You’re relaxing at home when you notice it out of the corner of your eye—the little light on your aircon is blinking. It’s not the steady green light you’re used to. It’s flashing, and the aircon might have even stopped blowing cold air.
What is it trying to tell you?
Think of that blinking light as your aircon’s way of talking. It’s a warning sign that something is wrong, and the system has put itself into a fault mode to prevent further damage. While it can be worrying, the good news is that many of the causes are simple to fix.
Ignoring it, however, is never a good idea. What might be a small issue today could turn into a major breakdown tomorrow if you don’t address it.
So, what could that blinking light mean? Let’s go through the most common reasons we see here in Singapore.
The First, Easiest Step: A Simple Power Reset
Sometimes, the issue can be a temporary electrical glitch, perhaps from a brief power surge. So, before you do anything else, try a simple reset.
- Turn the aircon off at the main power switch on your wall.
- Wait for one full minute.
- Turn the power back on.
If the light stops blinking and the unit starts cooling normally, you might have just had a temporary hiccup. If the blinking starts again, it means there’s a real problem that needs to be solved.
Decoding the Blinks: Common Causes
1. Airflow Problems (The Easiest to Check Yourself)
Poor air circulation is one of the most common reasons an aircon light will start blinking. Your system is basically telling you that it can’t “breathe” properly.
- Dirty/Clogged Air Filters: This is the #1 suspect. When your filters are clogged with dust, the aircon gets suffocated. It can’t pull in enough air, which causes other parts to strain and even freeze.
- Frozen Indoor Coils: A direct result of bad airflow is a frozen evaporator coil. The coil gets too cold and ice forms on it, blocking air completely. The system detects this and shuts down, flashing a light to warn you. You might notice it works for a few minutes and then stops again.
- Blocked Vents or Louvers: Check that nothing is blocking the airflow. This could be furniture pushed up against the indoor unit, or the horizontal louver (the flap that directs air) being loose or stuck.
2. Water Drainage Problems (The Sneaky Culprit)
This is a very common issue in Singapore’s humid climate.
- Clogged Drain Pipe: Your aircon pulls a lot of moisture from the air, which collects in a pan and flows out through a drain pipe. Over time, this pipe can get clogged with clear, jelly-like slime. When the water can’t drain away, it backs up and a safety sensor called a float switch is triggered. This switch shuts down the compressor to prevent water from overflowing and damaging your home, and it will make the light blink to let you know.
3. Technical Faults (Time to Call a Professional)
If you’ve checked your filters and the drain seems clear, the blinking light is likely pointing to a technical fault that needs an expert.
- Electrical or PCB Fault: The problem could be with the main power supply to the unit or, more commonly, with the internal printed circuit board (PCB) – your aircon’s “brain.” This is definitely not a DIY job due to the risk of electric shock.
- Low Refrigerant (Gas Leak): Your aircon system is a sealed loop. If the refrigerant (gas) level is low, it means you have a leak. The system is smart enough to detect this problem, and it will stop working and flash a warning light to prevent damage to the compressor.
- Failing Compressor or Fan Motor: If a major part like the outdoor fan motor or the compressor itself is having trouble (for example, overheating), the system’s computer will shut it down and trigger a blinking light.
How Vedha Aircon Solves the Mystery
A blinking light can mean many different things, and guessing can be frustrating. At Vedha Aircon, we take a systematic approach to find the root cause quickly.
Our experienced technicians will:
- Check the basics first: We’ll inspect your filters, coils, and louvers to ensure there are no airflow restrictions.
- Thoroughly inspect the drainage system: We will check and clear the drain pipe to ensure there are no clogs causing a water backup.
- Diagnose the error code: We use the blinking light itself (and sometimes specialised tools) to read the specific error code from your aircon’s computer. This tells us exactly which part is reporting a fault.
- Test the components: Based on the error code, we test the specific electrical parts, sensors, or motors to confirm the failure before replacing anything.
We believe in finding the real problem and providing an honest, upfront solution.
That blinking light is a message you shouldn’t ignore. While it could be a simple fix, it’s also a valuable early warning for a more serious issue.
Stop worrying about what that light means. Call the friendly experts at Vedha Construction at 96540044 or send us an email to schedule a check-up.
Vedha Aircon Repair 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.
