How to make your air cond last longer (Part 2)

Posted on by
Reply

 

This post continues from our previous,How to make your air cond last longer (Part 1)
Air cond not cooling as well as it used to? Maybe it’s time to get dirty and check the air filter.

Dust is your enemy

When the air cond evaporator is in action it takes in the heat from its surroundings. Dust particles are present in this hot air. The air filter prevents the dust from getting to the evaporator coil. If dust accumulates on the evaporator coil it will not work efficiently in absorbing the heat from your room, that is, it won’t cool your room as quickly as it would normally.

If you live in a dusty environment, you’ll need to clean the air filter regularly. Do this by removing the front grill of your indoor unit to expose the air filter. Then gently pull off the filters and wash it under running tap water. If the dust is stubbornly sticky brush the filter gently with a sponge or brush. Dry the filter thoroughly under the sun before putting it back into the air conditioner. Needless to say, you shouldn’t be running the air cond when the filter is removed. More importantly you should read the operating manual before beginning the cleaning processs.

Have your air conditioner serviced frequently

There are two types of services that can be carried out, ‘normal’ or ‘chemical’. In a normal service, the air filter, grills, and exterior parts are cleaned and the other operating parameters such as the gas pressure, running ampere and temperature are checked. In a chemical service, the air conditioner is dismantled for the condenser and evaporator coils to be cleaned with alkaline-based solutions. We recommend that you carry out normal maintenance monthly or every two months. If the air conditioner is not in regular use then maintenance can be less frequent. A chemical maintenance is required if the normal service does not improve the efficiency of the air cond. Again, depending on usage levels, chemical maintenance for an air cond may be carried out from two to five times over a 10-year period.

Buy the right size or unit for your room

Installing an undersized unit is a principle mistake home owners make. A unit with insufficient BTU will have to work doubly hard to achieve the desired temperature. You’ll also find you have to run the aircond for longer periods. This puts stress on the compressor and will surely shorten the life span of the unit. Our previous post on top questions to ask when shopping for an air conditioner offers tips on how to pick the right size for your room.

Switch it off

Yes, Malaysians love their air conditioned homes but really, there’s no need to keep it humming the whole night. Use timers to set the AC to switch off after a couple of hours. Keep the space enclosed and use good old fashion fans to circulate the cool air. An average temperature of 24C – 26C is comfortable enough for most people.

There we hope you enjoyed reading these tips. A little attention will go a long way to making your air cond last and saving you some money.

How to make your air cond last longer (Part 1)

Posted on by
Reply

 
 

Here’s a quick fact. Fresh out of the box, an air cond can be expected to keep you happy and comfortable for a good 10 years, at least. Provided you give it enough care. Think about how you’ve treated your air cond since you bought it. Five years old and only serviced once? Don’t expect that little monster to make it to its 10th birthday. So here’s some wise advice to make your air cond last.


We’ve broken them up into two parts to make digesting easier.

Know your air cond parts and how they work

Understanding how your air cond works is the starting point of learning how to care for it. The main components of a cooling system are the

  • condenser coil,
  • evaporator coil and
  • the compressor.

A liquid called refrigerant runs through a circuit of these components to keep your room cool.

The air cond draws heat out from your room when the refrigerant, in liquid form, flows through the evaporator coil which is located in the indoor unit. Heat is extracted by the air cond because the refrigerant is at a significantly lower temperature than that of the room and the heat is absorbed in the evaporation process. A fan blows across the coil to circulate the cold air.

As the refrigerant evaporates into a gas, the gas travels to the compression chamber located in the outer unit. A compressor applies pressure to the gas, and pumps the hot gas through the condenser coil (usually located in the outer unit of the air conditioner). As the gas is much hotter than the air outside, condensation occurs, turning the gas back into liquid for the cooling cycle to continue until the desired temperature indoors is achieved.

Keep the doors closed

The cooling process shows us that the compressor has to keep working as long as the temperature indoors is not low enough. The best way to minimise stress on the compressor is to maintain a stable climate by keeping the doors closed when the air cond is on.

