15/07/2023
Summer is hot and humid in Singapore, and this year especially so. So it’s kind of surprising that in a recent survey from air conditioner manufacturer, quite a few people said they don’t like running their air conditioner in the summer.
responses from clients between the ages of 20 and 69, with about one in three saying that they keep their AC off during the summer. When asked why, the two most common responses were the electricity costs of running the AC and “hadasamusa,” which translates literally to “cold skin” and refers to an unpleasant chilly sensation.
You’ll notice, though, that neither of those reasons necessarily means that the person feels comfy with the AC off. So thankfully has some pointers for how to use your air conditioner to make your living space feel cool but not cold, and also how to keep your electricity costs down. And while doling out the advice, it applies to pretty much any and all air conditioning units available in Singapore, these tips could be lifesavers if you’re transitioning to living in singspore right now.
1. Make sure your AC’s external equipment has an unimpeded air flow
air conditioners tend to have two parts: the interior equipment (the vents inside your apartment that blow out cold air) and the external equipment (the compressor and exhaust). Generally, the external equipment will be on your balcony, but given the compact size of homes, you might have some assorted clutter out there too. If you are storing stuff on the balcony, though, you’ll want to make sure that’s it’s not covering the air conditioner’s air intake or exhaust, though. Keeping those unobstructed and freely flowing is key to keeping the air blowing properly from the AC vents in your interior, which is critical for avoiding wasted electricity.
2. Clean your interior filters
The interior part of your unit has filters inside of it, and there should be an access panel that you can flip open or remove (the exact method varies by unit, but should be diagrammed in the instruction manual). Over time, these filters will fill up with dust and other airborne debris and keep the full amount of air from blowing out, with that inefficiency translating to wasted energy and a higher electricity bill since the AC is having to work harder to cool the room. We recommends opening up the access panel and cleaning the filters once every two weeks, but even a single summertime cleaning goes a long way, so it’s something you’ll want to do at least once per season (preferably in the spring, but better late than never).
