In sunny Singapore, aircons are more of a necessity than a luxury. Step into a shopping mall or board a bus that’s not blasting the aircon and you’ll hear people lamenting under their breaths that it’s so hot. Plus, with the increase in remote working arrangements, you’re probably using the aircon at home much more, leading to more aircon issues.
Here are some common aircon issues and what you can do to fix them.
Common aircon issues
1. My aircon can’t switch on.
If your aircon isn’t switching on, first check if your controller is working fine. Once you’ve made sure that it’s working fine, it might be a faulty wiring issue or a blown fuse. Since this involves wiring and electricity, it’s best to arrange for a professional to come down and check on it.
It could also be that the thermostat or transformer within the unit is no longer working the way it should. In any case, this issue likely can’t be solved on your own and you should arrange for a technician to take a look as soon as possible. Meanwhile, keep the unit turned off.
2. My aircon is leaking.
A leaking aircon is one of the most common aircon issues in Singapore. There could be many reasons why your aircon is leaking but a clogged drain line is the most probable.
Aircons remove the warm air and humidity from the room and release it outside through the compressor. The cooled air is then released back into the room and the process continues until the room is cooled to your desired temperature.
The humidity and moisture that gets removed from the room is released outside via a drain after being collected in a pan. If this drain is clogged, the moisture increases the growth of mold and mildew. Hence, it can cause many issues for your aircon and could even damage your walls, ceilings, and furnishings.
In order to fix this, you do have to get the professionals to open up the unit and drain out the water. The unit might still work even though it’s leaking, but you shouldn’t just let it be and continue using it.
A leak is the aircon’s way of telling you it needs some help. So, arrange for a servicing as soon as possible to prevent mold and mildew from forming.
3. The air that comes out of my aircon is not cool.
When you turn on the aircon, obviously you’d want it to blow out cold air and cool the room. But sometimes the aircon is unable to cool the room effectively, or worse still, it blows out hot air.
First thing that you can do to troubleshoot is to adjust your aircon to the lowest possible temperature. If the problem persists, then it might be because of dirty parts or low refrigerant gas levels.
The next thing you can do to troubleshoot is to remove the filters and give them a good wash. You could do this yourself if you have some knowledge about aircons.
If not, the best way would be to get a technician to come and do the cleaning for you. They will also be able to advise if your unit needs a refrigerant gas top up to remain operating at optimal levels.
Allowing your units to operate with low refrigerant gas levels is not only harmful to the environment but also detrimental to the condition of the aircon unit in the long run.
4. My aircon is making weird noises.
When your aircon is switched on, it’s normal to hear the sound of cold air gushing out of the vents. But if you hear any other noises such as rattling, hissing, or grunting, it’s a sign that something is not right. It’s time to arrange for an aircon servicing.
Some causes of weird noises are faulty or dirty parts, or wear and tear due to regular use. It could also be that a certain part is loose or dislodged.
It is advisable to arrange for an aircon servicing as soon as possible because the noises likely will not go away on their own. If you use your aircon while working or sleeping, the noises will also be distracting.
5. There is a weird smell when my aircon switches on.
The most common cause of weird smells coming from your aircon is the build-up of mold and mildew in the unit. When there’s excess moisture and liquid in the unit, the chances of mold and mildew accumulating is much higher. The only way to solve this is to remove the moisture from the unit and fix any leakages.
Because we live in hot and humid Singapore, it’s common for moisture to accumulate in the filters as well. This can cause a stale smell when you switch on your aircon for the first time in a few months. In this case, leave the aircon running for a period of time and see if the smell goes away. If it doesn’t, then there might be other underlying issues.
Common aircon issues and how to fix them
Above are 5 of the most common aircon issues that you might encounter whether you use your aircon frequently or not. While you might be able to troubleshoot for some of these issues, the best way is still to leave it to the professionals.
Did you know that Helpling also provides aircon services? Our technicians are English-speaking and have over 10 years of experience in the aircon industry. We also offer yearly/bi-yearly packages so you don’t have to keep track of when to service your aircon. We’ll remind you when the time comes.
Regular aircon servicing will help your aircon units operate efficiently and effectively, and it also helps you save cost. How? If you don’t service your aircon regularly, your units are more prone to breaking down, and repairs will cost you much more than servicing.
Need to service your aircons or facing some of the aircon issues mentioned above? Book now and enjoy a special $25 discount for our blog readers.
