The first thing most customers ask me is how much it costs to clean one aircon. The trouble is that "aircon cleaning" in Chiang Mai today covers anything from a 300 THB job to a full strip-down clean at 2,300–2,500 THB. The name is the same, but the scope of work is very different. So I am putting both the market rates and my own prices out in the open, and explaining what the difference actually pays for.
What aircon cleaning costs in Chiang Mai today
Wall-mounted units of 9,000–12,000 BTU are the size you find most often in bedrooms and condos. The Chiang Mai market rate is around 450–650 THB per unit, which is the typical range for a full-step clean of a wall-mounted aircon.
Ceiling-suspended and 4-way cassette units, the kind you see in restaurants, cafés, offices and meeting rooms, cost noticeably more. The units are bigger and harder to take apart, and almost every job means working from a ladder or scaffolding, so they take several times the time and manpower of a wall-mounted unit.
- Aircon type / sizeWall-mounted 9,000–12,000 BTU
- Chiang Mai market rate
- 450–650 THB
- My price
- 500 THB
- Notes
- 450 THB each for 3 or more units
- Aircon type / sizeWall-mounted 12,001–18,000 BTU
- Chiang Mai market rate
- 450–650 THB
- My price
- 500 THB
- Notes
- Same rate as 9,000 BTU, no extra charge
- Aircon type / sizeWall-mounted 18,001–36,000 BTU
- Chiang Mai market rate
- Varies by provider
- My price
- 650 THB
- Notes
- 600 THB each for 2 or more units
- Aircon type / sizeCeiling-suspended
- Chiang Mai market rate
- 900–1,500 THB
- My price
- From 1,300 THB
- Notes
- Depends on unit size and ceiling height
- Aircon type / size4-way cassette
- Chiang Mai market rate
- 1,200–1,800 THB
- My price
- From 1,500 THB
- Notes
- Depends on ceiling position and access to the unit
- Aircon type / sizePremium Full Wash, wall-mounted
- Chiang Mai market rate
- Few providers offer this level of service in Chiang Mai yet
- My price
- 2,300–2,500 THB
- Notes
- Full strip-down clean of every part, 60-day warranty
| Aircon type / size | Chiang Mai market rate | My price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall-mounted 9,000–12,000 BTU | 450–650 THB | 500 THB | 450 THB each for 3 or more units |
| Wall-mounted 12,001–18,000 BTU | 450–650 THB | 500 THB | Same rate as 9,000 BTU, no extra charge |
| Wall-mounted 18,001–36,000 BTU | Varies by provider | 650 THB | 600 THB each for 2 or more units |
| Ceiling-suspended | 900–1,500 THB | From 1,300 THB | Depends on unit size and ceiling height |
| 4-way cassette | 1,200–1,800 THB | From 1,500 THB | Depends on ceiling position and access to the unit |
| Premium Full Wash, wall-mounted | Few providers offer this level of service in Chiang Mai yet | 2,300–2,500 THB | Full strip-down clean of every part, 60-day warranty |
Many customers ask why I charge the same for a 12,001–18,000 BTU unit as for a 9,000 BTU one. The reason comes from real jobs: wall-mounted units in these two size bands take about the same time and water to clean, so I have no reason to charge more. Where an extra charge is genuinely needed is from 18,001 BTU upwards, because the unit is noticeably bigger and heavier, and you feel it from the moment you lift it.
Why suspended and 4-way cassette units cost more to clean than wall-mounted ones
Restaurant owners often ask me why cleaning a single unit runs into the thousands of THB when cleaning an aircon at home is 500 THB. The answer is not the number of units; it is that the work itself is completely different.
- A 4-way cassette is built into the ceiling. I have to take the front panel and grille down first, then keep water from running into the gypsum ceiling board, which is easily damaged.
- A ceiling-suspended unit is long and heavy, with a coil several times wider than a wall-mounted unit's, so it takes more water and more time to wash.
- Most jobs mean working from a ladder or scaffolding, and some need two people on site for safety.
- The drain tray of a ceiling-mounted unit often has a condensate pump fitted. If the pump is clogged, it has to be removed and cleaned separately.
- In restaurants and cafés, cooking grease settles on the coil, so it has to soak and be washed for longer than a unit in a home.
How different prices reflect different scopes of work
This is the point I care about most, because it is where two quotes are hardest to compare when both simply say "aircon cleaning". Different prices reflect different scopes of work; a cheaper price does not always mean worse work. What you can actually check is exactly what the price includes: is the outdoor condenser coil cleaned too, is the blower wheel taken out and washed or just sprayed in place, is the drain line flushed, and is the area covered with a tarp before work starts? These four points can be compared directly between any providers, unlike a price figure, which tells you nothing about what you get.
