All About Aircon (New, Maintenance, related components)

[MLR]

Lookingforsale:

I'm using services from Hong Tar, so far so good. Juz that I find the gal answering the phone sometimes quite blur


Can check them out at http://www.hongtar.com.sg/service.php

My company has been using them for the past 8 yrs. The service guys are all pretty friendly and neat. If you need assistance, ask for Lay Ching, mandarin speaking and very helpful.

[kams]

insider:

My experience with the service of Gain City has been positive so far. Most of their workers are hardworking ones from Malaysia. I stayed above 20th floor and I always find my heart skip a beat whenever they climb out of my windows to clean the fan coil (with some safety measures).


So far, I am satisfied with every team (different team) that had ever serviced my 3 + 1 air cons at home. Can't remember the price coz I bought package which I remember is reasonable.

Yep I agree. I also use Gain City. Their workmen are good & on time.

[joconde]

I’ve been using Kai Leong for 10 yrs, no major problem so far. My 1-yr package is $278 consists of : 2 fan coil 4x per yr, one fan coil 2x per yr. Compressor 2x per yr.


I never compare price so dunno if this is the right rate or not. Just lazy to shop around since am happy with their service.

Many of their technicians are foreigners (looks like myanmar) but at least one of them will be english speaking. Very polite and neat work. Once they even dried up my toilet floor after cleaning. Before vacumming they will inform me first in case the loud noise frighten the kids. Customer svc officer will call/sms to gather feedback from me after each service.

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

I use Gain City too. I am not sure how much it cost cause DH paid for it. Usually I service all 4 units every three months. The most expensive to clean is the compressor which DH now cleans it monthly on his own. The aircon service men actually taught DH how to go about cleaning it (feasible since it is located in our balcony).


The service men also told us that after using the aircon, do not switch it off immediately. We were taught to change the mode to fan, to dry up the fan coil to prevent dirt from sticking onto the moist surface. Switch it off after 10 to 15 minutes later.

Monthly DH will also clean up the filter since we are heavy user.

[corneyAmber]

I am always at a loss when I get items regularly serviced and yer they often end up with add on charges for change of parts due to wear and tear or break down.


I have an aircon maintenance contract and during each service, there will be some decision I have to make. The charges are typically quoted on the spot and we have to decide if we want to make that change. Of course my first concern about whether the change is necessary cannot be validated as I can only use my logic and gut feel. My second concern is the cost.

Do you face the same issue?

I cannot possibly call another company to check the quote for parts so I thought perhaps I can start the sharing here so that we all know roughly what is the price range to accept the proposed change.

I just changed a themister for my compressor at s$150 for ‘made in japan’ parts plus services. Aircon brand daikin. Anyone know if this is reasonable? If not my price will serve as a rough gauge for you when you need to
change yours. Another area I need help is car servicing, same problem. Sometimes I cannot help but feel that they are swindling legally.

[skunk]

ks2me:

Sometimes I cannot help but feel that they are swindling legally.

yes, sometimes they're really swindling legally...because the common consumer lacks industry/technical knowledge. Even if we do have the knowledge, they just all gang up together....supply and demand as we know it has limited effect on them lol

I just changed my car brake pads $175 for 2 front wheels and brake discs $200+ per wheel....so exp i feel like fainting lol

[BlurBee]

Hi ks2me.

How long hv you been using this aircon?
My previous aircon (National) had been using for 5 yrs and didn’t encounter any part change. Only called for regular washing (once a yr).
My current aircon (also daikin) has more problem (only 2 yrs). Did change a part for the compressor but it is FOC (a problem that they know but didn’t rectify when install). Currently also need regular washing (every 6mths).
According to my service guy, daikin is not very reliable.

[BigDevil]

There's another aircon thread http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2917. Not sure whether it touched on what you want to find out...

[hquek]

BlurBee:

According to my service guy, daikin is not very reliable.

HUH? I thought Daikin was one of the better brands. At least in the past, that's why a relative who was in the aircon biz told me.

[corneyAmber]

skunk:

ks2me:

Sometimes I cannot help but feel that they are swindling legally.

yes, sometimes they're really swindling legally...because the common consumer lacks industry/technical knowledge. Even if we do have the knowledge, they just all gang up together....supply and demand as we know it has limited effect on them lol

I just changed my car brake pads $175 for 2 front wheels and brake discs $200+ per wheel....so exp i feel like fainting lol

yes I recently also serviced n changed brake pads, let me go home n pull out the invoice and post here, I also felt it was expensive. Hai...they tell u scary stories then gotta change. So we should join forces to keep ourselves informed. That is why I started this thread. Will start one for car as well.