Types of Aircon Services in Singapore:
What Each One Includes

City Cooling’s aircon services fall into three groups. Cleaning covers general servicing, chemical wash, chemical overhaul and condenser cleaning. Fixing covers gas top-up, repair and replacement, and piping. Installing covers new units. Each one does a different job, works on a different part of the system and is priced differently.

The table below shows what each service does at a glance. The sections after it explain what is included, what is not, and when to book which. All prices are per unit and before 9% GST.

What types of aircon services are there in Singapore?

A split aircon has an indoor unit (the fan coil) and an outdoor unit (the condenser). City Cooling’s cleaning services differ by how far the indoor unit is taken apart, and the outdoor unit is cleaned as a separate service. Fixing services deal with refrigerant, failed parts and pipes rather than dirt.

Buying a new unit is a separate job. See aircon installation. For every rate in one place, see the aircon servicing price list.

What does general aircon servicing include?

General servicing is City Cooling’s routine clean of the indoor unit. The technician cleans and checks the air filter and filter cover, cleans the indoor cooling coil, flushes the drainage system, checks the deodorising filter, checks the compressor’s suction and discharge pressure, and lubricates the fan motor bearing if needed.

It also includes a check of the outdoor condenser coil and a test of the electrical parts, and it carries a 90-day workmanship warranty. Aircon general servicing costs $35 for one unit, $55 for two and $70 for three, with no transport charge.

Between visits, the one job you can safely do yourself is cleaning the filter. Our guide on how to clean your aircon filter shows how.

What general servicing does not include

Chemical cleaning is not part of general servicing. If your unit needs the coil or fan coil chemically cleaned, that is a chemical wash or a chemical overhaul. The outdoor condenser is checked but not cleaned; cleaning it is a separate service, covered below.

What is an aircon chemical wash?

A chemical wash is a deeper clean of the indoor unit than general servicing. City Cooling describes it as flushing without full dismantlement: the covers, filters and fan coil are removed and flushed with a biodegradable chemical solution, then the unit is reassembled, the drainage is checked and the cooling is tested.

It suits a unit that is still working reasonably well but has built up dust, mould or grime that regular servicing cannot remove. Typical signs are a mild musty smell or airflow that is slightly weaker than it used to be. This kind of deep cleaning is less involved than an overhaul because the unit is not fully taken apart.

A chemical wash costs $85 for a wall-mounted fan coil and $480 for a ceiling ducted unit. If you are deciding between a wash and an overhaul, our side-by-side guide to chemical wash vs chemical overhaul covers the differences in detail.

What is an aircon chemical overhaul?

A chemical overhaul is the most thorough clean City Cooling offers for the indoor unit. The fan coil unit is fully dismantled, every component goes into a chemical bath, the water tray and pipes are unblocked, and the fan bearings are lubricated before the unit is put back together and tested.

It is the service to choose when a unit has not been serviced for 12 months or more, is leaking water, or has a musty smell that a lighter clean has not removed. Because every part is cleaned separately, it restores cooling and helps prevent serious water leaks.

A chemical overhaul costs $130 for a wall-mounted 9K to 12K BTU unit, $160 for 18K BTU, $180 for 24K BTU and $380 for a ceiling cassette. Read more about aircon chemical overhaul.

Does the outdoor unit need its own service?

Yes. General servicing and servicing contracts cover the indoor units. The outdoor unit, the condenser that many people call “the compressor”, is cleaned as a separate service. Its coil and fins release the heat taken out of your rooms, and when they clog, the system cools less and the compressor works harder.

There are two options. A normal service ($80) removes debris, brushes the fins and washes the coil with water. A chemical wash ($120) applies a coil-cleaning chemical to break down oily or caked grime before a full rinse, which suits units near main roads, kitchens or construction sites. City Cooling can clean the condenser on the same visit as your general servicing. See aircon condenser cleaning.

When do you need a gas top-up instead of a clean?

Cleaning does not restore refrigerant. If your aircon is low on gas, it has to work harder to cool the room, which raises energy use and can damage the compressor. A gas top-up replaces the lost refrigerant, but if the gas keeps running low, the leak needs to be found first, because topping up alone is a temporary fix.

A chemical overhaul does not fix gas problems either: refrigerant levels are checked during an overhaul, but a separate top-up is needed if the gas is low. Prices depend on the refrigerant: R22 $50 to $80, R410A $80 to $120 and R32 $100 to $150. See aircon gas refill and our article on why your aircon keeps losing gas.

When does it become a repair, piping or replacement job?

When a part has failed rather than got dirty, no amount of cleaning will fix it. The job then becomes a diagnosis and repair, a pipe repair, or in some cases a replacement unit. Each has its own service page, linked below, so you can see what the work involves.

Repair or replacement

Common failures include faulty compressors, malfunctioning fans and damaged coils, and they should be dealt with early to prevent further damage. Some components are beyond repair, or the unit may simply be too old, and replacement can then be the more cost-effective choice. See aircon repair and replacement.

Aircon piping

Aircon piping carries refrigerant between the indoor and outdoor units and drains water away. Wear and damage can cause leaks and blockages that affect cooling and cause water leaking. City Cooling installs, repairs and replaces refrigerant lines and drain pipes. See aircon piping.

Which services does an aircon servicing contract cover?

A City Cooling servicing contract books general servicing of your indoor units 3 or 4 times a year, with priority scheduling. It covers general servicing only. Outdoor condenser servicing, chemical wash, chemical overhaul and gas top-up are not included and are charged separately at the listed prices.

Contracts are for HDB flats, condos and landed homes; offices and shops have separate commercial maintenance contracts. See aircon servicing contracts for plans and prices.

Which aircon service should you book first?

If you already know the symptom, such as a musty smell, water dripping or weak airflow, start with our guide to the signs your aircon needs servicing, which matches each sign to the service to book. If you are not sure, book a check before paying for a deeper service.

A check costs $35 per unit. The technician inspects the unit and confirms the scope before any work starts. WhatsApp us on 9890 9677 or book an appointment.

Frequently asked questions

How many types of aircon services does City Cooling offer?

City Cooling offers general servicing, chemical wash, chemical overhaul, condenser cleaning (normal service or chemical wash), gas top-up, repair and replacement, piping and installation. General servicing is also available on an annual servicing contract of 3 or 4 visits a year.

Is a chemical wash included in general servicing?

No. Chemical cleaning is not part of general servicing. A chemical wash is a separate service at $85 for a wall-mounted fan coil, and it flushes the fan coil with a chemical solution, which general servicing does not do.

Does general servicing clean the outdoor unit?

No. General servicing checks the outdoor condenser coil but does not clean it. Condenser cleaning is a separate service at $80 for a normal service or $120 for a chemical wash per unit, and it can be done on the same visit as your general servicing.

What is the difference between aircon servicing and aircon repair?

Servicing cleans and checks a unit that is working. Repair fixes a part that has failed, such as a compressor, fan or coil. If cleaning does not solve the problem, the technician will diagnose the fault and advise whether to repair or replace.

Can several services be done in one visit?

Yes, condenser cleaning can be booked together with general servicing of your indoor units, so both are done on the same visit. Ask for it when you book.