Aircon servicing every 3 months - Tenant Pay?

[x9200]

@SE: My main concern: I run some appliances 24/7 and all the filters (if there installed) get pretty dirty already in a month or so. I can imagine parts of this dirt would get between the fins if it is left for longer time to accumulate. Is it really that effectively removed with a normal air-con operation? I know Houston is not that far away from Singapore with temperatures and humidity. Different air pollution profile?

[x9200]

Older aircon systems may have small drain pipes that get clogged with algae.

What algae are doing in a place with no light?

[x9200]

A landlord may specify a service provider, but it's more likely that they have found someone with reasonable competency that won't damage the systems by doing unnecessary things (just to get more revenue).

[..]
I appreciate that air-con service is so embedded within the culture of renting in SG that many people might be beyond questioning it. But if you consider it afresh it is a very unusual concept. p.s. I wonder if it has ever been legally challenged.

Nothing to do with legal IMHO. It's like you said embedded, a standard followed for a generation or longer, and people here don't question standards (it's a standard clause sir).

For whatever reason, some long time ago, somebody excluded aircon from the list of standard household appliances - for a typical TA, this is the only complex, electric appliance the LL is responsible for repair without any co-payment from the tenant and I hardly see any objective reason for it. All the rest including the service frequency is likely a consequence of this fact.

[ecureilx]

Older aircon systems may have small drain pipes that get clogged with algae.

What algae are doing in a place with no light?

I guess Maneo meant fungus that forms in accumulated dust in the drains.

[x9200]

I know, I am just teasing him a bit. It's probably not fungus neither, just bacteria bio-film.

[ecureilx]

I know, I am just teasing him a bit. It's probably not fungus neither, just bacteria bio-film.

For an untrained eye, they are all the same

[Jaycee1999]

Hi,
I took a lease in a new build around 18 months ago. The agent said as it was new servicing of the Aircon for the first year was covered by the developer. I think it was serviced once in the first year.

I had totally forgot about it, and now have 6 months left on the lease.

How much grief can the landlord give me if I just have a six month service history at the end of the lease?

[x9200]

Could be nothing at all. All depends on the LL/agent. Me, renting in Singapore for close to 15y now, I was not even once asked to show any evidence that the aircon was serviced, but I know asking for such evidence is rather frequent.

What is in your TA regarding the servicing?

[JR8]

re: Maneo.
Your experiences are notably different to my own. I have found the starting point of TAs I've signed, apart from rent, has been that they're non-negotiable. Try and get clever over 'simple, standard in this country' clauses like an air-con contract and the agent won't put forward your offer to the LL.
This seems to be usually pitched as a requirement to maintain the equipment. But as per my prevs why is the obligation on the tenant, esp. if he doesn't use it? In your experience if you negotiate this clause does the LL instead pay for an annual contract? Or does the suggested need for one seem to disappear?
The last place we rented we did our best to go with alternatives of our own choosing, but it was not welcomed by the agent at all. My impression is and was that the agent garners commission from the service providers and that is why it's a 'requirement'.


p.s. we've also tried to have an arrangement of ad-hoc servicing. Either once a year, or only at the end of the TA to ensure all is in order. But that costs a lot more, not for parts etc, just for the visit. Significantly more, perhaps the same as an annual contract would have been.

[maneo]

Older aircon systems may have small drain pipes that get clogged with algae.

What algae are doing in a place with no light?

I guess Maneo meant fungus that forms in accumulated dust in the drains.

Maybe it's there due to heterotrophic growth.
Maybe there's enough light at the mouth of the drain to get the growth started.
The wet, slimy sludge that I have seen is very green.
I guess that's why aircon professionals call it algae.

[ecureilx]

if I didn't say it before, let me say it again.

In Singapore, aircon servicing is severely under priced, like a lot of things, and the operators need to find innovative ways to upsell. Like how they upsell Gym Membership, Spa, and a lot of other stuff. Heck, even the LPG man tries to hood wink you saying the regulator is up for replacement, and yes, I have new and used regulators. Been there, seen that.

