All About Aircon (New, Maintenance, related components)
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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!
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Dreamgear:
I also saw the LG one... Quite tempted to change. Is it cheaper to buy from places like courts or from air con service providers?
Not quite sure about the price difference. But on Saturday ST, you can check and compare prices from various retailers like Harvey Norman, Gains, Best Denki.....etc.
Personally, I think that it may be better to get from the large retailers for backup service if anything goes wrong, unless you can get good recommendation from friends or whoever about aircon service providers. Just my opinion. -
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. -
kwcllf:
Personally, I think that it may be better to get from the large retailers for backup service if anything goes wrong, unless you can get good recommendation from friends or whoever about aircon service providers. Just my opinion.
We observed that the Btu (aircon capacity? eg. bigger space will require higher BTU) for those units in the malls are usually rather lower as compared to those provided by the service providers. So it really depends on your needs and just need to shop around.
Also, watch out of BTU, don't just look at price point. Sometimes the BTU is the one that is driving the cost difference. -
If your house has a complex configuration, I suggest you talk to the aircon sellers and ask them to calculate for you whether the BTU, which is the capacity of the aircon, is sufficient to cool the area you want to cool (bedrooms, living room, or even kitchen). Ask them for the technical person if they have one, as the salesperson will likely just ask you and then just smoke you in order to close a deal. Some years back at work, i was overseeing a project at my workplace that involved replacing the whole building’s aircon system. It takes place once every 10 years, with the huge compressors, AHUs, FCUs, all to be replaced. Budget was >$1 m upon final tender acceptance i think. I am not technical nor trained in engineering, and we engaged a consultant to help us check the contractor’s work. The consultant had a formula to calculate whether the capacity of the unit is sufficient to cool down the room, and this is based on the volume of the room. If your house has a high ceiling, it will require higher capacity. My parents were staying on the top floor in a HDB flat, and the ceiling was I think 6 or 12 in higher than normal floors, according to the contractor who told my parents need to charge more for tiling up the whole kitchen and toilets 29 yr ago.
From my own experience, the position of the aircon also plays a part. I have a Daikin in my living room and it could only ‘sweep’ within a 60 deg angle. The problem is it was situated just above the sofa, so when we needed to switch it on, the breeze would not blow directly at us sitting on the sofa, and it will take a long time sitting there to feel the cool air. Having said that, it is also not advisable to put aircon above TV or other electrical stuff in case it will one day leak. Same goes for furniture.
And the last thing is, not sure if you believe, Fengshui. Some of the IDs and contractors will have some advice on this playing some part in the positioning of the aircon too.
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… -
atrecord:
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?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... -
slmkhoo:
well, last i heard 8 years ago was that permits were no longer required for aircon installation, when i installed a smaller system in my parents' flat (we stayed in the same block) when they were taking care of DS after he was born.
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?
But i didn't ask if it was possible to install a bigger-capacity unit then. I only remember that the bigger-capacity unit required <not sure how many ?Ampere?> power supply but the flat at that time only could support lower limit. I thought it was a case of power supply will trip, or it simply cannot work, or what?
But I'm sure the aircon sellers will know the answer to this. If they don't, better to go to another shop... -
It is rather interesting to learn that buying ac is actually not as simple as it seems. Just walk into the shop and choose the best priced system 3… There appear to be many considerations including the ability to support the capacity, space considerations and hence BTU, HDB guidelines, etc…
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yes, so maybe i can make a better salesmen than many, right :evil:
but i didn't need to consider much when i got my own and for my parents, as no choice for former, and i was not particular for the latter.
Oh, then there is trunking/piping. Some contractors will tell you there is limitation, so can only put the blower in some location and not others as it is too far, and so wind not strong enough. I heard someone said this is BS. The only reason why contractors say so is to minimise trunking/piping to save costs. If you have 2 rooms side by side, there is good chance contractor only used one set of trunking/piping, then split into 2 and knocked a hole in the wall to reach the blower in the next room, so the 2 blowers are actually just separated by the wall... -
MMM:
MMM, pls pm me the aircon contact. Many thanks.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.
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