All About Aircon (New, Maintenance, related components)
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slmkhoo:
Can check with hdb what is the electrical limit for aircon for your block and whether has been upgraded. I remember my contractor checked it for us before deciding on which aircon to install.
Thanks! Yes, I do now recall that there were limits on the size of aircon we could install in 1999. Our flat is too new to be upgraded, so does that mean that we are still subject to those limits?atrecord:
Btw, old HDB flats could only support aircon systems of a certain capacity, so maybe simkhoo had that problem too. The Daikin I have in my 4-rm HDB is a 4+1 split. It was the only model we could install in 2000 when aircon installation required permit to be approved by HDB. It is i think a 28,000 BTU system, but the 3 room units were 9,000 BTU each, and the living room one was 15,000 BTU. So max it can cool is either 3 rooms together, or living plus 1 room. Beyond that, can switch on, but not cool...
But the 29-yo flat just gone through upgrading works which include electrical upgrading. I think now can support bigger-capacity units that can cool more area/rooms together.
Hope this helps... -
kwcllf:
Just to share, I wouldn't recommend reusing the existing trucking.slmkhoo:
I would like to add some questions. We have a 5-room HDB flat and plan to replace our aircons which have been in use for 14 yrs. I am sure that things have changed greatly since we put in our aircons, so I would like to know what sort of 'split' is the recommended now for a 5-room flat? Our current configuration doesn't permit us to have all the units on at the same time (not that we often do). And what sort of price-range are we looking at? Would we need to replace all the old trunking? We are actually still overseas, so just gathering info as we want to begin renovations asap when we return. Thanks for any info!
I think it depends on the configuration of your house. Sometimes, it is not practical to run the trunking from one room to another if the distance is long. Aesthetically, it may not look nice to see trunking running across many parts of the house as well.
In my house, I have 2 single unit and 1 double-split. It comes pre-installed when we bought the house. I think the configuration is such that it is is impractical to have a 3-in-1, etc becos running the trunkings to fit the layout of my house is simply not possible.
By the way, if you have existing trunking, you can re-use them. I saw from the adverts that the price is slightly cheaper if you can re-use the existing trunking.
My aircon installer actually reused my existing trucking ( cos 3 blowers were in the same position ) without my knowledge. We paid extra for extra insulation too! Designer was supposed to supervise but didn't . The blowers started leaking one by one after the renovation and we became suspicious after observing blackish scum from water discharge pipe. End result, false ceiling and cornices had to be reaped and redone, affected area repainted.... It was like a 2nd renovation with all the dust! Turned out there were extra pipes leading from compressor to blowers ( something about the new type of aircon needed extra pipe for each blower compared to my previous set ) cos my L boxes had to be enlarged to accommodate. It was a nightmare.
3 things I learnt : be present to supervise the aircon installation personally, make sure the team that installs is employed by the aircon company ( the guy who installed was a subcontractor ) and don't ever do your renovation near Chinese New Year ( chances of having quality issues higher cos the mostly Malaysian workers are overworked and rushing to go back home ). -
Jennifer:
MMM, can I have the contact too? My aircon is at least 16 yrs old or more. Still going strong but electricity consumption is high I feel. How old is your new Toshiba aircon, any problem so far? I heard new air cons break down easily. Thanks for feedback.
MMM, pls pm me the aircon contact. Many thanks.MMM:
For us, we are using Toshiba inverter aircon. I have a feeling it is under carrier as well.
There are 3 rooms that will be turn on from 10pm - at least 6am daily. 3 units (living, dining and another bedroom) that will be turn on for at least 5 hours per month due to sils' visit. We are a household of 8 with pils and maid at home daily and our bill is around $450 per month. No gas charges.
Our tenant complained about ac not working well (around 10 years old) and requested for inverter units for cost savings purposes. They are the 24/7 type for living... We switched them to Toshiba as well. So far so good.
Let me know if you need contacts to get quote. The company we got from is referred by our previous contractor. -
What I know about spilt units:
Have to assess how many units will be on per night.
In my younger brother’s house, he will be installing one unit each in each of the 3 bedrooms + 1 unit in his living room.
His room’s and my nephew room’s units will be used nightly while my mum’s room and the living room will be rarely used.
So, he will be installing two sets of Systems 2.
