When your aircon is due for a clean, you always have three choices: general cleaning, chemical cleaning, or overhaul.
But what’s the difference? And which one does your aircon actually need?
This is one of the most common questions we get from customers. So let’s break it down clearly — what each service includes, what it costs, and how to pick the right one.
General Cleaning: The Regular Maintenance
Think of general cleaning as your aircon’s routine check-up. It’s the standard service that keeps things running smoothly, and it’s what most people should be doing every 3 to 4 months.
During a general cleaning, the technician will:
- Clean the air filters
- Clean the evaporator coil (the part that cools the air)
- Wipe down the front panel, cover housing, and fan blades
- Clean the outdoor compressor unit
- Check the gas level and pressure
- Clear the drain pan and drainage pipe
- Check for any unusual noises and make adjustments
This takes about 30 to 45 minutes per unit. After a general clean, your aircon should blow cooler air, run more quietly, and use less electricity.
Who is this for? Homeowners who use their aircon regularly and want to keep it in good shape. If your aircon is working fine but it’s been a few months since the last service, general cleaning is all you need.
If you want to do some light cleaning yourself in between professional visits, you can also clean your air conditioner yourself without voiding your warranty.
Chemical Cleaning: The Deep Clean
Chemical cleaning is a step up from general cleaning. It uses a special chemical solution (a detergent or coil cleaner) to dissolve stubborn dirt, grease, mould, and bacteria that a regular wash can’t remove.
Everything in the general cleaning is included, plus:
- The evaporator coils are sprayed and soaked with chemical cleaning solution to break down grime that’s built up deep in the fins
- A gas top-up of 20 PSI is included (R22, R410A, or R32 — whichever your unit uses) if necessary
The chemical solution is important because over time, a sticky layer of grime builds up on the cooling coils. Normal water pressure can’t remove it. This sticky layer blocks the coils from cooling the air properly. That’s why your aircon might be running, but the room just doesn’t feel cold enough.
A chemical wash strips that layer away, and your aircon’s cooling performance should improve noticeably.
Who is this for? If your aircon hasn’t been cleaned in 6 months to a year, or if it’s not blowing cold air like it used to, chemical cleaning is probably what you need. It’s also a good idea if you notice a musty or unpleasant smell coming from your aircon — that’s usually mould, and the chemical wash will take care of it.
Overhaul Cleaning: The Full Strip-Down
An overhaul is the most thorough cleaning you can get. The technician will actually take down the indoor unit from the wall, dismantle it into its individual parts, and clean each component separately.
Everything in chemical cleaning is included, plus:
- The indoor blower unit is dismantled from the wall
- Each part is cleaned individually with chemical solution
- The drainage pipe is fully flushed to clear any blockages
- All components are inspected before reassembly
This is the only way to reach parts that are completely hidden during a normal service — like the back of the blower fan, the inside of the drain pan, and areas behind the evaporator coil.
Who is this for? If your aircon has been sitting unused for a year or more (common in vacant rental properties or spare rooms), or if you’ve been dealing with repeated problems like water leaking or persistent bad smells even after a chemical wash, an overhaul is the way to go.
It’s also worth considering if your aircon is more than 5 years old and has never had a deep clean. Sometimes, all it needs is one good overhaul to bring it back to life — and that could save you from having to replace the whole unit.
Quick Comparison
Here’s a side-by-side look at what’s included in each service:
| What’s included | General Cleaning | Chemical Cleaning | Overhaul Cleaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean air filters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clean evaporator coil | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clean blower and fan blade | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clean indoor unit housing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clean outdoor compressor unit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check gas level | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Check and fix noises | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 20 PSI gas top-up (R22/R410/R32) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Chemical wash of coils | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Flush drainage pipe | ✓ | ||
| Dismantle indoor unit | ✓ |
How Much Does Each Service Cost?
Here are the current aircon servicing prices on Recommend.my as of March 2026. The more units you service at once, the cheaper it gets per unit. You can also view the latest prices here
Wall-Mounted Split Units (per unit):
| Number of units | General Cleaning | Chemical Cleaning | Overhaul Cleaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 unit | RM120 | RM150 | RM220 |
| 2–3 units | RM100 | RM135 | RM200 |
| 4 units and above | RM80 | RM115 | RM180 |
Ceiling Cassette Units (per unit):
| Number of units | General Cleaning | Chemical Cleaning | Overhaul Cleaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 unit | RM250 | RM370 | RM350 |
| 2–3 units | RM230 | RM350 | RM330 |
| 4 units and above | RM200 | RM320 | RM310 |
Diagnosis / Inspection: RM80 per unit (for wall or cassette units). This fee may be waived if you proceed with the repair.
As you can see, the price difference between general and chemical cleaning is not huge — for a single wall unit, it’s only RM30 more. So if it’s been more than 6 months since your last service, going for the chemical wash is usually worth it.
For a more detailed breakdown of aircon servicing and installation prices, check out our full aircon servicing price list for Malaysia.
So Which One Should You Choose?
Here’s a simple guide:
Choose General Cleaning if:
- You service your aircon regularly (every 3 to 4 months)
- Your aircon is working fine, blowing cold, no strange smells
- You just want to keep it in good condition
Choose Chemical Cleaning if:
- It’s been 6 months or longer since the last service
- Your aircon is not as cold as it used to be
- You notice a musty or sour smell when the aircon is running
- You want the gas level topped up as well
Choose Overhaul Cleaning if:
- Your aircon has been unused for a year or more
- You’ve tried chemical cleaning but the problem keeps coming back
- There’s persistent leaking or bad odour
- The unit is old and has never been deep cleaned
Not sure which one you need? Don’t worry — when you book an aircon service on Recommend.my, the technician can assess your unit on-site and recommend the right service. If they find that a chemical wash or overhaul is needed, you can just top up on the spot.
How Often Should You Service Your Aircon?
For most Malaysian homes, here’s a good schedule to follow:
- General cleaning: Every 3 to 4 months
- Chemical cleaning: Once a year (or whenever cooling performance drops)
- Overhaul: Once every 2 to 3 years, or as needed
Of course, this depends on how often you use your aircon and the environment. If you live near a busy road with lots of dust, or if your aircon runs 12 hours a day, you might need to clean it more frequently.
For a deeper look at how often your aircon really needs servicing, read our guide: How often do you really need to service your aircon?
What Customers Are Saying
When you book aircon servicing from Recommend.my, you get the benefit of almost instant confirmation. Our platform has hundreds of reliable aircon pros, so there’s always a suitable team nearby and available. Here’s what recent customers had to say after booking aircon servicing through Recommend.my:
“Very good service, customer service is very fast and responsive. The service man is very responsible and reliable. And my aircon is really cold again. For a very reasonable price.” — Wes, Skudai
“First time using this site and I’m satisfied. Reasonable prices, workers quick to do their job and polite.” — Laila, Selangor (chemical cleaning)
“Very good staff. Doing job properly and friendly, all things they inform me first.” — Shahmi, Hulu Langat
With a 4.6-star rating from over 3,900 reviews and more than 24,000 customers served, our verified aircon technicians are ready to help — whether it’s a simple general clean or a full overhaul.
Book Your Aircon Service Now
Ready to get your aircon cleaned? Book aircon servicing on Recommend.my and get appointment confirmation within the hour. We serve KL, Selangor, Johor Bahru, Penang, and other major locations across Malaysia.
All bookings through Recommend Pay come with a 30-day service warranty. If you’re not happy with the job, we’ll arrange a re-service.
