In short. Before the cold sets in, the air conditioner should be cleaned and tested in heating mode. A dirty unit heats worse and uses more electricity, and a clogged outdoor drain grows ice in winter. Filters and a test run take you 20 minutes. Full winter preparation takes us about 1.5 hours and costs 1 200 lei.
Why prepare for winter if the unit worked fine all summer?
Over the summer dust builds up inside and dirt settles on the heat exchangers. In summer that shows as weak cooling and a smell; in winter, as weak heating. The unit runs longer to warm the room, and you pay for it in electricity.
Winter adds one more thing. In heating mode water forms not in the flat but in the outdoor unit: it gets covered with frost, which melts during defrost. If the water cannot leave through the base pan and drain, it freezes and ice builds up at the bottom of the unit. The ice gets in the way of the fan and heat exchanger, and heating gets weaker and weaker.
What can you check yourself?
| What to do | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wash the filters | Open the front panel, take out the mesh filters, rinse them in warm water without chemicals, dry them in the shade and put them back | 10–15 minutes |
| Test run in heating mode | Heating mode (sun icon), 28 °C. Warm air comes after a few minutes: the unit first warms its heat exchanger so it does not blow cold air | 10 minutes |
| Look at the outdoor unit | No leaves, nests or bags inside; brackets not rusted; no icicles hanging above it from the roof | 2–3 minutes |
| Check the remote | Replace the batteries if the display is dim | 1 minute |
If there is still no warm air after 10 minutes of the test run, or the unit clicks, hums or shows an error, stop experimenting. What it may be is covered in “Air conditioner not heating, leaking or showing an error”.
What does the technician do during winter preparation?
Winter preparation costs 1 200 lei and takes about 1.5 hours. The technician:
- Cleans both units: filters, evaporator and fan inside, heat exchanger outside.
- Checks heating mode and defrost: how the unit heats and how it gets rid of frost.
- Checks the drain and the outdoor base pan heater if your model has one, and the winter kit if one is fitted.
- If you will not use the unit in winter, mothballs it. If you will, explains how to heat with it without it icing up.
Cleaning, winter preparation or annual service: which one?
| Service | What is included | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | Both units, filters, evaporator, fan, drain, antibacterial treatment | 1 000 lei | The unit works fine and just needs cleaning |
| Winter preparation | Cleaning plus checks of heating, defrost, drain and winter kit; mothballing or a briefing | 1 200 lei | You plan to heat with the unit in winter |
| Annual service | Cleaning plus diagnostics: pressure, current, temperatures, drain, mountings; a note in the warranty card | 1 200 lei | You want the installation warranty extended to 5 years |
Prices as of 24 September 2026, in lei, VAT included. How often to clean and the signs that it is time are covered in “When and how to clean an air conditioner”.
Should the outdoor unit be covered for winter?
Not if you heat with it. The outdoor unit needs free airflow, otherwise it cannot heat. The only useful thing is a small canopy on top if snow or icicles fall on it from the roof.
If the unit is not used in winter, it can be mothballed. Do not wrap the outdoor unit tightly in plastic: moisture collects underneath.
Does the unit need a refrigerant top-up before winter?
No, if it is working properly. Refrigerant circulates in a sealed circuit and is not used up. If the unit heats and cools weaker although it is clean, that is a reason to check for a leak, not just to add refrigerant. More on the refill page.
If the air conditioner will be your main heating
Check how low your model keeps heating: the figure is in its spec sheet. Standard units heat down to −7…−15 °C, heating series down to −25…−30 °C. If your model is not up to winter, see “Heating with a reverse-cycle air conditioner” with prices for models that heat in frost.
Arctica Service: over 1,000 installations and more than 15 years on the Moldovan market. Book winter preparation — free slots are shown straight away.
