Boat air conditioning & refrigeration: a fast fix for 'not cooling' in the height of summer
Air conditioning usually fails on the day you need it most: a hot summer afternoon, out in a bay. 'Not cooling' isn't a single fault - it can be a refrigerant leak, a blocked raw-water strainer, a tired pump or dirty ducting. At Care the job starts with diagnosis: pressure and flow are measured, the source is found, and only what's needed gets done. Finding the leak instead of simply topping up the gas is what keeps you from paying for the same fault twice.
Scope
Scheduled maintenance
Refrigerant check, raw-water strainer and pump, ducting and drainage cleaning
'Not cooling' diagnosis
Pressure and flow measurement; telling a refrigerant leak, pump, strainer or thermostat apart
Refrigerant top-up & leak detection
A top-up without finding the leak is only a temporary fix - the source comes first
Compressor & pump service
Raw-water pump, compressor and fan fault-finding and replacement
Fridge & cooler
Maintenance and repair of marine fridges and refrigeration units
New system & capacity
Correct BTU sizing, installation and ducting layout
How it works
Diagnosis & measurement
Pressure, raw-water flow and temperature are measured; the reason it isn't cooling is found with numbers.
Written quote
The work required (cleaning, leak repair, parts) is itemised - only what's needed.
Repair & test
After the work, a function test and the cooling readings are logged to your file.
Tools
'Not cooling' diagnosis
Diagnosis guide
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Not cooling at all, pump running | Refrigerant leak or compressor |
| Weak cooling, low water flow | Blocked raw-water strainer/ducting |
| Cycling on and off | Thermostat or low refrigerant |
| Water flowing but fan weak | Fan/blower or dirty evaporator |
See the proof
Real job: the air conditioning 'out of gas' - the problem was the raw water
Another firm had recommended a 'refrigerant top-up' for the unit that wouldn't cool; measurement showed the raw-water flow had dropped because of a blocked strainer. Cleaning the strainer solved it - no top-up needed. (Real case study to follow at launch.)
FAQ
The air conditioning isn't cooling - what should be checked first?+
In order: raw-water flow (a blocked strainer is the most common cause), refrigerant pressure, pump and thermostat. 'It must be out of gas' is the easiest answer but usually the wrong diagnosis; adding refrigerant without measuring wastes both money and time.
Does the refrigerant run out every year?+
No. In a sealed system, if the refrigerant is dropping there's a leak - it has to be found before any top-up, or you'll be back in the same place a few months later.
How often is maintenance needed?+
One pre-season check a year is enough: cleaning the raw-water strainer and ducting, checking refrigerant and flow. Regular maintenance keeps the chance of a breakdown on the hottest day to a minimum.
My fridge isn't cooling either - can you look at it?+
Yes, marine fridges and refrigeration units are covered too; the diagnostic logic is the same (refrigerant, compressor, ventilation).
New air conditioning or repair?+
Measurement decides: if the compressor is sound, most problems are solved by maintenance or repair. If the system has reached the end of its economic life, we present the BTU sizing and installation quote for a new system, with the reasons.
On this topic: guides & glossary
For those wondering about the terms: the guide and glossary entries below explain this service in depth.
Let us see your boat on site
Start with a free introductory check; both the quote and the decision in writing.
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