If your air conditioner smells musty when it starts up, if you or your family sneeze and cough more when it’s running, or if black speckling is visible on the blades inside the indoor unit, you don’t need a repair — you need a proper clean.
Brisbane’s humidity makes this a bigger problem here than almost anywhere else in Australia. The evaporator coil inside your indoor unit condenses moisture out of the air continuously. That moist, dark, dust-fed environment is close to ideal for mould, bacteria and biofilm. Over a few years the blower barrel, coil face and drain pan accumulate a layer of organic growth that you then breathe every time the unit turns on.
A deep clean, sometimes called a chemical clean or sanitisation, goes far beyond rinsing the filters. We dismantle the indoor unit, bag and pressure-wash the coil and blower barrel with anti-microbial chemicals, sanitise the drain pan and line, and clean the outdoor condenser. The difference in air quality and in cooling performance is immediately noticeable.
Signs your air conditioner needs a deep clean
- Musty, damp or sour smell when the unit starts
- Visible black, grey or green speckling on the fan barrel or louvres
- Allergy, asthma or sinus symptoms that worsen when the unit runs
- Dust or dark particles blown out of the vents
- Weaker airflow than the unit used to produce
- Longer time to cool the room, or higher power bills
- Water dripping from the indoor unit
- More than 2–3 years since the last professional clean
Benefits of a Professional Deep Clean
- Eliminates mould, bacteria and biofilm rather than masking the smell with deodoriser.
- Significantly better indoor air quality, which is a genuine health matter for asthma and allergy sufferers, infants and the elderly.
- Removes the musty odour permanently, because the source is removed rather than covered.
- Restores airflow and cooling capacity. A dust-caked blower barrel can cut airflow dramatically; cleaning it often restores several degrees of cooling performance.
- Reduces energy consumption — a fouled evaporator coil forces longer run times and higher compressor load.
- Prevents water leaks by clearing the drain pan and line of the sludge that causes overflow.
- Extends equipment life by reducing strain on the fan motor and compressor.
- Protects your warranty, since many manufacturers require documented cleaning.
Our Cleaning Process
Inspection and assessment
We open the indoor unit and show you the actual condition of the coil, barrel and drain pan. You’ll see for yourself whether a standard clean is sufficient or a full chemical deep clean is warranted.
Protection of your home
Drop sheets and plastic sheeting laid down. The indoor unit is fitted with a purpose-made cleaning bag and catch bladder so all water, chemical and contaminated runoff is captured — nothing runs down your wall or onto flooring.
Dismantling
Front cover, filters and louvres removed. On a full deep clean the blower barrel is also removed where the unit design allows, which is the only way to properly clean the vanes.
Chemical application and pressure wash
An anti-microbial, coil-safe cleaning agent is applied to the evaporator coil and blower barrel and allowed to dwell. The assembly is then pressure-washed with low-pressure, high-volume water that lifts embedded grime out of the fin pack without bending fins.
Drain pan and line treatment
The drain pan is scrubbed and sanitised, and the condensate line is flushed and cleared. A slow-release anti-microbial tablet is fitted to inhibit regrowth.
Filters, casing and louvres
Filters washed and sanitised (or replaced if perished), casing, louvres and front panel wiped down with anti-bacterial solution.
Outdoor unit cleaning
Condenser casing opened, leaves and debris removed, coil washed with an appropriate cleaner, fins straightened, fan and base drain cleared.
Sanitising treatment and reassembly
A final anti-microbial mist is applied to the coil and internal surfaces. Unit reassembled and run to dry.
Testing and handover
System run in cooling to confirm restored airflow and temperature split, drainage verified, area cleaned. We show you the before-and-after and explain how to keep it clean.
Indicative Cleaning Costs
AUD including GST. Discounts apply for multiple units cleaned in the same visit.
Cleaning service | Indicative cost |
Basic clean — filters, louvres, drain flush | $110 – $180 |
Standard split system clean (indoor + outdoor) | $180 – $300 |
Full chemical deep clean — single split | $250 – $420 |
Deep clean with blower barrel removal | $320 – $520 |
Each additional split system, same visit | $150 – $280 |
Multi-head system (2–3 indoor heads) | $450 – $850 |
Wall cassette / ceiling cassette unit | $300 – $550 |
Ducted system — indoor fan coil and return air | $400 – $750 |
Ducted system — full duct and outlet cleaning | $700 – $1,800 |
Mould remediation, heavy contamination | $450 – $900 |
Anti-microbial drain treatment (add-on) | $40 – $80 |
Filter replacement (per filter) | $30 – $120 |
Brands We Clean
Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Fujitsu, Panasonic, ActronAir, LG, Samsung and Carrier, along with most other brands. This matters more than it sounds: several manufacturers use coated coils or self-cleaning functions, and using the wrong chemical strips coatings or corrodes aluminium. We match the cleaning agent to the coil type and follow each brand’s dismantling procedure so nothing is damaged or left unsealed.
Service Areas
North Brisbane, South Brisbane, East Brisbane, West Brisbane, Brisbane CBD, Indooroopilly, Toowong, Chermside, Carindale, Sunnybank, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands and Moreton Bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should an air conditioner be deep cleaned in Brisbane?
Every two to three years for typical residential use. Annually if you have pets, live near the coast, run the system year-round, smoke indoors, have anyone in the home with asthma or allergies, or operate a commercial kitchen or high-traffic premises.
Is the black stuff inside my air conditioner actually mould?
Usually yes — most commonly Cladosporium, which appears as black or dark green speckling on the fan barrel and louvres. It thrives on the condensation and dust inside indoor units. It is a recognised trigger for asthma and allergic rhinitis and should be removed properly rather than wiped over.
Can I clean it myself?
You can and should wash the filters every four to six weeks. Beyond that, DIY has real risks: consumer aerosol coil cleaners often leave residue that accelerates fouling, water gets into electronics and control boards, fins are easily bent, and the blower barrel — where most of the contamination sits — cannot be reached without dismantling. It also does not touch the drain pan or line.
How long does a deep clean take?
Around 1.5 to 2.5 hours for a single split system. Multi-head systems and ducted fan coils take longer, typically half a day.
Will it be messy?
No. We use a fitted cleaning bag and catch bladder that captures every drop of water and chemical, plus drop sheets underneath. Your wall, floor and furniture stay dry and clean.
Are the chemicals safe around children and pets?
We use hospital-grade anti-microbial products approved for HVAC use, applied and rinsed according to the manufacturer’s directions. Once the unit is reassembled and run, the space is safe. We generally suggest keeping children and pets out of the room during the clean itself and ventilating for an hour afterward.
Will the musty smell come back?
Not if the clean was done properly and the drain treated. To keep it away, wash your filters regularly and run the system on fan-only mode for 15–20 minutes before shutdown — many units have a “dry” or self-clean function that does this automatically — so the coil dries out rather than sitting wet.
Does cleaning improve cooling performance?
Yes, often dramatically on a neglected unit. Restoring airflow across a fouled coil commonly improves the temperature split by several degrees and reduces run time noticeably.
What is the difference between a clean and a service?
A service is a performance and mechanical inspection that includes light cleaning. A deep clean is a focused sanitisation of the indoor unit involving dismantling and chemical washing. Many customers book both together, which we discount.
