Dubai · AC guide
Smell, dust and weak airflow are often blamed on "dirty ducts". In most Dubai apartments the real culprit is the coil inside the unit - which is cheaper and quicker to fix. Here is how to tell the difference.
StringsSG · Updated
What each job cleans
Coil cleaning
The indoor unit: filter, cooling coil, blower wheel and drain tray. Removes dust cake, mould and slime.
Duct cleaning
The supply and return ducts above the ceiling and the diffusers in each room. Removes loose dust and debris.
Match the symptom
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Musty smell when AC starts | Mould on coil and blower | Coil chemical wash |
| Air cool but weak | Clogged filter or coil | Cleaning or coil wash |
| Water at a ceiling grille | Blocked drain tray | Cleaning with drain flush |
| Dust puffing from diffusers | Dusty ducts | Duct cleaning |
| Black marks around diffusers | Mould from coil, or condensation at diffuser | Coil wash first; check insulation |
Why start with the coil
The coil is where air is cooled and dehumidified, so it is always wet - the ideal place for dust to stick and mould to grow. Ducts carry already-filtered, conditioned air and stay comparatively dry. Clean the coil and the source of most smells disappears; clean only the ducts and the dirty coil keeps blowing the same air through freshly cleaned ducts.
Duct cleaning is still worth doing when you move into a previously occupied apartment, after renovation work that created dust, or when you can see dust blowing out of diffusers.
