It’s a question every Singaporean homeowner asks: “How often do I really need to get my aircon serviced?”
Some people say you need it every few months, while others claim they haven’t serviced their unit in years and it works just fine. With so many different opinions, it can be confusing to know what’s best for your aircon and your wallet.
As experienced technicians, we can tell you that regular aircon maintenance is not just an upsell—it’s essential maintenance, just like changing the oil in your car. An aircon is a hardworking machine, and in Singapore’s heat and humidity, it works very hard.
Why Regular Aircon Maintenance Frequency is a Must, Not a Maybe
Before we talk about how often, let’s quickly cover why it’s so important. Sticking to a regular service schedule brings four huge benefits:
- Lower Electricity Bills: A well-maintained aircon runs more efficiently. Over a year of use, an un-serviced unit can lose about 5% of its efficiency, meaning it has to work harder and use more electricity to keep you cool. Regular servicing can save you up to 25% on your monthly energy costs.
- Longer Lifespan for Your Aircon: Dirt and grime put extra strain on all the moving parts of your aircon. This leads to premature wear and tear. A simple annual service can catch small problems before they turn into major, expensive breakdowns, helping your unit last for 15-20 years instead of just 10.
- Better Air Quality for Your Family: The inside of your aircon is dark and damp—the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria. If you don’t clean it, your aircon will start circulating these harmful particles around your home, which can trigger allergies and other respiratory issues.
- Keeps Your Warranty Valid: Many manufacturers state in their warranty terms that the unit must be professionally serviced every year. If you need to make a warranty claim and can’t provide proof of regular maintenance, they might refuse to honour it.
The Vedha Recommendation: How Often to Service
So, what’s the magic number? Based on our experience with thousands of units across Singapore, here is our simple recommendation.
As a general rule, you should have your aircon professionally serviced at least ONCE a year.
However, this frequency can change depending on your usage and environment.
- For Normal Home Use (e.g., on for 8-10 hours at night): A thorough professional servicing once a year is usually enough to keep your unit in great shape. This is the most common scenario for HDB flats and condos.
- For Heavy Home Use (e.g., on for most of the day and night, for WFH): If your aircon is running almost constantly, we recommend servicing it every 6 to 9 months. The extra runtime means dust and dirt build up much faster.
- For Commercial Use (e.g., offices, retail shops): For commercial units that run all day, every day, quarterly servicing (every 3-4 months) is often necessary to ensure reliability and efficiency.
- Other Factors to Consider: Do you have pets? Do you live near a construction site or a busy road? Do you smoke indoors? If you answered yes to any of these, your air filters will clog up much faster, and you may benefit from more frequent servicing.
DIY Cleaning vs. Professional Servicing
It’s important to know the difference between the simple cleaning you should do yourself and what a professional service includes.
What YOU Should Do (Every Month): The most important thing you can do is clean your air filters. Simply slide them out, wash them gently with water, let them dry completely, and put them back. Doing this once a month will make a huge difference to your aircon’s performance and efficiency.
What WE Do (Annually or Bi-Annually): A professional service from Vedha goes much deeper.
- Deep Chemical Cleaning: We use special, safe chemicals to thoroughly wash the indoor evaporator coils and the blower wheel, removing built-up grime and mold that you can’t reach.
- Outdoor Unit Cleaning: We wash the outdoor condenser coils to ensure it can release heat effectively.
- Drainage System Flush: We clear the condensate drain pipe of any slime or blockages to prevent water leakage.
- System Checks: We inspect the electrical components, check refrigerant pressures to identify potential leaks, and ensure the whole system is running safely and correctly.
Think of it this way: you clean the filters to handle the daily dust, and we come in once a year to give your whole system a proper “health check” and deep cleaning. This small investment is the best way to prevent big problems and keep your aircon running smoothly for years to come.
If it’s been more than a year since your last service, it’s time for a check-up. Call the friendly, professional team at Vedha Construction at 96540044 or send us an email to book your appointment.
Vedha Aircon: Reliable Service, Fair Prices, No Fuss.
We specialize in Aircon installation, repair, and service. We have all type & model of recon compressor, full set & fancoil. Our technicians are highly proficient in their respective field and repairs and fixes aircon of various brands.
