Every fault below comes from real call-outs across Durban and surrounding areas. Some have a quick check you can try yourself before booking anyone — where that's true, we say so. When a visit is needed, the diagnosis is done with a signal meter, quoted before work starts, and covered by our 12-month workmanship warranty. New to this part? Start with the evaporator coil & filters component guide.
1. Aircon smells musty when it starts up
What you'll see: A sour or damp smell from the indoor unit, strongest in the first minutes after switching on, sometimes with visible dark growth on the coil fins.
Why it happens: Mould and bacterial biofilm on the permanently damp evaporator coil, in the blower wheel and in the drip tray. Coastal humidity makes this considerably faster to develop.
How we fix it: A chemical coil clean and rinse rather than a wipe, blower wheel cleaning, filter wash and a drain flush. The biofilm has to be physically removed; deodorising sprays mask it for days at most.
Full aircon smells musty when it starts up troubleshooting guide →
2. Indoor unit freezing into a block of ice
What you'll see: Visible ice on the indoor coil behind the filters, weak or no airflow, and water dripping from the unit once it thaws.
Why it happens: Restricted airflow from clogged filters or a dirty blower wheel is the usual cause, with low refrigerant charge second. Both let the coil run below freezing.
How we fix it: We thaw the unit, clean filters and coil, and measure airflow and pressures to confirm which cause applies. Owners often report this as a water leak, so establishing the real cause prevents a pointless drain repair.
Full indoor unit freezing into a block of ice troubleshooting guide →
Symptom doesn't match any of these?
Faults overlap — a "evaporator coil & filters problem" is sometimes another link in the chain wearing a disguise. Describe what your system is doing on 069 507 6822 (or WhatsApp a photo of the error screen) and we'll tell you which component it actually sounds like, free, before anything is booked.