News Source : Recommend.my
With daily average temperatures of 30°C and above, air-conditioners in Malaysia get heavy usage throughout the year. This is especially true with work-from-home requirements currently in place.
Regular servicing is important to keep your AC in top shape, but how often should this be done? Here is a general guide for a typical Malaysian household:
Daily or nightly use
Every two to four weeks: Clean the air filters
Every four to six months: Regular cleaning
Every eight to 12 months: Chemical cleaning
Once weekly
Every four to six weeks: Clean the air filters
Every six to eight months: Regular cleaning
Every 12 months: Chemical cleaning
One a month or less
Every three months: Clean the air filters
Every 12 months: Chemical cleaning
As with any electrical appliance, however, the frequency of servicing also depends on several factors:
1. Working temperature
How hard does your AC need to work to get to your set temperature? A large room with large windows can make it easier for cool air to escape. If you always set it to 20°C, you may need to service your AC more often.
2. Environment
Do you live in a dusty environment, such as on the ground floor near a highway? Are there lots of bushes growing around your outdoor unit that may clog it up? Are your outdoor units sheltered from sun and rain?
All these factors will cause more dust buildup in your unit, causing it to require more frequent maintenance.
3. Age
The older your unit, the more regular servicing it may need as the parts and seals begin to wear out.
Regular or chemical cleaning?
With regular cleaning, the technician will clean the indoor unit by wiping it, vacuuming it, or washing it with water.
With chemical cleaning, the technician will do the above but will also wash the parts with a chemical solution. This is more effective at removing built-up grime and smells.
In both cases, the outdoor condenser unit will also be checked and washed, and the coolant pressure checked to make sure there are no leaks.
Benefits of regular servicing
Regular servicing is important to ensure the following:
1. Reduce dust and grime buildup
If you have a wall or ceiling fan, a black layer of dust collects on the blades after a while. The same is true for your air-conditioner.
But an AC unit may collect more than just dust. Since it works to cool the air, water vapour can also condense on the coils; and when water and dust mix, it can cause a buildup of bacteria and grime that is much harder to remove.
2. Improve air quality and health
A clean AC unit means cleaner air and better air filtration, so it will not spread germs all over your room. This is particularly important in offices and restaurants where more people come and go.
3. Improve cooling
Dust and grime buildup will cause your air-conditioner to work harder to cool the air. If you always set it to 20°C but it no longer feels as cold as it used to, it might be time for servicing.
4. Improve efficiency and save energy
If your AC is working harder to cool the air, it will consume more electricity. A dirty air conditioner will also cause more wear and tear, and cause breakdowns or overheating.
Cost
General servicing in Malaysia for a wall unit ranges from RM60 to RM100 per unit, depending on the number of units. For cassette ACs, general cleaning will set you back between RM200 and RM250 per unit.
Chemical servicing for a wall unit can range from RM100 to RM135 per unit. For cassette ACs, chemical cleaning will cost in the region of RM320 to RM370 per unit.
To save money, it is advisable to service several units at one go, rather than do them one by one at different times.
