Aircon Chemical Wash

What is an aircon chemical wash?

An aircon chemical wash is premium servicing with one more step for the coil. With the indoor unit on the wall, proper coil chemical goes on first to loosen the dirt and grime stuck in the fins, then the coil gets a PowerJet deep clean, which washes the grime and the chemical out together. The blower fan and drain pan are taken out, PowerJet-washed and refitted in as-new condition, which cleaning them in place cannot do. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes per unit.

How do we do a chemical wash?

1. Check the unit first. We run it, check cooling and airflow, and look at the coil and blower fan to confirm a wash is the right level of cleaning.
2. Protect the area. The wall and floor around the unit are covered.
3. Take out the removable parts. The filters, front panel, blower fan and drain pan come out.
4. PowerJet the blower fan and drain pan. Both are washed separately and go back in as-new condition.
5. Chemical, then PowerJet, on the coil. With the unit still on the wall, coil chemical loosens the dirt and grime, then a PowerJet deep clean flushes it all out of the fins.
6. Flush the drain. Water is poured through the drain pan and pipe to confirm it flows freely.
7. Refit and test. We check cooling against how the unit ran at the start, and watch for drips.

Why chemical first, then PowerJet?

Water alone does not shift every coil. Grime stuck in the fins needs a coil chemical to loosen it, and the chemical then has to be flushed out completely. The PowerJet deep clean does both: it carries the loosened grime away and rinses the chemical out of the fins. For a very dirty coil we may advise Viper's non-toxic heavy-duty coil cleaner on site, an add-on from S$30, and we tell you before we use it. Strong alkaline coil cleaners are kept for extreme conditions only.

Coil chemical used carelessly does damage. Some vendors use it at full strength and rinse with ordinary tap pressure, which cannot flush it out of closely packed fins. The residue keeps attacking the thin metal long after the job, so the coil wears out sooner. Our post on cheap chemical wash deals lists the other steps a rushed wash tends to skip.

We do not offer steam cleaning. In Uncle Eric's experience, steam and DIY foam cans push dirt deeper into the coil, and without the blower fan coming out, the slime stays inside.

Chemical wash or chemical overhaul?

Premium servicing gives the coil a PowerJet deep clean and takes out the blower fan and drain pan for a PowerJet wash. A chemical wash adds the coil chemical before that PowerJet step, for grime that water alone leaves behind. A chemical overhaul is the last resort, for an extremely soiled unit, because taking the unit apart carries a higher risk of gas leaks. The full comparison is in chemical wash vs chemical overhaul.

Why do Singapore aircons need it?

In our humidity the coil is wet every time the aircon runs, so dust that gets past the filter turns into a slime that mould feeds on, and it collects on the blower fan and in the drain pan. Bedroom units running every night build it up fastest. That same slime is behind many musty smells, as we explain in why your aircon smells. On a multi-split system, each indoor unit is assessed on its own: the master bedroom may need a wash while the living room only needs servicing.

What affects the price?

• Whether a very dirty coil needs the heavy-duty coil cleaner (an add-on from S$30)
• How easy the unit is to reach

S$120 per fan coil, with no multi-unit discount: each fan coil is priced on its own, whether we wash one or several. Ceiling cassettes are not chemically washed: they get premium servicing or a chemical overhaul.

Warranty

Every service includes a 90-day warranty. If a unit we serviced leaks water or stops cooling within 90 days, WhatsApp us photos or a video of the problem: the site inspection, fixing the leak and any minor repair caused by our work are free. The warranty does not cover parts or installation costs, misuse, wear and tear on an ageing system, or problems from a gas leak the unit already had.