🌊 Quinta do Lago · Vilamoura · Lagos · Albufeira · Faro
Air conditioning maintenance in the Algarve
English-speaking AC servicing across the Algarve. We clear the musty smell from units that sat idle all winter, get holiday lets guest-ready before summer, protect coastal units from salt air, and keep resident homes running, with honest advice on how often you actually need it. Coverage Lagos to Faro, call-out included.
💶 One-off €85 · Annual Pro €149/yr · Portfolio €119/yr (5+)🏖️ Pre-season service for holiday lets🌊 Anti-mould treatment in the Pro plan📍 Call-out included, Lagos to Faro
Get a quote: AC servicing, Algarve
We reply in English within 24 hours
AC maintenance in the Algarve: four situations, one seasonal rhythm
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Holiday lets that must be guest-ready before summer
If you let your property, hot or smelly AC means bad reviews and lost nights. We service the whole place between March and June so it's ready for the season, schedule around your changeovers, and send a short report per property. For owners letting several apartments, one consolidated invoice with your NIF.
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Homes near the sea: salt air corrodes units faster
Units within about 1 km of the sea (Olhos de Água, Praia da Rocha, Vilamoura, Carvoeiro) corrode faster from the salt. Near the coast we'd suggest two visits a year (spring and autumn): washing off the salt residue, an anti-mould treatment and a check of the outdoor unit. Included in the Annual Pro plan.
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Holiday homes that sat empty all winter and now smell
A home closed up from October to May often develops mould on the indoor unit, which is where that musty, "dirty sock" smell comes from. We arrange access with your key-holder or cleaner, do a full chemical clean before you or your guests arrive, and email you the report with photos, so you can sort it from the UK, Ireland or wherever you are.
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Coverage Lagos to Faro, call-out included
English-speaking engineers across Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa, Carvoeiro, Albufeira, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Quinta do Lago, Loulé, Faro, Olhão and Tavira, with the call-out included in the price. The remote interior (Monchique, Alcoutim, Salir) may add €30–80, always agreed in writing first.
Four real enquiries from this week
How they reached us, and what we replied.
Names and personal details changed for privacy.
Property manager, fleet before the season
emailQuinta do Lago / Vilamoura
I manage about 20 villas and apartments around Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura, mostly for foreign owners. I've got a few weeks to get every AC serviced before the season and my previous engineer retired. I need one company, written scheduling, a consolidated invoice with NIF, and a simple report per property I can forward to owners.
Fiona · 6:22pm
That's exactly what the Portfolio plan is for. We schedule each property in writing between March and June, work around your changeovers, and our engineers speak English so they can coordinate with owners directly. You get one consolidated invoice with your NIF, plus a dated report per property (with photos before/after) ready to forward or attach to a listing.
For larger portfolios there's a volume rate below the standard per-unit price.
Portfolio rate from €119 + VAT per unit/year (volume rate for larger fleets) · detailed proposal within 48h
We have a 2-bed apartment in Carvoeiro with two units, our holiday home. It's been shut up since October and when we arrived last spring the air con smelled musty. Family are coming in 30 days and we'd like it sorted, but we live in the UK. Can you arrange access with our key-holder? And how much for two units, a contract or just this one visit?
Helen & Brian · 10:47pm
Yes, we coordinate directly with your key-holder: we confirm the time by WhatsApp/email and send you a report with before/after photos to view from the UK. For a place shut up for eight months the visit is more thorough: a full chemical clean of the indoor unit (which clears the mould causing the smell), fan cleaning and a pressure check.
For two units, the Annual Pro plan gives you two visits a year (spring before you arrive, autumn after the season) so the mould doesn't build up again over the next winter.
Annual Pro: 2 × €149 = €298 + VAT/year · first visit before your arrival · anti-mould treatment included
VentoFix · 8:12am next day
Service booked, key-holder notified, report to follow by email
I've lived in Tavira full-time for years, retired engineer, and I change my own filters. I'm not keen on being tied into a contract. But three units fitted back in 2018 are cooling less well and one's started a hum at night. Is it actually worth paying for a proper service, and what do you do that I can't?
Geoff · 11:35am
Filter changes keep things ticking over, but after a few years a unit needs more: a full chemical clean of the indoor coil (where mould and the smell start), a gas-pressure check, and an electrical check, which is what restores the cooling and usually cures a hum (often a fan slightly out of line or a worn bearing). No contract needed, you can book a one-off service.