Before you hire anyone, use the list below to ask about the full scope of work. It helps you compare each offer like for like.
- 1A full-step clean involves removing more than the front cover and filters. If the scope is only washing the filters and spraying water over the face of the coil, it helps to know up front that this is a filter clean, not a clean of the whole unit.
- 2Ask whether cleaning the outdoor condenser coil is included, because in the jobs I take, a clogged condenser coil is one of the leading causes of an aircon cutting out often and using more electricity.
- 3Ask whether cleaning the blower wheel and drain tray is included, because these are the two places where musty smells and mould build up.
- 4Ask whether a waterproof tarp is laid down to cover the area, so dirty water does not run down the walls or onto furniture.
- 5So before you agree, ask what the price includes, and which items might be charged extra on the day, such as refrigerant top-ups or parts.
The higher cost shows up over the long run. A coil that is still clogged makes the compressor run longer on every cycle, so the electricity bill does not come down. In the jobs I take after the burning season (the smoke haze months, roughly February to April), most homes' coils have a clear build-up of soot. Left there, that build-up bonds more and more firmly, and eventually you end up paying for a major strip-down clean.
What a full aircon clean involves, step by step
Comparing prices fairly starts with knowing what scope of work you should get for 500 THB. This is the order of work I actually follow for a standard clean of one unit.
- 1
Check the unit and take readings first
I listen to the symptoms you describe, measure the outlet air temperature, and check for anything else that needs repair. If I find something, I tell you before I start.
- 2
Cover the area and keep water contained
I lay down a tarp and fit the water-catching bag securely before opening the unit, so dirty water does not run down the walls or onto furniture.
- 3
Remove the filters and wash them separately
They are washed and left to dry completely before going back in. A filter put back while still damp is where the next round of musty smell begins.
- 4
Pressure-wash the indoor coil
I spray until the water running out is clear, which is the standard I use to decide the job is done. A clogged coil should always release dark water first.
- 5
Clean the blower wheel and drain tray
These two spots are where mould and smells build up. If they are not cleaned, the smell comes back within a few days.
- 6
Flush the drain line
I blow or vacuum the line clear to prevent dripping, which is the most common problem after a clean when this step is skipped.
- 7
Clean the outdoor condenser coil
A clogged condenser coil stops the unit shedding heat fast enough, so it cuts out often and uses more electricity. If your quote does not include the condenser coil, ask about it clearly before you agree.
- 8
Test and show you the result
I switch the unit on and measure the outlet air temperature again, tidy up the area, and explain what condition I found the unit in during the clean.
If the price you have been quoted does not cover all eight of these steps, it does not mean that provider is doing the job wrong. It means you are comparing two different scopes of work. That is why asking clearly before you agree is the best approach.
Standard clean vs Premium Full Wash: what is the difference
A standard clean at 500 THB is done without taking the unit down. With the Premium Full Wash at 2,300–2,500 THB, I take the parts of the indoor unit out and wash them one by one, including the blower wheel, the drain tray and the coil itself, then put everything back together. It takes several times longer, and taking the unit apart and reassembling it needs real care so the plastic parts do not crack.
- Condition of your airconCleaned regularly every 6 months, no smell
- Best choice
- Standard clean 500 THB
- Why
- The coil is not deeply clogged, so washing in place is enough
- Condition of your airconMusty or sour smell when switched on
- Best choice
- Premium Full Wash
- Why
- The smell comes from the blower wheel, which has to be removed and washed to get rid of it
- Condition of your airconNot cleaned for more than 1 year
- Best choice
- Premium Full Wash
- Why
- The grime has set so hard that water pressure alone is not enough
- Condition of your airconYoung children, elderly people or anyone with a dust allergy at home
- Best choice
- Premium Full Wash
- Why
- Cuts down the mould spores blown back into the room
- Condition of your airconNew aircon, in use for less than a year
- Best choice
- Standard clean 500 THB
- Why
- No need to take it apart yet; cheaper and sufficient
| Condition of your aircon | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaned regularly every 6 months, no smell | Standard clean 500 THB | The coil is not deeply clogged, so washing in place is enough |
| Musty or sour smell when switched on | Premium Full Wash | The smell comes from the blower wheel, which has to be removed and washed to get rid of it |
| Not cleaned for more than 1 year | Premium Full Wash | The grime has set so hard that water pressure alone is not enough |
| Young children, elderly people or anyone with a dust allergy at home | Premium Full Wash | Cuts down the mould spores blown back into the room |
| New aircon, in use for less than a year | Standard clean 500 THB | No need to take it apart yet; cheaper and sufficient |
Repair costs and other work to know about before you call a technician
After cleaning, the jobs people ask me about most are installation, relocating an aircon and topping up refrigerant. These three are where market prices vary the most, and also where hidden costs creep in most easily.
