Why is my aircon still not cold after servicing?
The usual reason an aircon is still not cold after servicing is that the clean never reached the dirt blocking airflow: the blower fan stayed in place and the coil was only sprayed on the surface. The other possibility is that dirt was never the problem, and the unit has low gas or a failed part.
Key takeaways
- The blower fan is often skipped: a quick service that leaves it in place can leave airflow as weak as before.
- Some units need more than a quick service: coils packed with dirt need a PowerJet deep clean or a heavy-duty coil cleaner, and a chemical overhaul is the last resort.
- Cleaning can't fix gas or parts: a leak, a failed motor or a stuck valve stays after any clean.
- You can test the result yourself: even airflow across the whole vent means the fan and coil are clean.
In the video above, Uncle Eric opens an aircon that had been serviced only a month earlier and still wasn't cooling. It is clear straight away that the previous aircon man did not remove the blower fan during the service, and the owner had no idea.
How to tell what went wrong
Run the aircon on Cool for 10 to 15 minutes, then work through these checks.
- Feel the airflow across the vent. Move your palm slowly from left to right. If one side is much stronger, the centre is weak, or hardly any air comes out, the blower fan or coil is still dirty. Go to step 2. If the airflow is strong and even, go to step 3.
- Look at the blower fan. Shine a torch up through the louvres. If the blades are still coated in black slime, the fan was not removed and cleaned. Ask for it to be redone, or book a proper service.
- Check whether the air is cold. Strong but cool-ish air means the unit moves air fine but isn't removing enough heat. That points to low gas, a dirty outdoor unit or a faulty part, not dirt indoors.
- Look for frost on the pipes or the coil. Frost with strong airflow usually means low gas from a leak.
- Compare with other rooms. If only the serviced unit is weak on a multi-split, the fault is probably in that indoor unit or its expansion valve.
If steps 3 or 4 point to gas or a part, cleaning again won't help. Message Luna on WhatsApp to arrange a check.
The four reasons we see most
The blower fan was never taken out
The blower fan is the long, barrel-shaped fan behind the louvres. In Singapore's humidity it collects a black, sticky layer of dust and mould on every blade. Once the gaps between the blades clog, the fan moves far less air, so the cold evaporator coil cannot do its job. A service that only washes filters and sprays the front of the coil leaves the fan as dirty as before. That is what happened in the video.
The coil needed a deeper clean than it got
When dirt is packed deep inside the coil fins, the coil needs a PowerJet deep clean, which is part of our premium servicing, or Viper's non-toxic heavy-duty coil cleaner, an add-on from S$30 when advised on site. If the whole unit is extremely soiled, a full chemical overhaul, where the unit is dismantled and every part is cleaned, is the last resort. Our guide to general servicing vs chemical wash vs chemical overhaul explains which one fits.
The outdoor unit was skipped
The outdoor unit's condenser coil releases the heat from your room. If it is clogged, or the unit sits in a cramped ledge with poor airflow, cooling suffers even with a spotless indoor unit. Ask whether the outdoor unit was included.
The real fault was never dirt
Servicing fixes airflow. It does not fix low refrigerant gas (which means a leak), a failed fan motor or capacitor, a stuck expansion valve, or a unit too small for the room. If the aircon is equally weak before and after a thorough clean, one of these is likely. Our guide on why an aircon is not cold walks through each one, and you can rule gas in or out first with a simple self-check of your aircon gas.
How to avoid paying for a service that doesn't fix it
Uncle Eric's advice in the video works especially well when you try a new servicing company for the first time:
- Know your problem first. Note which room isn't cold enough, and whether it is weak airflow, warm air or both.
- Ask them to service the problem room first. If the master bedroom is the issue, start there.
- Watch what they do. Check that they take the blower fan out and clean it, not just the filters.
- Test that room before they move on. If the problem is still there, raise it on the spot.
That way you solve the original problem first, instead of finding out at the end that you have paid for a service that changed nothing.
What our service includes
Our premium servicing with PowerJet gives the coil a PowerJet deep clean and takes the blower fan and drain pan out for a high-pressure jet wash, which cleans far deeper than a wipe and spray. Before we leave, we test the cooling and airflow of each unit we serviced. If the problem turns out to be gas or a faulty part, we tell you what we found rather than charge for another clean.
What it costs
What the checks found | Job that fixes it | Price |
|---|---|---|
Blower fan and coil still dirty | Premium servicing with PowerJet, or the coil add-on | S$80 for 1 unit; coil add-on from S$30 |
Blower fan and drain pan still slimy | Chemical wash: fan and pan taken out and restored | S$120 per unit |
Unit extremely soiled | Chemical overhaul, as a last resort | S$180 |
Strong airflow but warm air | Not-cold diagnosis | S$150 per visit |
Frost, fading cooling | Gas leak detection and repair | Leak check S$580 (1 to 3 units) or S$880 (4 to 5), repair quoted after |
Prices depend on the number of units, the unit type and access. We confirm the cost before starting.
When to call a technician
Book a check if, after your service:
- the airflow is still weak or uneven across the vent
- the air comes out strongly but isn't cold
- you notice frost on the pipes or the coil
- only one room on a multi-split stays warm
- the unit started leaking water or making new noises
Every iAircon service comes with a 90-day warranty. You can book online in under a minute, or chat with Luna, our AI assistant, on WhatsApp 24/7.
Frequently asked questions
How soon after servicing should my aircon feel colder?
If the service fixed an airflow problem, you should notice stronger, colder air within the first 15 to 20 minutes of running. If the room feels the same after a day of normal use, the cause was probably not dirt, or the dirt was not fully removed.
Can servicing make my aircon less cold than before?
It can if something was refitted wrongly, for example a filter not seated properly, a louvre motor left unplugged, or a gas joint disturbed. A good technician tests the cooling and airflow before leaving so these are caught on the spot.
Does iAircon's warranty cover a unit that is still not cold after your service?
Every iAircon service includes a 90-day warranty. If a unit we serviced is not cooling properly within 90 days, WhatsApp us photos or a video and we come back to check it free. Parts, wear and tear on an ageing system, and problems from a gas leak the unit already had are not covered.
Should I ask the same company to come back, or call someone else?
Ask the original company first, especially if the service is recent, and tell them exactly which room and what symptom. If they did not remove the blower fan or cannot explain the cause, a second opinion from a technician who measures the gas and airflow is worth it.
Can I clean the blower fan myself?
Not properly. Reaching the blower fan means taking off the casing and drain tray, and spraying inside the unit without protecting the circuit board can damage it. Rinsing the air filters yourself every few weeks is safe and helps airflow between services.
Eric Lim, aka Uncle EricFounder of iAircon.Repair, now in its 10th year servicing aircons in Singapore. Every job is filmed, so you can watch the work on YouTube.
