Last Updated : 12 June 2018
You come back after a long day at work, grab a delicious slice of pizza and about to start that evening Netflix marathon. After getting comfortable on the couch, you turn on the good old trusty aircon and a gush of cool breeze flows out. Ahhh, the comfort of modern living!
Netflix and aircon...
That’s not it though, you realised that your aircon status light is blinking. Blink…blink..blinkity…blink it goes! How to make it stop? Is the aircon spoiled? What does the blinking mean?
There are many causes for the aircon status light to blink. Its purpose is to notify homeowners that their aircon is not operating optimally and requires attention.
In some cases, you can fix it on your own without having to call a technician by following some simple troubleshooting steps. This will save you time and also money for that long awaited fancy beach vacation at Maldives.
Before you start, we recommend that you check your owner’s manual and look for error codes related to your issue. Error codes provide important information that will help you to identify the root cause and determine the next best course of action. As this differs by brand and model, we will be working on a separate article to cover that.
The top 5 common problems and what you can do
1. Electrical Issues
When there is abnormal power draw or load in the aircon, the status light will be triggered. This can be either issues with the PCB (printed circuit board) or the electrical wiring. The process to troubleshoot and fix the issue is through isolation testing and should be done by an experienced technician. If there is a faulty PCB or power cable, then replacing the faulty part as soon as possible is recommended. Sometimes, an electrical surge may be the cause, so one thing you could try is to reset the power to your aircon unit, for most modern homes, this would be a switch near the outdoor unit that you can turn off and back on.
Try reseting the power to the aircon unit.
2. Filter Alert
Clogged up or incorrectly fitted filters can be signaled with blinking lights as well. The purpose of the filters is to purify the air that is fitted to the indoor aircon unit, making sure only the fresh air gets to the room. Eventually, the filters in the aircon get dirty due to debris and dirt collected over time. In such cases, all you need to do is to clean the filters.
3. Maintenance Alert
Sometimes, the blinking light is time-based and is a signal that the unit is due servicing. In this case, just ensure that the filters are cleaned and checked. If a deep cleaning is required then you can contact a trained professional to perform a chemical cleaning or overhaul. Find out more about our deep cleaning options and what it can do for you.
4. Low Refrigerant
Low refrigerant flow is another cause triggering the lights to blink. It is an alert system notifying that the refrigerant is lower than the required level for smooth operation. This requires immediate attention as prolonged use will not only result in unnecessary electricity consumption, but it may also cause permanent damage to the compressor. The refrigerant level can be confirmed by conducting a pressure test, and leaks should be identified and fixed as topping up refrigerant gas is a short-term fix. The refrigerant is in a closed loop system and no topping up of gas is required under normal operations.
5. Compressor Failed
When the compressor in the air conditioner has failed it will not be able to perform its function which is to circulate the refrigerant necessary for heat exchange through the coils of the indoor and outdoor unit. When this happens, the aircon will reflect with blinking lights and may not operate for long. The compressor undergoes a great deal of stress in our all year summer weather, and it will wear down the same way a motor will. Grime and dust contamination will also affect it, leading to it becoming stuck. This will stop the cooling cycle, and usually, the compressor must be replaced when it reaches the end of life. The good news is that compressors usually comes with longer 3 or 5-year manufacturer warranty so be sure to check if it is still covered.
If you suspect any problems with your AC, 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.
Xool Aircon Experts' mission is to provide the best experience in the air-conditioning service industry through constant improvement and building on what our customers really what.