And over a coffee, alliances are made with property agents, for them to have 'exclusive deals' with the air con companies.

The larger companies don't do this hanky panky stuff, but smaller ones have to resort to this chemical wash, capacitor update, and what else you can think of. And, oh, enough of times, after servicing, the gas mysteriously vanished, and we had to call the guy back to refill the gas.

For me, if you have a good 3M Filter for the Air Evoporator (the indoor unit), it just needs servicing once a year. And the outdoor units, a wash once in two years.

Unfortunately, I am a bit scared those tiny aircon ledges, if not, I will go out and check myself after every service , whether they did loosen something - I did apprentice as a Aircon technician.

[maneo]

For me, if you have a good 3M Filter for the Air Evoporator (the indoor unit), it just needs servicing once a year. And the outdoor units, a wash once in two years.

Unfortunately, I am a bit scared those tiny aircon ledges, if not, I will go out and check myself after every service , whether they did loosen something - I did apprentice as a Aircon technician.

Agree.

Note: Duplicate post deleted.

[maneo]

re: Maneo.
Your experiences are notably different to my own. I have found the starting point of TAs I've signed, apart from rent, has been that they're non-negotiable. Try and get clever over 'simple, standard in this country' clauses like an air-con contract and the agent won't put forward your offer to the LL.
This seems to be usually pitched as a requirement to maintain the equipment.

In the past it has been typical that this was considered non-negotiable.
However, with the market being in the renter's favour lately some landlords are realising that it's more expensive to have a apartment vacant longer than to relent on a small, previously "non-negotiable" point.

You also might have a better chance of being able to challenge this if you know how aircon systems are constructed and how they work.

The last place we rented we did our best to go with alternatives of our own choosing, but it was not welcomed by the agent at all. My impression is and was that the agent garners commission from the service providers and that is why it's a 'requirement'.

I have an agent that has a relative in the aircon servicing business, but I don't think she gets any commission. She only mentioned him as a suggestion, not a requirement.
Tried the guy a couple times - nice guy; reasonable fee, but I would only use him for routine cleaning.

p.s. we've also tried to have an arrangement of ad-hoc servicing. Either once a year, or only at the end of the TA to ensure all is in order. But that costs a lot more, not for parts etc, just for the visit. Significantly more, perhaps the same as an annual contract would have been.

I had V-Cool do a servicing almost 9 months ago - their quote was reasonable.
They tried to sell me a contract at the time, but I just told them I preferred to arrange periodic servicing and that I would pay each time at the time (i.e. ad hoc).
So far, they've kept the introductory rate.

[x9200]

Reviving this topic. I have problems with my current aircon service company practically from the time I engaged them for the regular servicing. I think they are the category that attracts people with reasonable price and later cash on you for all non-existent or even "induced" problems. It takes me some effort to maneuver though their BS suggestions.

To the point, during last visit they told me 2 compressors needed to be cleaned and top-up with gas or they can get spoilt (I think they mentioned overheating) and may need to be replaced. These 2 are sys-1 units, ca 6-10yo I believe and for me it sounds like a complete BS, although, you know, I don't want to damage it. Why BS. As an engineer I would be surprise if such appliances have no protection against low gas level that would simply shut down the compressor pump. Same goes for overheating. The worst what I could expect is the unit to shut down or not willing to turn on with some LED blinking. For the allegedly dirty compressor, the worst I could expect with the level of dirt I can see on the fins is lower cooling efficiency. Can somebody with more hands-on experience confirm if my reasoning is correct?

[Brah]

Dunno, ours always seems to peter out around the 3-month mark.

We use them regularly but never all day.

I wonder if they really require less cleaning as the service, and more Freon recharging instead.

Here's a question - do aircons use more electricity than ceiling fans? I would think so and that it depends on the respective units and usage (aircon temp and fan speed, dehumidifier, fan speed and size, etc.).