ask what a service actually means I get vague answers: 'we check, we clean, we top up the freon if needed'. What should a proper annual service actually contain? See current rates on the Prices page.

Editorial explanation · Revizie AC

What is really happening

The word 'revizie' has come to cover anything from a spray through the grille to a genuine clean. What degrades a split unit in 4 years of Colentina (boulevard dust, poplar fluff, daily condensation) are three things: the biofilm layer on the evaporator and fan roller, the drain pan and hose silting up with sludge, and the outdoor coil fins clogged with dust. None of these is fixed with a spray and none has anything to do with refrigerant. Maintenance guidance (ASHRAE 62.1, US DOE) asks for exactly this: annual inspection of the coils and cleaning whenever they are dirty.

Explanatory diagramFour services, different purposes
Four services, different purposes
  1. Inspection: assessing condition and symptoms.
  2. Service check: checks and measurements appropriate to the unit.
  3. Cleaning: removing deposits.
  4. Sanitising: suitable treatment of cleaned surfaces.

The actual scope is confirmed before the visit.

What the studies say
  • ASHRAE 62.1 requires visual inspection of cooling coils for cleanliness and microbial growth at least once a year and cleaning whenever fouling or microbial growth is observed. [ASHRAE, 2016]
  • The evaporator and condenser coils accumulate dirt over time and should be checked every year and cleaned as necessary (US DOE). [US Department of Energy – Energy Saver, 2024]
  • The blower (cross-flow fan) is the most fungus-contaminated component of a split unit, more than the filter or the front of the evaporator. [Indoor Air, 2023]
  • The condensate pan of household units had the highest bacterial load (~12,300 CFU/cm²), over 20 times the 500 CFU/cm² limit for public spaces. [Frontiers in Public Health / PubMed Cent, 2024]

What we do on site

  1. Visual inspection with a torch: evaporator, roller, pan, louvres, casing condition; we photograph the 'before'.
  2. Visual check of electrical connections at the indoor and outdoor unit (no invasive measurements) – covers, cables, signs of overheating.
  3. We fit the double-layer waterproof cover under the unit, sealed to the wall, with a 2 m hose to the white bucket; foil on the floor and furniture.
  4. Alkaline cleaner on the evaporator, roller and pan; contact time; wash with an adjustable-pressure washer, in place.
  5. We flush the pan and condensate hose until clear water comes out outside; then the sanitising solution on the clean surfaces.
  6. Filters washed and dried; the outdoor unit washed in place, fin by fin.
  7. We run 'Fan' to dry, then 'Cool': we measure the inlet/outlet temperature split (8–12 °C is normal), listen for noise, check the drain. We show you the bucket: the final rinse water must be clear. See current rates on the Prices page.

What you can do yourself

  • Ask to see the evaporator and roller before and after – it is the simplest test of a real service.
  • Wash the filters every two weeks in summer.
  • Interpret the temperature difference together with airflow, humidity, operating mode and the model documentation. One value cannot establish dirt, low refrigerant or incorrect sizing.

What NOT to do

  • Do not accept 'freon top-up' as part of a service – if refrigerant is missing there is a leak, i.e. a separate repair, not maintenance.
  • Do not pay for 15 minutes and a spray; a spray does not remove biofilm, it covers it.
  • Do not let anyone wash without a cover – the black water ends up on the wall and in the socket.

Prevention

One full service a year, in spring, plus clean filters and 20 minutes on 'Fan' after cooling, keep the unit clean between visits. At 4 years, now is the right time.

When to call us

Call or WhatsApp 0764 012 943, Monday–Saturday 08:00–20:00. Colentina is 20 minutes from us, we usually schedule within 2–3 days.

Technician at the door filling in the sheet on a tablet, customer beside
Technician at the door filling in the sheet on a tablet, customer beside
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Sources (7)

The information on this page is educational and based on cited sources; it does not replace medical advice. We do not do repairs, installation or refrigerant circuit work.