- ItemInstall wall-mounted 9,000–12,000 BTU
- Chiang Mai market rate
- 2,000–3,000 THB (some places 3,000–5,000)
- My price
- 3,000 THB
- ItemInstall wall-mounted 13,000–24,000 BTU
- Chiang Mai market rate
- Varies by provider
- My price
- 3,500 THB
- ItemRelocate an aircon
- Chiang Mai market rate
- 2,000–2,500 THB
- My price
- 3,500 THB
- ItemRemove an old aircon
- Chiang Mai market rate
- 350–700 THB
- My price
- 700 THB
- ItemDiagnostic inspection
- Chiang Mai market rate
- No standard market rate to compare
- My price
- 500 THB, deducted if you go ahead with the repair with me
- ItemR32 refrigerant top-up
- Chiang Mai market rate
- No standard market rate to compare
- My price
- 25 THB / lb
- ItemR410A refrigerant top-up
- Chiang Mai market rate
- Around 75 THB / lb
- My price
- 25 THB / lb
| Item | Chiang Mai market rate | My price |
|---|---|---|
| Install wall-mounted 9,000–12,000 BTU | 2,000–3,000 THB (some places 3,000–5,000) | 3,000 THB |
| Install wall-mounted 13,000–24,000 BTU | Varies by provider | 3,500 THB |
| Relocate an aircon | 2,000–2,500 THB | 3,500 THB |
| Remove an old aircon | 350–700 THB | 700 THB |
| Diagnostic inspection | No standard market rate to compare | 500 THB, deducted if you go ahead with the repair with me |
| R32 refrigerant top-up | No standard market rate to compare | 25 THB / lb |
| R410A refrigerant top-up | Around 75 THB / lb | 25 THB / lb |
My relocation price is higher than the market range shown. The reason is that a relocation done to standard means pumping the refrigerant back into the outdoor unit before disconnecting it, rather than releasing it and refilling at the new location; pulling a fresh vacuum on the system at the new site; and leak-testing before handing the job over. If any one of these steps is missed, the aircon often stops cooling properly within a few months. So before you agree, ask whether the price includes these steps.
7 things to check before you agree on a price
These questions take less than two minutes to ask, yet they head off almost every problem. They apply to every provider, me included.
- 1Does the price include cleaning the outdoor condenser coil, or is it charged separately?
- 2Roughly how long does each unit take?
- 3Is cleaning the blower wheel and drain tray included?
- 4Is a waterproof tarp laid down, and is the area cleaned up after the job?
- 5If an extra problem turns up on the day, will I be given the price before any work is done?
- 6How many days is the warranty after cleaning, and what does it cover?
- 7For a shop or office job, are documents provided for expense claims?
A standard clean carries a 30-day warranty against dripping, and a full strip-down clean 60 days. Installation carries a 1-year warranty when you buy the unit from me, and 6 months if you already have your own unit. If you need accounting documents, I can issue a full tax invoice in a company's name; please give me the name and tax ID before the appointment.
What the price difference buys you in the long run
Take cleaning 3 units as an example. At 350 THB per unit, the total is 1,050 THB. I charge 450 THB per unit for 3 or more, so the total is 1,350 THB. The difference is 300 THB.
That difference is worth weighing against the electricity bill that follows. A clean coil lets the compressor run for shorter stretches each cycle, so the monthly bill comes down with it. The key point is that this only happens when the coil has been cleaned properly; cleaning just the filters does not have this effect. If the coil is still clogged, the bill will not drop, and what you saved on the clean gets paid back through the electricity bill every month until the next clean. If you want to see the figures for your own home, note the meter reading for a week before and a week after the clean, at the same time of day.
If you want an exact price for the aircons at your home or shop, message me on LINE with how many units you have and what type they are. I will give you the full price before I come to do the work.
Summary
- Cleaning a 9,000–12,000 BTU wall-mounted aircon in Chiang Mai usually costs around 450–650 THB. I charge 500 THB, or 450 THB each for 3 or more units.
- Ceiling-suspended units run 900–1,500 THB at market rates and 4-way cassettes 1,200–1,800 THB, because they are harder to take apart and water has to be kept off the ceiling.
- For a clean priced under 400 THB, ask clearly whether it includes the blower wheel, drain tray and outdoor condenser coil, beyond the filters and the face of the coil.
- Before agreeing, ask three key questions: is the condenser coil included, is the blower wheel cleaned, and how many days is the warranty?
- For installation and relocation, always ask about extra charges for pipe, trunking and wall brackets before the day of the job.