If you'd rather not think about it, the Annual Pro plan covers two visits a year plus priority if something fails. Well-kept units last 15+ years, so it's worth maintaining rather than replacing.
One-off service €85 + VAT per unit · or Annual Pro €149 + VAT/unit/year (2 visits + priority)
VentoFix · 11:54am
One-off service booked for three units, no contract
I live in an apartment a few hundred metres from the sea near Praia da Rocha. My outdoor unit has visible rust and the cooling has got weaker. A neighbour says units here need servicing twice a year because of the salt. Is that true, and what does a service actually include? Please keep it simple.
Dieter · 8:18pm
Yes, near the sea the salt corrodes the copper parts of the outdoor unit much faster (a few hundred metres is a high-salt zone). We'd suggest two visits a year: spring (wash off the salt residue, electrical check) and autumn (a check before winter). A service includes a chemical clean of the indoor unit, a gas-pressure check, and cleaning the outdoor unit, that's what brings the cooling back and slows the corrosion.
For one apartment, the Annual Pro plan covers both visits plus an anti-mould treatment.
A single visit, no annual contract. Good for a newer unit (the first service after install keeps the Daikin/Mitsubishi/LG warranty valid) or to try us before committing to a contract.
Per unit, single visit€85+ VAT
Call-out included, Lagos to Tavira. Remote interior (Monchique, Alcoutim, Salir) may add €30–80, always agreed first.
What's included
One full service visit (60–90 min per unit; a villa with 5+ units = 4–6 hours)
Deep clean of filters and indoor coil
Refrigerant pressure check (R-32 / R-410A)
Electrical connections and current check
Condensate drainage check
Signed PDF report by an F-Gas Cat. I engineer, valid for the Daikin/Mitsubishi/LG warranty
Not included: breakdown priority, repair discount, extra parts warranty, anti-mould treatment. For annual cover (especially coastal lets), see Annual Pro.
2 visits a year (spring before the season + autumn after), 4h priority, anti-mould treatment (important near the sea), F-Gas logging where applicable, 6-month parts warranty.
Per unit / year€149+ VAT
Per unit / visit (average)€74.50+ VAT
Two separate one-off visits = €170. Pro saves €21/year and adds 4h priority, anti-mould treatment (important near the sea), F-Gas logging, a 6-month parts warranty and 10% off repairs.
Everything in the one-off + extras
2 visits a year (spring, April–May, before the season + autumn, September–October, after)
Anti-mould treatment of the indoor unit (autumn visit, prevents the musty smell, important near the sea)
F-Gas logging where applicable (larger systems)
4h priority response in working hours, valuable in the July–August peak
10% off repairs (parts + labour)
6-month warranty on replaced parts (vs the usual 30 days)
Pre-season reminders by WhatsApp
Signed PDF report by an F-Gas Cat. I engineer
Example, a villa with 5 indoor units + pool heat pump + hot water: €149 × 7 = €1,043/year on contract. Versus two separate one-off rounds (€1,190), Pro saves €147 and adds anti-mould treatment, peak-summer priority and a parts warranty. Near the sea it's worth it: one lost booking night in August covers half a year of cover.
For property managers with 5–40+ villas around Quinta do Lago, Vilamoura and Vale do Lobo, owners letting 5+ apartments on the coast (Albufeira, Lagos, Portimão), and businesses with 5+ units. One consolidated invoice with NIF and a dedicated account contact.
Per unit / year (min. 5)€119+ VAT
10+ units (fleets)from€112/unit -25%
From 10 units up: a tailored quote (around -25%). Managers of 30+ villas, hotels and coastal chains: a dedicated proposal, with English-speaking coordination for international owners.
Everything in Pro + multi-property extras
Everything in Annual Pro (2 visits, anti-mould treatment, F-Gas logging, 6-month warranty)
One consolidated quarterly invoice with your NIF (instead of one per property)
A dedicated account contact by WhatsApp and email, one point of contact for everything
2h priority response in working hours (vs 4h on Pro), valuable in peak season
15% off repairs (vs 10% on Pro)
A report per property (signed, dated, with photos before/after), ready to forward to owners or attach to a Booking/Airbnb/Vrbo listing
Visits scheduled in blocks (one trip covers a villa with 5+ units)
English-speaking team for German, British and Dutch owners
Example, a manager with 35 villas × 4 units = 140 units: €112 × 140 = €15,680/year. Versus 140 units on the Pro rate (€20,860), the portfolio rate saves €5,180/year and gives you one account contact to coordinate the whole pre-season round, March to June.