One set for his and son’s unit and one set for my mum’s and living room’s unit.
The ‘active’ condenser will breakdown earlier while the other unit can last a longer time. So, when need to change, just change his system 2 and living the other untouched.
A set of System 2 cost about $2000 and a system 3 is about $3000.
In my older brother’s house, he just need one unit each for his 3 bedrooms.
In his house, two units are used daily while the other unit seldom.
So, he installed a System 2 and another System 1 (so, when need to change, only change the System 2 and leaving the System 1 intact).
System 1 is about $1,000.
PS1: It is advisable to change air-con (even fridge, washer, etc) after a max use of 10 years coz of energy saving purpose (old machines tend to use more electricity).
PS2:
Yes, please do change the trunking if changing aircon. The ‘stuff’ inside the trunks after years should be ‘thick’ and may cause choke…
And, try not to go for ‘slim’ trunking for aesthetic sake coz ‘slim’ one ‘compressed’ the pipes inside and may cause them to leak easier then the ‘ugly’ thicker trunk… (heard from my aircon installator who advised me against ‘pretty trunking’ and to go for long term sake…)
PS3:
According to my aircon man, Mitsubishi has the lowest ‘repair’ rate as compared to other brands. He recommends Daikin or Mitsibishi. Daikin was recommended coz it has a ‘chip’ inside that can allow technician to remotely assess the problems when it breakdown. However, when choosing Daikin, gotta make sure that you hv chosen the system with the ‘lastest’ gas and not the ‘outdated’ gas (think something called R22 gas, cant really remember). Our govt will be phasing out the ‘outdated’ gas in a few years time and what I heard is whoever has aircon with this gass need to replace them in 3 or 5 years time (the System 3 of this ‘outdated’ gas model think only cost about $2700 as compared to about $3300 for the ‘lastest’ gas. It seems like only Daikin is still carrying this ‘outdated’ gas model that you may want to beware and not to be enticed by ‘cheaper’). -
slmkhoo:
my frd just did his reno,heard it was her aircon contractor did everything for her-found out if permit required fr. town council/hdb(can't remember)for aircon installation,recommended n installed aircon....i think an experience aircon contractor will able to help u.
Thanks! Yes, I do now recall that there were limits on the size of aircon we could install in 1999. Our flat is too new to be upgraded, so does that mean that we are still subject to those limits?atrecord:
Btw, old HDB flats could only support aircon systems of a certain capacity, so maybe simkhoo had that problem too. The Daikin I have in my 4-rm HDB is a 4+1 split. It was the only model we could install in 2000 when aircon installation required permit to be approved by HDB. It is i think a 28,000 BTU system, but the 3 room units were 9,000 BTU each, and the living room one was 15,000 BTU. So max it can cool is either 3 rooms together, or living plus 1 room. Beyond that, can switch on, but not cool...
But the 29-yo flat just gone through upgrading works which include electrical upgrading. I think now can support bigger-capacity units that can cool more area/rooms together.
Hope this helps... -
Anyone has good recommendation for Aircon services?
We hardly turn on our aircon so I prefer those ad-hoc request to service the aircon than signing up package.
Thanks! -
Hi
I engage Uber Aircon & Services contact Adrian at 8338 4949 -
ngl2010:
Btw, gas price depends on what type of air-con you have. Certain gas is more expensive. You can check around first.
That is right.
Non inverter aircon gas is cheaper than inverter aircon gas.
Problem is do we really need to topup aircon gas?
Think this article might here:
http://blog.airconservicesg.com/2013/07/do-we-really-need-to-topup-up-aircon-gas.html -
Hi, Need to change aircon piping and insulation after nightmare servicing.
Did anyone have recent good experience with a company/ contractor that can provide
Pipe/ insulation changing service, pls?
Called daikin but they said they don’t change air con pipes and insulation.
Pls help. Pls help. Water stains on ceiling. -
lachattesg:
Try CoolServe. I've been using their service for many many years. Very professional.Hi, Need to change aircon piping and insulation after nightmare servicing.
Did anyone have recent good experience with a company/ contractor that can provide
Pipe/ insulation changing service, pls?
Called daikin but they said they don't change air con pipes and insulation.
Pls help. Pls help. Water stains on ceiling.
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