Does the service also check the electrical side? I'm worried about fire
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Old house in Cotroceni, electrical installation partly redone. The air conditioner (Samsung, 18,000 BTU, 7 years old) is wired directly to the panel. I have read about fires started by air conditioners and want to know whether a service also checks the wiring, or whether it is only cleaning.
What is really happening
Many fires attributed to air conditioners start at outdoor units whose fan is blocked by dirt or fluff, motors that overheat, or connections that have loosened over time. The connections can be seen with the naked eye: a discoloured cable, a blackened terminal, a missing cover. The dirt part is ours to fix: clogged condenser fins raise working pressure and temperature, and a dust-laden fan goes out of balance. At 7 years, an 18,000 BTU Samsung certainly needs its condenser washed.
- Inspection: assessing condition and symptoms.
- Service check: checks and measurements appropriate to the unit.
- Cleaning: removing deposits.
- Sanitising: suitable treatment of cleaned surfaces.
The actual scope is confirmed before the visit.
- Fouling of the outdoor condenser raises pressure drop and condensing pressure, reducing the split unit's capacity and efficiency. [Science and Technology for the Built Env, 2019]
- 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]
- ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180 sets the standard practice for HVAC inspection and maintenance, with periodic checks of coils, drain pans, filters and fans. [ASHRAE / ACCA, 2018]
What we do on site
- We switch off the dedicated breaker before any washing – water and electricity do not mix.
- Visual check: terminals at the indoor and outdoor unit, interconnect cable, electrical box cover, signs of overheating; we tell you what we see and recommend an electrician if needed.
- Indoor unit: sealed double cover, alkaline cleaner, adjustable pressure wash, pan and hose, sanitising; the unit's electrical box is covered with foil during washing.
- Outdoor unit: condenser and fan blades washed in place, without wetting the control board.
- Complete drying before power is restored, then a 'Cool' test with temperature split and a listen to the outdoor fan. For 18,000 BTU we quote beforehand, we give the price by phone.
What you can do yourself
- Once a season, with the unit off, look at the outdoor unit: the fan spins freely, no burnt smell, the electrical box cover is in place.
- If the breaker trips repeatedly or you smell hot plastic, switch the unit off and call an electrician, not a cleaning company.
What NOT to do
- Do not let anyone wash the unit without cutting the power.
- Do not ask a cleaning company to 'tighten the terminals' – that is electrical work, with liability.
Prevention
A condenser cleaned annually and an outdoor fan free of fluff are the best prevention a maintenance company can offer; the electrics stay with the electrician.
When to call us
0764 012 943, Monday–Saturday 08:00–20:00. Cotroceni is central, easy for us.
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Sources (4)
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.