The short answer: between €35 and €60 per unit + VAT, depending on the type of unit and the condition it is in. The useful answer takes a little longer, because "cleaning" means very different things depending on who does it.
The prices, by type of service
| Service | Price per unit |
|---|---|
| Wall-mounted unit, standard clean | from €35 + VAT |
| Ceiling ducted unit or false ceiling | from €40 + VAT |
| Wall-mounted unit, deep clean | from €60 + VAT |
These are our reference prices in the central Algarve. From the fourth unit, the deep clean price drops from €60 to €50 per unit + VAT, applied to all of them — four units come to €200 + VAT instead of €240 + VAT.
What makes the price vary
The type of unit. A wall-mounted unit opens in a few minutes. A ducted unit is built into the false ceiling, means removing grilles and diffusers, and sometimes needs a stepladder and two technicians. Hence the difference.
The condition. A unit cleaned every year needs a routine visit. One never opened since installation, ten or fifteen years old, needs full disassembly, a long wash and, often, clearing a blocked drain along the way. It is a different job, and the price reflects that.
The make and model. Not every unit opens the same way. On a Daikin, you take out the screws and the unit is accessible. On several LG Dual Inverter models, the electrical components are built into the casing and you have to switch off and protect before opening — which takes longer and needs more care. That is why we always ask for the make before coming.
The quantity. The travel, the setting up of the washing equipment and the preparation of the space are done once, whether one unit is cleaned or ten. That is what makes the quantity discount possible.
The accessibility. A unit three metres up above a staircase, or in a room full of furniture that has to be protected, takes longer than a unit at normal height on a free wall.
What should be included in an honest price
This is where quotes diverge. A complete clean includes:
- Protection of the floor, the wall and the furniture before opening the unit
- Washing the filters
- Washing the heat exchanger, fin by fin
- Removing and washing the fan barrel
- Cleaning the drain tray and clearing the drainage
- Sanitising with a product made for air conditioning
- A functional test before leaving
If a €20 quote seems too good to be true, it is because it probably covers the first two points and nothing else. Washing filters is something you can do yourself on a Sunday morning.
Three questions before accepting a quote
Is the fan barrel removed? It is the most laborious component and the first one skipped by anyone in a hurry. If the answer is vague, you already know.
How is the water collected? A proper clean uses water. Whoever works well sets up a collection system around the unit and protects what is underneath. Whoever does not will leave the wall stained and the floor wet.
Is there a guarantee? And for how many days. A company that opens units every day knows the risk it runs and takes it on. We give 15 days: if the unit has a problem after our work, we come back.
Is it worth it, in numbers
An experimental study on split units measured what happens when the heat exchanger has around 30% of its surface blocked: cooling capacity drops 19% and electricity consumption rises by more than 6%.
In practice, a 12,000 BTU unit in that condition behaves like one of just over 9,700 BTU. It is the reason so many people turn the thermostat down to 18° looking for the cooling the unit gave at 22° — and pay the difference on the bill every month.
The same research shows that every extra degree on the thermostat represents a saving of around 279 kWh a year. Recovering the lost capacity is recovering those degrees.
And for those with many units
For hotels, condominiums, holiday rentals and property managers with dozens of units, the price per unit stops making sense on its own. We prepare a dedicated quote, with planning by wing, by floor or by property, and execution coordinated with your operation.
You can find out what your case costs in under a minute, without leaving an email and with no obligation.
