A mid-August afternoon, and the sun has been beating on the window since morning. The AC has been on its coldest setting for two hours, yet the room still feels like an oven, and the air coming out is lukewarm with a faint musty smell. In an Egyptian summer, air conditioning isn't a luxury, and AC repair isn't something to put off: you feel the difference in how the kids sleep and how well you work from home.
A proper fix starts with pinning down where the problem really is: a filter caked with dust, a refrigerant leak, or an electrical fault in the outdoor unit. Each one needs a completely different fix, and topping up the gas on a unit with a blocked filter solves nothing.
AC warning signs you shouldn't ignore
- Weak cooling even on the lowest setting, or an outdoor unit that keeps switching on and off.
- Water dripping from the indoor unit down the wall or onto the floor.
- A noise that wasn't there before: whistling, knocking, or a loud hum from the outdoor unit.
- A musty or damp smell when you switch it on, usually from a filter and coil that need cleaning.
- Ice forming on the copper pipes or on the indoor unit's coil.
- A noticeably higher electricity bill, even though you're running the AC the same as every summer.
AC repair, cleaning and installation: what the technician does
- Deep cleaning of the indoor unit: filters, coil, blower and drip tray, washed through to clear the built-up dust.
- Cleaning the outdoor unit and its condenser of dust, leaves and pigeon feathers.
- Finding and sealing refrigerant leaks, then recharging with the correct amount.
- Installing a new split unit, or taking one down and moving it to another room or a new apartment.
- Repairing control boards, remotes and sensors, and replacing a capacitor or the outdoor fan motor.
- Clearing a blocked drain hose that sends water back into the room.
- Cooling faults in fridges, freezers and chest freezers, such as gas leaks or a weak compressor.
Simple care between technician visits
An AC runs for long hours through the summer, and a little care on your side helps it cool better and use less power. You won't need tools, and nothing needs opening except the filter cover.
- Rinse the filters in lukewarm water every couple of weeks in peak summer, and let them dry fully before refitting them.
- Keep the space around the outdoor unit clear: no laundry, no boxes, and no plastic cover while it's running.
- Close the windows and draw the curtains during the hottest hours, and choose a moderate temperature instead of the coldest setting.
- If you spot a drip or hear a new noise, switch it off and book a technician before a small fault grows.
Before the next heat wave arrives, book an AC technician in the Aman Fix app at a time that works for you.
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