That sudden rattling from your bedroom aircon at 2 AM is your air conditioning system trying to tell you something worth paying attention to. This guide breaks down exactly what different aircon noises mean, which ones you can fix yourself, and when it’s time to call a professional.
Understanding Aircon Modes: What Do They Mean and When To Use Them?
Modern air conditioners come with multiple operating modes designed to improve comfort, energy efficiency, and air quality. Cool, dry, fan, and auto, each serve different functions and scenarios.
Understanding these modes helps optimize performance, reduce electricity bills, and extend the lifespan of the unit. To achieve the best results, you need to select the appropriate mode based on your environment and needs, especially in Singapore or other regions with high temperature and humidity.
This guide explains the most common AC modes and how to use them effectively.
AIRCON PURCHASING TIPS
When the temperature rises in Singapore, a decent air conditioner might save your life (and wallet). Paired with high humidity levels, the convenience of having air conditioning at home is critical.
Before purchasing your air conditioning system, do consider the following:
Size/Height of the rooms
The bigger the room and/or the higher the ceiling, a bigger capacity indoor unit is required. Air conditioners are measured in BTUs. For example, 6,000 BTU is needed for a 150 square foot space and 9,000 - 15,000 BTUs for larger spaces. Under powered air conditioners can deteriorate quickly and require repair. BTU matching helps to save money.
Exposure to heat
Larger windows or exposure to direct sunlight will also affect the cooling of the rooms. As such, a higher capacity indoor unit may be required to cool a room of the same size.
Usage of the indoor units
Depending on whether you intend to turn on all the units at once or selected units concurrently, different system configurations (e.g. number and capacity of outdoor condensers as well as indoor units) will be required.
The right system configuration that caters to your usage requirements will help optimize your cooling requirements and reduce any unnecessary upfront costs from the purchase of a higher capacity outdoor unit.
Service Providers
Do not engage a provider based on pricing alone. Engage reliable, trusted and professionally managed service providers with a track record that will be available for any post installation issues that may arise.
We have heard horror stories about service providers with poor workmanship and inferior materials used which resulted in higher costs for the owner due to the need to rectify the problems.
Hidden Costs
Sometimes the price quoted may be attractive on the surface. Look out for potential hidden costs when comparing prices; such as GST, capacity of indoor and outdoor units, materials used, availability of stock, number of trips, etc.
Any Enquiries
Do contact us if you have any questions with regards to the kind of air conditioning system that suits your home or your office. Click the button below for more information and it will direct you to the Contact Us page.
REPAIR OR REPLACE FAULTY AC PCB?
What Is An Aircon Printed Circuit Board (PCB)?
A Printed Circuit Board, or PCB for short, is like the motherboard or central processing unit of a computer. These devices perform essential functions that enable a system to operate.
Circuit components such as resistors, capacitors, transistors and others are wired together on a greenish board called a printed circuit board (PCB). Conductive trucks are used to make connections between electronic parts. They are fabricated from a copper layer and covered with a fiberglass silkscreen.
A printed circuit board's major job is to incorporate multiple components that work together to carry out a particular instruction, data transfer or compute the output to manage the alternating current.
What Causes PCB Damages In An Air Conditioner?
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) and other environmental factors may severely damage PCB circuitry. Remember that even a little ESD may cause PCB component damage. The following are other frequent causes of damage to AC PCBs:
During installation, a technician accidentally connects the electrical wiring incorrectly, which results in a higher voltage going into the AC PCB.
Short circuit. This is by far the most common reason why PCBs are damaged. This can also be caused by incorrect installation.
Bugs like ants and cockroaches are small. We all know that bugs like cockroaches like to hang out in warm places. So, they often hide in electrical and electronic devices that generate heat. Because of this, if a bug gets into the circuit board, it may damage it.
For outdoor units, most PCBs get damaged as the system is exposed to heat, moisture and dust.
Age is another common factor that will cause PCBs to break down. Everything in the world has a limited lifespan, and unfortunately, most PCB components do too. Similar to all electrical and electronic components, the lifespan of a PCB can range from a few months to several years.
Should PCB Be Fixed Or Replaced?
PCBs can be fixed. But doing so requires expert diagnostic, repair equipment and technical know-how. Some electronic components, however, need a more controlled environment like a repair lab to be repaired properly. A test of the PCB's functionality after repairs is required. The above makes fixing PCB costly. As such, damaged PCBs are usually replaced rather than repaired.
If a PCB fails, it is best to replace it rather than try to fix it. This is because you run the risk of incurring additional costs associated with the hiring of a qualified professional and the lengthier repair time required as mentioned above.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace An AC PCB?
The cost of replacing a defective PCB is determined by a variety of variables; including the type, brand and year of the AC unit. The cost will also differ depending on whether it is new or used. A PCB of the current model air conditioner unit will cost a few hundred dollars (depending on the above mentioned factors). Due to the costs involved, an alternative will be to explore used PCBs instead. However, do note that used PCBs do not come with warranty. As such you may run the risk of the PCB breaking down soon after its replacement.
Other Enquires
Do click the button below if you are facing and similar issues and you have questions for other Aircon related issues, as our friendly and kind customer service team are always ready to help you with any enquiry or advice.
Importance of Aircon Servicing
Frequent scheduled servicing would ensure that your aircon units are operating at its maximum efficiency and is effective in cooling your homes.
Air-conditioning is a luxury that we take for granted and a necessity and mainstay in our daily lives. Our Xool Professionals recommend that home-owners service their aircon once every 3 months. Our experts break it down into 2 key reasons:
Efficiency:
The most important step to ensuring continued efficiency of your aircon, is to replace or clean the aircon filters routinely. Through frequent usage, the system’s efficiency is reduced significantly as filters are clogged and these dirty filters block airflow. You could possibly lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption between 5% to 15% if the issue is addressed early, and a replacement of the dirty filter with a clean one is done. Filters may need more attention if your air conditioner is in constant use (more important if you have petsin your homes!).
Another key component of the aircon is the condenser coil. Its main function is to make sure that hot air gets removed. The air conditioner’s condenser coil collects dirt over the period of usage. A clean filter is essential, however, the filter does not completely prevent the evaporator coil from collecting dust and dirt. Dust and dirt will reduce airflow and form a thick insulating coat over the coil- thus significantly reducing its ability to absorb heat. It is important to check your aircon coils routinely!
Effectiveness:
Neglecting necessary maintenance would lead to decline in the performance of your air-conditioning unit while increasing the amount of electricity and energy use and monthly electricity bills. Regular servicing could also help to extend the lifespan of your unit. With a well-maintained unit, you can be certain that the possibilities of malfunctions and a total unit replacement is reduced.
In addition, while having air conditioning helps to dehumidify your homes and reduce extra indoor moisture, it is important to note that Singapore has a high humidity range of 65% - 96%. This high level of humidity sets the perfect condition for mould to grow and prosper. Mould could grow inside air conditioners, which also means the spores would have a direct route into each room of your house. These mould spores can cause mild/serious health issues such as running nose, increased asthma attacks, etc. Regular maintenance of your aircon unit is important as it prevents mould from growing in your aircon and allows it to do its job effectively and protect your health and wellness!
If you want to protect your wellness while maximising the full usage capacity of your air conditioning units, do not hesitate to give us a call or book an appointment with us online. Our highly trained and experienced technicians will be happy to help you diagnose and troubleshoot your aircon.