One-off service: €85 / single visit — clean + gas check + electrical check + drainage + signed PDF report by an F-Gas Cat. I engineer
Annual Pro: €149 / unit / year — 2 visits (spring + autumn) + anti-mould treatment + F-Gas logging where applicable + 4h priority + 10% off repairs + 6-month parts warranty
Portfolio (min 5 units): €119 / unit / year — everything in Pro + consolidated quarterly invoice with NIF + dedicated account contact + 2h priority + 15% off repairs + 100+ units -25% (€112/unit)
Deep clean, wall unit 7–12k BTU, one-off: €119 / unit
Deep clean, ceiling cassette, one-off: €149 / unit
Gas re-charge (R-32) + leak test: €149 / unit
Building/condo cover, 4 visits/year: €180 / unit / year (dedicated quote)
Hotel chain or 20+ units: dedicated proposal, English-speaking team
Remote interior (Monchique, Alcoutim, Salir): +€30–80 call-out, agreed in writing first
Payment: MB Way, bank transfer (PT IBAN), company invoice with NIF accepted. Warranty: 6 months on replaced parts (Pro/Portfolio).
What does skipping AC servicing cost in the Algarve?
Honest tables: what happens if you skip preventive servicing. Near the Algarve coast it always costs more in the medium term.
① Visible costs in year 1–2 (no servicing)
Symptom
If not serviced
Reactive cost
Risk
Dirty filters
+15–25% power use
+€250–500/year in peak
High
Salt-air corrosion outdoors
Parts rust visibly sooner
€350–600 early replacement
High
Low refrigerant
Efficiency drops 20–30%
€180–350 emergency re-gas
Medium
Mould on the unit (8 months idle)
Smell, guest complaints
€100–200 deep clean + a lost booking night
Medium
On the Algarve coast, 32–38 °C July–August plus peak occupancy means the AC runs 10–14 hours a day for three months. Without servicing, reactive costs in year 1–2 can add up to €880–1,650, well above the Annual Pro at €149/unit/year that prevents them, especially the anti-mould treatment that matters near the sea.
② Equipment life, years 3–7 (coast vs inland)
Component
No servicing (coast)
With Annual Pro
Verdict
Compressor life
5–7 years (coast, Atlantic wind)
10–13 years
Protects
Outdoor copper coil
Visible corrosion in 3–4 years
Lasts 8–10 years
Protects
Manufacturer warranty
Can be voided
Kept (typically 2 yrs parts + 5 yrs compressor)
Protects
Early replacement
€1,400–2,000 in year 5–6 (coast)
Pushed to year 10+
Protects
Units within 1 km of the sea (Olhos de Água, Praia da Rocha, Vilamoura marina) corrode faster from the salt. Daikin, Mitsubishi and LG require a record of annual servicing to keep the warranty valid. In a Quinta do Lago or Vale do Lobo villa with 5+ units plus a pool heat pump, the Pro plan pays for itself with the first component it saves.
③ Specific risk for coastal holiday lets
Risk
Impact on a let
Cost
Severity
A “bad AC” review
Lower score in peak season
-€80–180/night × July–August occupancy
Critical
AC fails during a peak check-in
Refund + 1★ review + lost future bookings
-€300–800 now + long-term loss
Critical
Musty smell after winter (8 months idle)
Family/guest complaint in May
-€100–250 deep clean + a lost night
High
Peak-summer failure in a villa
Out-of-hours emergency
+€300–500 emergency
High
For lets in Albufeira, Lagos or Vilamoura, a single 1-star review can take 6–12 months to recover from. Portfolio servicing at €119/unit scheduled March–June (the pre-season window) means zero AC failures in the July–August peak. The anti-mould treatment matters near the sea: it prevents the musty smell that is guests' number-one complaint.
④ Managing several villas: portfolio vs individual
Model
For 35+ villas
Cost / year
Difference
Individual Pro contracts per villa
35 villas × 4 units
€149 × 140 = €20,860
Costly
Standard Portfolio (min 5)
140 units × €119
€16,660
Saves €4,200
Fleet Portfolio (10+)
140 units × €112 (-25%)
€15,680
Saves €5,180
Pre-season coordination
Written schedule per villa
Included
Saves time
Managers in the Golden Triangle (Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, Vilamoura) with 30+ villas: the large-fleet Portfolio saves €4–5k/year versus individual contracts and gives you one English-speaking account contact to coordinate international owners.
