Guys! You all got DIY clean your aircon blower ?

derekliu

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Any recommended video on how to clean starmex aircon fcu? So far only diy clean pre-filter and the vertical vane only.

Would like to take it to next step.
 

mkaung2000

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How is your MHI bro?

I cannot remove the blower for MHI. Not so power as you.

Starmex is super easy.
My MHI still going strong, bro. :)
3 FCU on every night from ~10:00pm to 7:00am. Coming to 11 years.
Btw, what was wrong with your MHI compressor?
 

MikeDirnt78

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My MHI still going strong, bro. :)
3 FCU on every night from ~10:00pm to 7:00am. Coming to 11 years.
Btw, what was wrong with your MHI compressor?

The compressor died. :(

I was quoted more than $1k by direct agent.

Aircon contractors don't do replacement for MHI.

For Starmex, they can do.
 

MikeDirnt78

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Any recommended video on how to clean starmex aircon fcu? So far only diy clean pre-filter and the vertical vane only.

Would like to take it to next step.

You have 2 options.

1) Watch YouTube videos. There are many for Starmex.

2) Pay $30 to contractor to clean 1x FCU. Then you learn from them.

This morning I dismantled for third time. 1 hour can finish till very clean.
 

grynove

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wah how to take out the whole thing sia?
i only manage to clean the roller while still mounted. how many screw need to open?
 

MikeDirnt78

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What's wrong with the compressor?
Just cannot ON?
If you don't mind.

Yes cannot on.

On a 2nd thought, I could have asked an electrician to troubleshoot.

Probably it is a component other than the compressor that was faulty.

I was desperate that time. I straight away went to GC to replace the system 3.

I'm happier now with Starmex. 9.5 years with MHI was good enough for me.
 
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item2sell

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Not suppose to come loose. The clip on the hose should snap to the drain pan outlet clip very firmly.

how do you remove the whole drain pan?

After dismantle, I can't remove it, and left it tilted, but its very difficult to get the vacuum to suck out from the hole.
 

fandango

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how do you remove the whole drain pan?

After dismantle, I can't remove it, and left it tilted, but its very difficult to get the vacuum to suck out from the hole.
Unclip the drain hose. And also disconnect the sensor connector.
 

mkaung2000

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Yes cannot on.

On a 2nd thought, I could have asked an electrician to troubleshoot.

Probably it is a component other than the compressor that was faulty.

I was desperate that time. I straight away went to GC to replace the system 3.

I'm happier now with Starmex. 9.5 years with MHI was good enough for me.
Oh. That's bad.

Tell you my experience.
One night when mine was about 5 years old, all FCU suddenly cannot turn on. That's was about 10pm. I opened my window and switched ON/OFF the breaker which is just beside the window. It didn't work.
I wasn’t able to sleep the whole night only with fan.
The next day, I called MHI Agent Wo Kee Hong from my office thinking my compressor died. They said they will send someone two days later to check @$80.
Then, I felt weird and don't know how to sleep without air cond. :s22:
So, I went home, climbed out of window and checked the voltage at compressor. No voltage. I was like WTH. The length of wire from breaker to compressor was <2m. I opened up the breaker and checked the voltage, it was correct ~230V AC.
Switched off the breaker and measured the life wire reisisntace. It was OPEN. When I tried to pull the wire, it broke into pieces because it was very brittle.
The Air Cond installer cut corner and used same wire as FCU, for compressor. The wire cannot support the current drawn by the compressor and became harden/brittle over time.
I was so happy. Went out to hardware shop, bought thicker wire and installed 2 in parallel.

See my photo below. That’s how my compressor got 2 new wires.=:p

Anyway, good that you got new air cond. Peace of mind!
Btw, mine was installed by CreationAir.

 

MikeDirnt78

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Oh. That's bad.

Tell you my experience.
One night when mine was about 5 years old, all FCU suddenly cannot turn on. That's was about 10pm. I opened my window and switched ON/OFF the breaker which is just beside the window. It didn't work.
I wasn’t able to sleep the whole night only with fan.
The next day, I called MHI Agent Wo Kee Hong from my office thinking my compressor died. They said they will send someone two days later to check @$80.
Then, I felt weird and don't know how to sleep without air cond. :s22:
So, I went home, climbed out of window and checked the voltage at compressor. No voltage. I was like WTH. The length of wire from breaker to compressor was <2m. I opened up the breaker and checked the voltage, it was correct ~230V AC.
Switched off the breaker and measured the life wire reisisntace. It was OPEN. When I tried to pull the wire, it broke into pieces because it was very brittle.
The Air Cond installer cut corner and used same wire as FCU, for compressor. The wire cannot support the current drawn by the compressor and became harden/brittle over time.
I was so happy. Went out to hardware shop, bought thicker wire and installed 2 in parallel.

See my photo below. That’s how my compressor got 2 new wires.=:p

Anyway, good that you got new air cond. Peace of mind!
Btw, mine was installed by CreationAir.

wow bro thank you for sharing your experience. you are really a pro.

1) Mine was installed by GC. So I can trust their quality. I am using back the same wirings and pipings for my new Starmex.

2) I never thought the main ac wire (MICB to outdoor unit) can break. But mine confirm is not due to wiring because there are still ac supplies to my FCUs.

3) I thought it could be a capacitor or fuse problem. I don't know but I didn't bother to troubleshoot the outdoor unit further.

4) Anyway for your case if you were to engage the technician again, I think they can probably do a basic troubleshooting. No incoming ac so they got to check the wiring first. I believe Wo Kee Hong can be trusted so I doubt they will cheat you on the compressor.
 

mkaung2000

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wow bro thank you for sharing your experience. you are really a pro.

