Ah, the almighty air-conditioner.
The source of skyrocketing electricity bills, CFCs and sweet, cool air! With Singapore’s sweltering weather, it’s safe to say most of us can barely function without it. While our heavy reliance on the appliance can justify the hefty price tag, it also means your indispensable air conditioner can be subject to serious wear and tear - which could shorten its lifespan significantly.
Thankfully, your friendly air-con will let you know when it’s done working to the bone for you. And it won’t go away quietly - if you notice these 5 telltale signs, it’s time to call in the experts for some well-needed fixing up - before it gets too late.
1. There’s Air, But It’s Not Cool
Interior Designer: Absolook
You turn it on, wait for a strong whoosh of wind envelop you in cool, refreshing air. Ten minutes in, and you’re still waiting for it to happen. Maybe it’s all in your head - because a strong air flow is coming out of its vents, but it doesn’t even feel cool to the touch at all.
Interior Designer: Earth Interior Design Pte Ltd
No, you’re not imagining things - if you find that your air-conditioner is taking longer than usual to cool down, or just isn’t lowering temperatures despite its perfectly normal air flow, it could either mean that your air-con’s compressor is malfunctioning, or that your air-con system is running low on refrigerant.
2. There’s Little (To No) Air Blowing Out
Interior Designer: Van Hus Interior Design
Okay, this time it’s pretty serious - your room isn’t cooling down, because there’s literally no air circulating around it. You suspect that your air-conditioner might have kicked the bucket, but do check and test out other air-cons in your home to see if this is an isolated problem.
If the rest work perfectly fine, it could be due to particles/debris clogging up the air ducts connecting the air-conditioner to the main system. You’ll need an AC serviceman to dismantle and clear out the dirt.
3. Water Stains/ Pooling Around The Air Con
Interior Designer: Uno Interior
Hmm, cold water pooling around your air-conditioning system; isn’t condensation perfectly normal for an AC? Not! Those water droplets may be a sign of something minor - or much more sinister.
First, it could simply mean that the drainage tube that channels away the air-conditioner’s condensation is broken. Second, it could also mean that your air-con’s refrigerant is leaking - this gas/liquid is toxic and should be rectified ASAP as it could lead to long-term health problems.
4. Weird Sounds
Interior Designer: Space Atelier
We bet you would be calling a repairman yourself if this goes long enough. Besides being extremely annoying and jarring to the ears, weird sounds coming out of your air-con are literally a cry for help - and are signs that the mechanical parts inside your AC are malfunctioning or coming loose. Leave it alone and you might suffer a whopping repair bill, or a total replacement.
In fact, different sounds point to different problems:
- Squeaky, high-pitched squealing: The belt
connecting your air-con compressor to the engine has gone loose. - Grumbling, grinding sounds: The air-con motor’s bearings are broken
- Clanking, crashing sounds: Parts within the air-con unit might have gone loose.
- Clicking, rattling sounds: Lightweight parts like springs, bolts or tubing might have gone loose.
5. Strange Smells
Interior Designer: Flipside Design
Cleaned out your room, but a pesky odour still lingers? Hold on, your air-conditioning unit might be to blame. And the culprit? If you’re getting a whiff of something sour or musty, mould might be growing in your air-con vents or ducts. If it’s something smoky or chemically pungent - it could mean that your air-con wire’s insulation is burnt. Either way, both types of smells require immediate attention, either through chemical washing or the replacement of insulation.
Air-Con SOS?
Interior Designer: Crescendo Interior and Lifestyle
Don’t leave those warning signs alone; check out our list of air-con specialists to help fix your AC back to tip-top condition.
1. 81 Aircon
Tel: 6261 0081
Email: sales@81aircon.com
Address: 14 Robinson Road, Far East Finance Building #08-01A, Singapore 048545
Address 2: Trade Hub 21, 18 Boon Lay Way, #05-98 Singapore 609966
Website: http://81aircon.com
A leading air-con service and repair provider, 81 Aircon specialises in repairs, air-con installation and space planning, along with cleaning and general maintenance services. The firm is also a supplier for new air-conditioning units for major brands like Daikin and Mitsubishi.
2. Aircon Specialist Pte Ltd
Tel: 6383 6630
Email: sales@airconspecialist.com.sg
Address: 1 Defu Lane 10 #01-555, Singapore 539182
Website: http://www.airconspecialist.com.sg
The name says it all - tending to both commercial and residential projects, Aircon Specialist Pte Ltd is a BCA Approved Contractor that does air-con installations, general servicing and maintenance, along with chemical cleaning for all types of air-conditioners.
3. Atlantic Engineering and Air Con
Tel: 6400 5196
Email: atlantic_diana@hotmail.sg
Address: 41 Toh Guan Road East, ADL Building #07-04, Singapore 608605
Website: http://www.atlanticengineering.com.sg
A supplier and servicing agent for major brands like Mitsubishi, Daikin, LG and Samsung, Atlantic Engineering and Air Con offers a wide range of air-con services, such as maintenance, repairs, chemical washing and overhaul, as well as installation. Packages are available for regular maintenance, and each treatment comes with a warranty (ranging from 3 - 6 months, depending on type of servicing done).
4. CE Engineering
Tel: 6250 1942
Email: enquiry@ceengineering.org
Address: 47 Jalan Pemimpin, Halcyon 2 #05-08, Singapore 577200
Website: http://ceengrg.com
Air conditioning need not be environmentally harmful with CE Engineering; the servicing firm with over 10 years experience strives to use eco-friendly refrigerants and gas/energy reducing practices in all their air-con servicing. Offering troubleshooting and repair services along with regular maintenance and AC installation, homeowners can opt for yearly packages to help keep their air-con in tip-top shape.
5. EC Cool
Tel: 8143 5005 (24 Hours)
Address: 22 Sin Ming Lane, #07-76, Midview City Singapore 573969
Website: http://www.easycool.com.sg
Bringing over 10 years of experience, EC Cool provides a comprehensive range of air-con services, including normal servicing, checking, chemical cleaning and top ups; they also sell and buy new and second-hand air conditioning units respectively.
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