air con service tips

[infinity11]

it is time to call the local pattaya folks
and have someone come service a bedroom unit

but each time they come i feel they are being lazy
overlooking something or cutting corners
and the air is cooler sometimes but not as cold as i dream it could be

so what to look out for and make sure they check, fix, service and do?

how do i make sure they are topping off the freon correctly
there are usually 3 gauges that move and change

once they told me 73 or 75 psi was good

last time it looked like 40

<deleted>???

is freon that expensive that they dont want to top it?

any and all useful tips please and thanks

[infinity11]

also who is the best for service in pattaya?

[bazmlb]

also who is the best for service in pattaya?

for service I have found Irish air to be very good, but bought new units from PK air in Thepprasit rd and happy with there on install and price, they also do service

[bankruatsteve]

For A/C service cleaning (which I suggest everyone should do at least once a year), both the inside and outside units should have panels removed and thoroughly cleaned. The inside unit gets mold build up and really slimy and they have the spray and clean for that. The outside unit gets dust, etc. on the heat sink fins and just needs to be sprayed. The coolant level should be checked. That's my experience.

[h90]

For A/C service cleaning (which I suggest everyone should do at least once a year), both the inside and outside units should have panels removed and thoroughly cleaned. The inside unit gets mold build up and really slimy and they have the spray and clean for that. The outside unit gets dust, etc. on the heat sink fins and just needs to be sprayed. The coolant level should be checked. That's my experience.

There is inside that fan....a long round rotating thing and it gets more and more full with dirt (like the fan in Computer).

And I never saw anyone take it out and clean it (needs 5 min if you know how to do it and 30 min if you need to figure it out).

[h90]

What I usually saw is, connecting 1 hose and filling. That device that I have reads actually

0 for the right pressure

and -10 -20 -30 and the other side +10 +20 +30

I don't think any of these guys do anything more special than that.

[infinity11]

unfortunately i am on an upper floor with no balcony and the outside part/unit is almost impossible to reach/get to

they attempt to clean it (outside unit, called a compressor?) with a water hose, but that seems pitiful as there needs to be decent pressure to clean like that, no?

i can see rust around the freon fitting and what looks like a filter while the freon tubing insulation has long been decomposing

Edited February 19, 2014 by infinity11

[kyrre]

The only real maintenance you need is cleaning and a check. Fan noise, loose electric cable, blocked drain, etc.

If you need top up on freon you have a poorly installed unit as there should not be any leeks or reason for topping up without finding a leak.

I am not sure about the exact reading regarding the pressure. But when aircon has cooled down the room you can measure the inside temperature from the air stream and the low pressure side should be 4-5 degree lower at the gauge.

Normally you also can see it on the suction pipe outside, it should be cold and wet, but without ice.

The cleaning part is something all can do.. its just about power off/disconnect taking the cover off and spray cleaner on and rinse... The cleaner cost THB80 / litre. Or you can buy spray can.

Otherwise it is just dust cleaning and if first service after install you can check/tighten the cable connections.

[kyrre]

unfortunately i am on an upper floor with no balcony and the outside part/unit is almost impossible to reach/get to

they attempt to clean it (outside unit, called a compressor?) with a water hose, but that seems pitiful as there needs to be decent pressure to clean like that, no?

i can see rust around the freon fitting and what looks like a filter while the freon tubing insulation has long been decomposing

Get a pipe with 90 degree bend and flatten the tip so you get more pressure... Can be a copper pipe that fit inside the garden hose...

For the cleaning solution you can use a spray can with the hose/handle on.

[infinity11]

thanks folks

i had the same thai guy come as the last couple of times

i had to get on his case to make sure he did NOT cut corners and do as i request

he replaced the capacitor, checked the freon, and cleaned some, and now it is about as cool as it has ever been

but i am asking myself why it took a few visits over the years to get it decently cool

sigh

[rhinoboy]

Curious, How much was the capacitor replacement? I just had a guy come to clean and charge, which he had no intention of doing, and staright away he cracked open the outside box and said. "This no good" Well, did he test it? no, so i said no thanks to the replacement and just had him charge it with gas. I already cleaned it and I keep my air con unit inside and outside very clean. So I watched some youtube movies and learned how to ck and then replace the capacitor as it was intermittenet which was what my unit was also doing, soemtimes cooling, sometimes not. I paid 330baht for one at a supply place in CM. The tubular rotating fan inside the home is a real mother to clean , but it mut be done. If you can take it out its easy, but while its in there its a real bear to clean. Well worth it though. My unit is 5 yrs old and should probably replaced it with a new one, they are so much better. But $$$$, and my monthly elec bill is 1000baht with it running 12 hrs a day in a 45 sq ft unit. I also run HD TV 6hrs, and have a hot bath everyday, plus cook for total of 1hr on elec stove. NOt many lights on. Keep the air con set at 22.