FaroAlbufeiraVilamouraLagosLouléQuinta do LagoVale do LoboQuarteiraPortimãoLagoaCarvoeiroPraia da LuzOlhos de ÁguaOlhãoTaviraAlmancilMarina de VilamouraPraia da RochaAlvorFerragudo
Full coverage across the Algarve, Lagos to Tavira: from the Golden Triangle (Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, Vilamoura) to the west (Lagos, Portimão, Carvoeiro), the central coast (Albufeira, Olhos de Água) and the east (Faro, Olhão, Tavira). Call-out is included across these areas. For Sagres or Vila Real de Santo António a small €25 charge applies, shown clearly in the quote.
Questions we're always asked
Yes, that's exactly what the large-fleet Portfolio is for. For managers with 30+ villas and up to ~200 units, we schedule each property in writing between March and June, so everything is done before peak season starts. English-speaking team, call-out included, used to coordinating with international owners.
On Portfolio: one consolidated quarterly invoice with your NIF for the books, plus a PDF report per property (signed, dated, with photos before/after). Ready to forward to owners or attach to a Booking/Airbnb/Vrbo listing as proof of servicing. From 10 units the rate is around €112/unit; 20+ gets a dedicated proposal.
Yes. We arrange access with the building porter, your cleaner or a local key-holder, confirm the time by WhatsApp/email beforehand, and send a full report with photos afterwards so you can see from home that it was done. We do this all the time in Albufeira, Carvoeiro, Portimão, Lagos and Faro.
Units left idle for 6–8 months (typical for Algarve holiday homes, October–May) often grow mould on the indoor unit, especially in damp air. The visit includes a full chemical clean of the unit (not just the filters), fan cleaning and a pressure check. That musty smell is guests' and families' number-one complaint when reopening a home, the post-service running test confirms the result and you get a report with photos before/after.
We cover the whole coastal Algarve from Lagos to Tavira with no extra charge: Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa, Carvoeiro, Praia da Luz, Albufeira, Vilamoura, Quarteira, Quinta do Lago, Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira. The per-unit price includes the visit. The remote interior (Monchique, Alcoutim, Salir, Aljezur, Sagres or Vila Real de Santo António) may add €30–80, always agreed in writing first.
Monthly filter changes are fine for normal use. A professional service is worth it when: there's a hum, noise or smell that a filter change doesn't fix; the unit is 5+ years old without a full service; your bill has risen with no change in habits; or it's a multi-split with 3+ indoor units. The difference is the chemical clean of the indoor coil, the gas-pressure check and an electronic board reading, equipment a homeowner doesn't have.
Yes, for units within about 1 km of the sea exposed to the Atlantic wind. The salt speeds up corrosion of the copper parts and the electronics, so one annual visit isn't enough. We'd suggest a spring (April–May) and an autumn (October–November) visit, washing off the salt residue and checking the outdoor unit, included in Annual Pro at €149/unit/year. Factory anti-corrosion coatings help but don't remove the need for the second visit.
For 3 units the Annual Pro is the right fit: €149 per unit/year with 2 visits + anti-mould treatment (important near the sea) + 4h breakdown priority. For 3 units that's €447 + VAT/year. The Portfolio only makes sense from 5 units up (volume rate + account contact). Pro lets you book the 2 visits at the key dates (spring before the season + autumn after) and covers peak-summer priority.
Yes, all major brands, as long as we can read the model and serial label. Reports signed by an F-Gas Cat. I engineer keep the manufacturer's warranty record valid. Mitsubishi and Daikin typically give 2 years on parts and may extend the compressor warranty with a documented service record. For premium homes we like Daikin Perfera or Mitsubishi MSZ-LN; for lets, LG or Samsung are more economical.
The contract covers labour, the full clean, the technical checks and the report. It doesn't cover parts (control board, sensor, condenser, valve) or a gas re-charge if there's a leak, those are quoted separately, and Pro/Portfolio plans get 10–15% off. As a rough guide: extra filter €15–40, R-32 gas €80–150 (depends on the amount), control board €80–220 per unit. If you need a one-off visit with a leak test and re-charge, that service is €149.
We service all the HVAC equipment in the same building, so you don't need one company for the AC and another for the heat pump. We cover: AC splits/multi-split/VRF (any brand); heat pumps for hot water and heating (Daikin Altherma, LG Therma V, Mitsubishi Ecodan); pool heat pumps (Hayward, Astralpool, Zodiac, common in Quinta do Lago villas); heat-recovery ventilation; wood stoves. One point of contact, one consolidated invoice, a report per unit. If you add a new pool heat pump later, it joins the contract automatically.
