What tools does an aircon technician need?
A proper aircon job needs professional-grade tools, not just a screwdriver and a spray. We use a PowerJet high-pressure wash, Elitech infrared and Inficon Whisper ultrasonic leak detectors, Appion and Elitech digital gauges, a Fieldpiece VPX7 vacuum pump with a digital micron gauge, and a Makita blower for clogged drains.
Key takeaways
- Tools find what eyes and soap miss: a leak too small to bubble, a charge that is off only while the unit runs, moisture inside sealed pipes.
- Every tool matches a problem: dirt, gas leaks, a wrong charge, wet pipes, clogged drains.
- No pressure test to locate leaks: detectors find the leak point in one visit, not days later.
- Always upgrading: we keep investing in better tools, as the video above shows.
In the video above, we unbox two of our newer tools: a Value valve core removal tool and an Elitech digital micron gauge. Together they let us pull a deeper vacuum and finish an installation or repair with cleaner, drier pipes.
Which tool finds which problem?
Tool | What it finds or does | Where we use it |
|---|---|---|
PowerJet high-pressure wash | Washes out the slime between the coil fins and on every blade of the blower fan | Every premium servicing, chemical wash and overhaul |
Inficon Whisper ultrasonic leak detector | Hears the hiss of refrigerant escaping from a joint, valve or coil, far below what an ear can pick up | Infrared leak check, gas leak repair |
Elitech ILD-300 and ILD-200 Max infrared leak detectors | Sense refrigerant in the air around a leak point | Infrared leak check, gas leak repair |
Appion PTC900 wireless gauges | Read pressure and pipe temperature and send them to a phone app, so we can log and share them | Gas check, repairs, installations |
Elitech EMG-40V and Value VRM2-X digital manifold gauges | Read suction and discharge pressure with the matching saturation temperature, so we can work out superheat and judge the refrigerant charge | Gas check and top-up, repairs, installations |
Fieldpiece VPX7 vacuum pump | Pulls air and moisture out of the pipes and coils | After every installation and any repair that opens the refrigerant circuit |
Elitech digital micron gauge | Measures how deep the vacuum is, in microns, so we know the pipes are truly dry, not just pumped for a set time | Evacuation |
Value valve core removal tool | Takes the valve core out during evacuation, so the pump pulls through a wider opening for a deeper, faster vacuum | Installations and repairs |
Makita DAS180 cordless blower | Blows a clogged drain pipe clear, all the way to the floor trap | Leaks from clogged drain pipes |
How do we use them on a job?
- Clean. The PowerJet wash reaches the dirt a wipe or a low-pressure spray leaves behind. It is part of every premium service.
- Check the charge. The digital manifold gauges read the system while it runs, and the pipe temperature lets us work out superheat. The Appion gauges send the readings to a phone, as in this video of our wireless gauges, so we can show you on site and send you photos and a report.
- Find the leak. If the gas keeps running low, the infrared and ultrasonic detectors go over the outdoor unit, the flare joints, the service valves and the indoor coil. Soap foam helps at a visible joint, but the smallest leaks escape at so little pressure that no bubble forms, which is why we invested in high-end detectors. Our gas leak repair starts here. Gas running low again weeks after a top-up? Book a gas check first.
- Evacuate. After a repair or installation, the valve cores come out, the Fieldpiece pump pulls a deep vacuum, and the micron gauge shows when the pipes are dry and holding. Our guide to vacuum evacuation explains why this step decides how long the aircon lasts.
- Charge and confirm. The refrigerant goes back in, and the gauges confirm pressures and superheat are where they should be.
What we do not use, and why
We do not use nitrogen pressure tests to locate leaks. A pressure test seals the system and waits days to see if the pressure drops: it shows that something leaks, not where, and a worn gauge or hose can leak too. Our guide to the aircon pressure test explains it in full.
For the rare system that already has acid inside, usually from moisture left by a poor evacuation in the past, we can order in NO-ACID ULTRA, a neutraliser injected into the circuit. It reduces the acid and can extend the system's life instead of replacing the pipes or the whole system.
What it costs
Service | Price | Main tools |
|---|---|---|
Premium servicing | From S$80 for 1 unit | PowerJet |
Gas check and top-up | S$165 | Digital manifold gauges |
Infrared leak check | S$580 for 1 to 3 units, gas top-up included | Leak detectors, gauges, vacuum pump |
The tools come with the job: you pay for the service, not for the equipment we bring.
Frequently asked questions
Why do tools matter if the technician is experienced?
Experience tells a technician where to look. Tools show what is really there: a leak too small to hear or bubble, a refrigerant charge that is off only while the unit runs, or moisture left in the pipes. Both together give a repair that lasts.
Why not just use soap bubbles to find a gas leak?
Soap works on a leak big enough to push out gas with some force. The smallest leaks escape at so little pressure that the soap never forms a bubble. Infrared and ultrasonic detectors pick those up, which is why we invested in them.
Do you use a pressure test to find gas leaks?
No. A nitrogen pressure test seals the system and waits days to see if the pressure drops. It shows that something leaks, not where. Our infrared and ultrasonic detectors find the leak point in one visit.
Can I see the readings from the job?
Yes. We show you the readings on site, and we send photos and a report of what we found whenever you ask.
Do these tools cost extra?
No. The tools come with the job. You pay for the service you book, such as premium servicing, the gas check and top-up or the infrared leak check, not for the equipment we bring.
Eric Lim, aka Uncle EricFounder of iAircon.Repair, now in its 10th year servicing aircons in Singapore. Some of our jobs are filmed, and you can watch the work on YouTube.