[infinity11]

1000 a month for air con use???

consider yourself VERY fortunate

it cost me 900 baht total for service and the part

so 500 for service and 400 for part, sounds about right

the old capacitor said 'capacitor' on it (the new one doesn't) and i asked and got to keep the OLD part

(a trick i learned from having used cars)

[Naam]

Curious, How much was the capacitor replacement? I just had a guy come to clean and charge, which he had no intention of doing, and staright away he cracked open the outside box and said. "This no good" Well, did he test it? no, so i said no thanks to the replacement and just had him charge it with gas. I already cleaned it and I keep my air con unit inside and outside very clean. So I watched some youtube movies and learned how to ck and then replace the capacitor as it was intermittenet which was what my unit was also doing, soemtimes cooling, sometimes not. I paid 330baht for one at a supply place in CM. The tubular rotating fan inside the home is a real mother to clean , but it mut be done. If you can take it out its easy, but while its in there its a real bear to clean. Well worth it though. My unit is 5 yrs old and should probably replaced it with a new one, they are so much better. But $$$$, and my monthly elec bill is 1000baht with it running 12 hrs a day in a 45 sq ft unit. I also run HD TV 6hrs, and have a hot bath everyday, plus cook for total of 1hr on elec stove. NOt many lights on. Keep the air con set at 22.

today dear children...

we learn about a miracle airconditioner which is set at 22ºC, running 12h/d and the total electricity bill including hot water, cooking, fridge and TV is only 1,000 Baht a month.

"yes Little Joey... tell us why would you call that pure refined bullshit?"

[Crossy]

Curious, How much was the capacitor replacement? I just had a guy come to clean and charge, which he had no intention of doing, and staright away he cracked open the outside box and said. "This no good" Well, did he test it? no, so i said no thanks to the replacement and just had him charge it with gas. I already cleaned it and I keep my air con unit inside and outside very clean. So I watched some youtube movies and learned how to ck and then replace the capacitor as it was intermittenet which was what my unit was also doing, soemtimes cooling, sometimes not. I paid 330baht for one at a supply place in CM. The tubular rotating fan inside the home is a real mother to clean , but it mut be done. If you can take it out its easy, but while its in there its a real bear to clean. Well worth it though. My unit is 5 yrs old and should probably replaced it with a new one, they are so much better. But $$$$, and my monthly elec bill is 1000baht with it running 12 hrs a day in a 45 sq ft unit. I also run HD TV 6hrs, and have a hot bath everyday, plus cook for total of 1hr on elec stove. NOt many lights on. Keep the air con set at 22.

today dear children...

we learn about a miracle airconditioner which is set at 22ºC, running 12h/d and the total electricity bill including hot water, cooking, fridge and TV is only 1,000 Baht a month.

"yes Little Joey... tell us why would you call that pure refined bullshit?"

But it is a 45 sq ft unit Naam (my bathroom is bigger), probably a 9,000 BTU unit which would be well over sized and likely only running on a 25% duty cycle.

Potentially <400 Baht usage for the A/C

EDIT Actually my bed is bigger!

[rhinoboy]

Sorry, 450 sq ft. Yah thats tyhe latest bill i got. 45 sq ft, yah thats about the size of my fridge, ha.

[Naam]

Curious, How much was the capacitor replacement? I just had a guy come to clean and charge, which he had no intention of doing, and staright away he cracked open the outside box and said. "This no good" Well, did he test it? no, so i said no thanks to the replacement and just had him charge it with gas. I already cleaned it and I keep my air con unit inside and outside very clean. So I watched some youtube movies and learned how to ck and then replace the capacitor as it was intermittenet which was what my unit was also doing, soemtimes cooling, sometimes not. I paid 330baht for one at a supply place in CM. The tubular rotating fan inside the home is a real mother to clean , but it mut be done. If you can take it out its easy, but while its in there its a real bear to clean. Well worth it though. My unit is 5 yrs old and should probably replaced it with a new one, they are so much better. But $$$$, and my monthly elec bill is 1000baht with it running 12 hrs a day in a 45 sq ft unit. I also run HD TV 6hrs, and have a hot bath everyday, plus cook for total of 1hr on elec stove. NOt many lights on. Keep the air con set at 22.

today dear children...

we learn about a miracle airconditioner which is set at 22ºC, running 12h/d and the total electricity bill including hot water, cooking, fridge and TV is only 1,000 Baht a month.

"yes Little Joey... tell us why would you call that pure refined bullshit?"

But it is a 45 sq ft unit Naam (my bathroom is bigger), probably a 9,000 BTU unit which would be well over sized and likely only running on a 25% duty cycle.

Potentially <400 Baht usage for the A/C

EDIT Actually my bed is bigger!

apologies, mea culpa! my old eyes and my old brain cells are not programmed to identify "units" having an area of 45sqf except when discussing a wine storage in a private home.

but a wine storage usually does not contain an electric stove, a fridge and an HD-TV.

[rhinoboy]

Sorry, 450 sq ft. Yah thats tyhe latest bill i got. 45 sq ft, yah thats about the size of my fridge, ha.

[rhinoboy]

Cant afford wine here so no need for a wine cellar or whatever, would like to have some though.

[rhinoboy]

Anyhow,

I wanted to relay to folks that this Capacitor was causing a lot of trouble with the air con, it would work for while then stop cooling. It kept running all the while but not operating the way its suppposed to. And to buy one of these for 330baht and replace it solved the issue.

[infinity11]

The real question is how long will the new capacitor hold out.

Yours AND mine.

I have purchased NEW things in Thailand only to see them fail in a very short time, or actually be broken or defective from the start!!!!!

[Naam]

The real question is how long will the new capacitor hold out.

Yours AND mine.

I have purchased NEW things in Thailand only to see them fail in a very short time, or actually be broken or defective from the start!!!!!

main culprit for the breakdown of parts like starting capitors/relays is not the quality of the parts but the Thai fluctuating power supply (brown-outs/low voltage). i spent a small fortune on starting capacitors and especially relays the first 1½ years till i installed a custom built gadget that shuts off the individual phase if voltage drops >10%.