Now that you’ve been acquainted with your air-conditioner you may from time-to-time, have to get your hands dirty. In the second part of this post we will discuss the air filter and how to clean it, and other measures you can take to make your air cond last longer.

Fujiaire’s 3-year Full Body Warranty

Posted on by
Reply

Seen our TVCs lately on the 3-year Full Body Warranty we offer?

  • We’re offering something that’s a first in the industry — 3-year warranty on Fujiaire units. (Not just the compressor, but the actual indoor unit as well!)
  • Every purchase comes with a standard 1-year warranty that covers all parts and labour costs.
  • The 2nd year warranty also covers all parts and is free.
  • Then when you register online, you’ll get an extra 1-year warranty that covers all parts.
  • Which means, by registering online, you get to enjoy a complete 3-year warranty!
  • Plus, you can register online (no need to send in those warranty cards you never get round to sending)

For more details, call 03-61851913 / 03-6185 8032

Top questions to ask when buying an air conditioner

Posted on by

You’ve moved into your very own place and although you miss mom and dad you’re secretly happy you’re not living by their rules anymore. It’s ok, we won’t tell :)  In this baking heat you can’t go without outfitting your apartment, or at least your room, with an air conditioner. But with so many brands and types of air conds in the market, picking one can be a hair-splitting experience.

Whether you’re after sleek design, quiet performance or affordability you want to be sure you ask your dealer these questions when you shop for an air conditioner.

What is the air conditioner cooling capacity and how much do I need ?

What you want is an air cond with optimum cooling power which depends on the size of the room. An unit that’s underpowered will be useless on a really hot day. A unit too strong and you’d be trembling all night – not to mention the unnecessary over consumption of energy.

Most people will tell you to judge an air conditioner’s cooling capacity by horsepower (HP). However what the HP refers to is the force of the motor that drives the compressor. The compressor works to drive cooling fluid or refrigerant through to the condenser. It doesn’t tell you how efficient the air cond is at cooling. This means two air conditioners with the same horsepower could produce significantly different cooling results.

To accurately measure cooling capacity, pay attention to the BTU (British Thermal Unit). To estimate how many BTUs required, follow the rule of thumb of 1,000 BTU for every 10sqft (about 1sq metre). You may need more BTUs for better cooling depending on other factors such as the number of windows in the room, the number of people expected to occupy the room, and whether the windows are facing the morning or afternoon sun.

What are the warranty and service conditions?

With warranties these days coming attached with a long list of conditions and disclaimers you can’t be blamed to think they are pretty meaningless. A matter of concern would be the tenure or period of the warranty. Longer warranty periods are valuable since they cover service costs which may rise as the air cond unit ages. Check which part does the warranty apply. Does it cover only the outer unit or compressor? What about the in-door unit? That could fail unexpectedly too.

Where is the air conditioner made?

You might wonder why this is relevant. Isn’t everything made in China these days? Well, not entirely so. The air conditioner brands available in Malaysia are mostly manufactured in China, Korea, Thailand, and domestically. We can’t make judgments about manufacturing standards since that’s more related to the brand than the country in which an air cond is made.

However, being a Malaysian company we’re obviously proud of Malaysian quality and standards in air conditioner manufacturing. With made-in-Malaysia air conditioners you’ll find the advantage of having technical staff readily available to service and troubleshoot any problems with your unit.

Which air conditioner brand is better?

We find ourselves attached to brand names whether on purpose or not. It could be because of something good you heard your friend say about it. Or that glaring billboard ad you see every day as you drive to work.

Choosing a brand has to be weighed against its cost, of course. In general, air cond brands can be sorted into two categories: those that specialise in manufacturing air conds, like Fujiaire and general electrical appliances manufacturers such as Sharp or Pensonic. You should expect a specialist brand to provide superior after-sales services so ask around to be sure. Either way, your best bet is to go with an established specialist air cond brand that has been around for some time.