Aircon Not Cold? Common Causes and When to Call a Technician in Singapore

When aircon is not cold, it is not just an annoyance but also a serious problem in Singapore because of the heat that is quite hot throughout day in the range of 30°C with humidity above 80%. Even sleeping in a room without properly working cooler aircon is almost impossible, much less for the rest of the day at work or even just relaxing at home with family.

It's worth noting though, quite a number of the aircon cooling problems are due to such basic issues that you can fix it quite easily. You know those issues that may take you only five minutes to sort out. Others, however, need the intervention of a certified technician.

This guide will outline possible reasons an aircon can stop cooling, things you should check first, and the time to call in a professional.

Reasons My Aircon Is Not Cold? Brief Description

In most cases either dirty filters or coils or low refrigerant levels, the latter being caused by a refrigerant leak, a faulty capacitor or fan motor, a failing compressor, or incorrect settings might stop an aircon to deliver cold air properly. The dirty filters and wrong setting issues can be self-fixed while refrigerator leaks, electrical faults, and compressor failure require a licensed technician.

Basic Issues that can stop an aircon from providing cooler air

If your aircon is just running on a very weak fan and blowing hardly any cold air, most likely a dirty filter or blocked air vents would be the cause. To clear this yourself, and since it does not call for immediate resolution, simply give the filter a rinse and remove what is causing the vent blocks. Usually this will solve it for you and the aircon will start delivering cold air just fine.

If you have a really hot feeling blowing out while you notice some ice getting formed around the outdoor unit's pipe or the indoor unit's pipe, you can be reasonably sure of either refrigerant leak or clogged coil as a source of the malfunction. If this is the case a professional has to intervene since it is a high-urgency problem.

A dripping water inside the house is usually indicative of a clogged drainage tube that a technician could unclog. It is best if this is resolved relatively quickly but since that's not your priority for the moment you should turn the aircon off temporarily in order not only to save your ceiling, furniture, and your electric components.

In case the indoor ceiling mounted aircon runs its fan but the outdoor unit stays silent (i.e., the outside unit is silent), you can suspect the possible culprit to be either the fan or the capacitor. It is definitely a serious problem and you should seek technical assistance promptly as if the outdoor unit isn't functioning, the entire aircon system will be ineffective.

Rocking or grinding sounds usually originate either from loose parts or from the fan or the compressor. A skilled technician is required to get it sorted as this is of high priority and continued use can make one small repair bill several times.

If the circuit breaker cuts the power at the moment you switch on your aircon, chances are an electrical fault or a failure of the compressor have occurred. This is by far the most urgent case. Cease to use the unit, go ahead and call a technician immediately and never keep turning the electric supply back on by resetting the circuit breaker manually.

Last but not least, if only parts of the premises are getting cooler there is the probability that the cooling system in fact has wrong size or that its ventilation is blocked. It takes a technician to figure out that and it is not the most critical issue though it is still one which demands a professional assessment as opposed to assuming.

What you should do before contacting someone for aircon repair

In order to avoid unnecessary repairs at the shop, you can try the following self-checks first:

• Check the mode and the temperature. Make sure the indoor unit is in the "Cool" (snowflake) mode and the temperature is set to 24-25°C.

• Change the batteries of your remote. Weak batteries may result in the remote not being able to function correctly or not at all.

• Make sure the unit is clean. If possible, remove the filters, clean them gently with water, dry them thoroughly, then put them back in.

• Shut all curtains/doors and windows. Even a healthy aircon can be overwhelmed by heat if there are open windows or a sunlit, west-facing room.

If aircon still is not cooling the room after 15-30 minutes, the problem could be serious or at least complex.

Time to call in an Aircon Technician

You can continue using the aircon as is but must seek professional help if you see:

• Presence of ice or frost on the wall unit or refrigerant pipes

Damages and failures of aircon can be quite expensive if the equipment continues running while the problem remains unchecked.

Gas Top-Up Versus Refrigerant Leak: Common Misconception

A significant number of Singaporean people are told that there's a refrigerant gas deficiency, they need a gas top-up and that's it. Yet, it's the refrigerant that's actually causing the problem if the gas levels are not right, which can be a sign of a leak.

A gas top-up may help bring back some cooling for a short period but the problem will be back soon without any fix to the main leak.

The solution requires more work:

• If a refrigerant leak is suspected, an expert will check the system with a refrigerant gas detector.

• If that's the case, the leak must be located and the damaged areas of the system repaired and replaced.

• A final check with the correct refrigerant type is also included.

Your system could use R32 or R410A which are modern refrigerants, while the others may use a refrigerant like R22 that is being phased out.

A competent technician is aware of these things and will be sure which type of refrigerants to use after a system overhaul.

Why does Singapore aircon run short? The local factors

The tropical climate in Singapore leads to a peculiar type of deterioration on aircon systems:

• Frequent use. In many homes, aircon is on for more or less 8-12 hrs daily, which means the system is always running which accelerates component deterioration

• Highly humid environment. It is not uncommon to find condensations or a lot of dampness in areas of aircon, e.g., mold growth, the formation of blockages in the drain pipes and the accumulation in the coils.