1) Mine was installed by GC. So I can trust their quality. I am using back the same wirings and pipings for my new Starmex.

2) I never thought the main ac wire (MICB to outdoor unit) can break. But mine confirm is not due to wiring because there are still ac supplies to my FCUs.

3) I thought it could be a capacitor or fuse problem. I don't know but I didn't bother to troubleshoot the outdoor unit further.

4) Anyway for your case if you were to engage the technician again, I think they can probably do a basic troubleshooting. No incoming ac so they got to check the wiring first. I believe Wo Kee Hong can be trusted so I doubt they will cheat you on the compressor.
You are pro too, bro.
Yes, I was very surprised to see the wire burnt until like that.
Good that you checked all these before replacing with new one.
Enjoy and good sleep with new air cond!
 

ipaq4444

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Post this again in case of misunderstanding.......

I/we do not have OCD.

Reason why we need the freq cleaning is due to allergies to dust mite droppings/mold.
This is in addition to operating HEPA filters/APs in the room.
edit - we also use H13 exhaust filtered vacuums, in addition to frequent 3-4 weeks washing of the sheets.

Don't clean the FCU = symptoms starting. Very obvious between "before" and "after" cleaning, even if it's
just 2 months frequency. It's not a one time thingy, it's a > decade thingy already regarding DIY aircon cleaning (I have been confirmed a sufferer for > 4 decades, last time just hit myself silly with antihistamines, chloropheniramine 1st gen antihistamines no less :eek:).

It also seems to be genetic, my father has it, and so do my 2 kids.
(actually i suspect my MIL, who comes over to stay with us sometimes, also has it)
That is why i also clean my parent's place pretty frequently as well, as my kids do go there as well after school.

I am not that itchy backside to go clean that frequently. In fact sometimes i am forced to clean coz my kids/I have the symptoms acting up.....it does not need to be 2 months even, sometimes it's just 1.5 months.

Usually the airflow is still pretty good as measured on the anemometer, which isn't a good indicator in our case anyway.


Of course, normal pax might not want to clean that frequently.


Of coz if one is happy in just cleaning 1x or 2X annually their 3-4 FCUs and don't mind paying, then just continue using those $8-11 500ml cans of "dedicated" aircon cleaners.
McKenic is the most expensive, $14++ per 500ml iirc.

BTW, the above mentioned Comstar Coil Safe is actually USA based. You actually can get Comstar from Amazon.com LLC (seen before last time), the shipped cost is not cheap also.



Just sharing my "information" and in a way recommendation. You all make the choice yourself.

Peace.


Sir, what your view of using those dedicated aircon cleaner like JAckie every 3 month? i am looking at the time spend/ skill and hence time spend on each fcu. Especially for those that only need clean 1 or 2 fcu? Ratio wise this will be the most effective for newie? but in term of cleaniness can only reach 70%? of your typical cleaning?


any idea where to get the cheapest jackie?
 

hardwaregone

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Spoke to a very exp air con man, i don't bother to diy already but this guy i'm using is damn good. He does a very thorough job and not exp.

He says Mitsubishi (Not heavy industry) the best now cause can be dismantled to clean.

The other brand is Panasonic.

Daikin can't take out don't know drain or blower now.
Midea can't take out anything.

Fujitsu the worst, every servicing must almost take the whole thing down, servicing the most exp.

:o
 

MikeDirnt78

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Spoke to a very exp air con man, i don't bother to diy already but this guy i'm using is damn good. He does a very thorough job and not exp.

He says Mitsubishi (Not heavy industry) the best now cause can be dismantled to clean.

The other brand is Panasonic.

Daikin can't take out don't know drain or blower now.
Midea can't take out anything.

Fujitsu the worst, every servicing must almost take the whole thing down, servicing the most exp.

:o

These good technicians are in a catch-22 situation.

If they are very good, they will get more repeated customers.

If more customers and if technicians want to earn more per day, they probably have to spend less time with each customer.

Based on my experience, a good quality wash for Starmex (system 3) requires 1.5 hours with 1 technician.

Faster if there are 2 technicians. And they are charging $75-90 for normal cleaning. Plus transportation time, I'm not sure how they can earn a profit.

Only way to boost profit is to cut corners or sell some other expensive services.
 

weeza77

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Need to ask experts here. Can I reuse my old piping (R22 gas) to install Inverter units?
 

liquidh

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I use a normal spray bottle mixed with diluted dettol to spray into the fan blades.

I use a manual handpump with bluetack to clear the water outlet.

Spend about 2hours to clean to 2 fan units because I don’t have better/specialised tools.

Anyone has recommendation for specialised tools?
 

virtualape

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I use a normal spray bottle mixed with diluted dettol to spray into the fan blades.

I use a manual handpump with bluetack to clear the water outlet.

Spend about 2hours to clean to 2 fan units because I don’t have better/specialised tools.

Anyone has recommendation for specialised tools?

for the blower blades, i use a paint brush to brush off the dry dust first. then spray diluted bleach to get rid of any mold and brush off any remaining dust. Spray again with clean water after that.

remove the drain pan and clear off any jelly after cleaning the metal fins. Metal fins same as above except i use the alkali cleaner.

last is to clear the drainage pipe. wet/dry vacuum to suck and blow thru the pipes.

get the blue aircon cleaning bag so you can spray as much water without creating a mess.

no specialised tools. unless you want to invest in a steam cleaner which will be useful for the metal fins and the blower blades.
 
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