• Dust and city dirt: In cities like Singapore, construction sand, dust and smog are a major cause of blockage of filters and coils of your AC equipment.

• Outdoor unit location: Many of the aircon units at HDB flats and condos are installed in positions where air is scarce such as under a ledge, so these factors make the system inefficient in its heat dissipation work.

• Size matters. A Multi-Split (System 2, 3 or 4) setup is when one outdoor unit powers several rooms and therefore a small failure can impact all the rooms connected to it, making it a very problematic fault as each room will be affected.

Tips for you to reduce the breakdowns:

• It takes 3-4 months generally to do the whole maintenance service including inspection, cleaning of components, filters, chemical wash and replacement or repair of a part which may not be working properly (if any).

• About once every year, a chemical wash can clean the internal system of the aircon which is a part of major maintenance or may be advised by your service engineer.

• If your aircon is the floor-standing unit, then the fan should be directed so the breeze from the outdoor unit does not blow directly at the unit or its nearby surfaces, especially the wall mounted units which are vulnerable to being affected by the breeze.

How much would an aircon repair cost in Singapore

Price is determined by brand, unit type, and a professional, technician or repairperson, so these figures may not match the actual quote.

In case of regular maintenance, a normal service costs around S$30 to S$60 per unit, while a chemical wash can be anywhere between $60 to $120 per unit. If, water leakage due to choked drain pipe is the problem, drainage unblocking typically cost S$40 to S$100.

Mechanical and electrical breakdowns have higher costs. Changing the damaged capacitor usually costs you around S$60 to S$150 per unit, whereas replacing the fan motor costs in between S$150 to S$350. A refrigerant leak, gas leak detection & repair service price is S$150 to S$400 depending on the position of the gas leak and effort required for the fixing the leak.

One of the most costly repairs is the installation of the new compressor and it could get you spending from S$400 to even S$1,000 per aircon unit. This is also the time when you are advised that you should compare the cost of repair against that of a brand new unit especially if the age of your old unit is over 10 years old.

Repair or Replace?

Replace your aircon if:

• It's more than 10 years old

• The same type of problems keep happening, indicating the unit is wearing out

• If your aircon's compressor goes bad and the repair price is about the same as buying a new aircon unit

• Your aircon uses more electricity than the current models

If you want to get a new unit, refer to the NEA Energy Label. More ticks are an indication of better energy performance and inverter aircon models normally save more power over the period of its usage.

How to Select the Most Trustworthy Aircon Technician in Singapore?

The best provider can be trusted for offering:

• Laying out the price in detail and getting it signed/confirmed by the user

• Providing the diagnosis report for the broken aircon apart from just doing a top-up of the coolant gas

• Providing of warranty on the parts used and the service done

• Having worked with all types of aircon brands along with different types of systems

• Making your appointment as quickly as they can, preferably on the same day if you are in urgent need of cooling

At AirconFairPrice.Sg, we always stand by our assessments and we make sure that the pricing that we quote to customers are transparent. We first find out the main aircon problem causing your discomfort, e.g. your aircon is blowing out hot air, there's a leak of water from it, strange noises coming through etc. We talk with you about different options and only after that our technician gets to the point of doing the work. We repair and service airconditionings, chemical washing of airconditioners, leak of air in airconditioning unit, installation of airconditioners etc. for homes, HDB flats, apartments and landed homes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the new aircond not cold?

Possible causes are improper installation, size doesn't match with the room, insufficient refrigerant charge or the airflow gets obstructed by dust etc. You should get the unit fixed by a certified technician, since most of the warranty clauses also include the workmanship.

Why is only one room cold in a multi-room system?

Faulty indoor unit or a dirty filter or a blockage of the condensate drain are some of the common possible causes. In any case a qualified technician will do a thorough inspection of the unit.

How often should I service my aircon?

In order to keep you cool and save electricity in the hot and humid Singapore, it is advisable that the aircon is serviced regularly. If your unit is in constant use and is not cleaned for months, you can expect a regular service at least once every 3-4 months. A chemical wash or decontamination is an occasional cleaning service which is suggested after a regular chemical wash done the earlier time. A qualified technician should recommend this to you for optimum performance.

Can the aircon be kept operating when it's leaking water?

Not really. A water leak is generally caused by a blocked waste pipe or by a frozen coil pipe. Continuing usage may lead to damage of the ceiling, the furniture and even electrical components.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes, an aircon that is not cooling enough in Singapore has very basic reasons such as dirty filter, incorrect usage, or blocked airflow. However, if these are still unsuccessful after the checks or one can spot ice, leaks, noises, and frequent tripping, the next option, after getting a professional opinion, is to go ahead and avoid the risk of damage.

Do you have a problem that your aircon does not cold? Call on AirconFairPrice.Sg for a diagnosis from a qualified professional and you will also be assured about the pricing of the service.