air con maintenance

[kpelszyn]

Hi-

I barely use my air con but yet I seem to need it repaired 2x in a 6 month period. I had the bedroom one fixed bc it was leaking into the neighbors below us- cost $2800 is that normal? and if it was just "fixed" 5 mons prior, is that correct? Now my family room one has completely shut off. Pls adv if this is normal and if the price sounds correct? Also if you have any recommendations for aircon people to fix, that do work that lasts for a year at least, instead of only 6 mons would be great. thank you so much in advance!

[HongKongFoot]

You dont say whats wrong with your AC unit besides its broken. How do you expect people to help you? My car is making a weird noise when I drive it, can you recommend a good mechanic to fix it?

[HowardCoombs]

Based on your location (Repulse Bay), and the price being quoted ($2800) I will take bets that you are being overcharged. For Aircons, $2800 is either a rip off or a very major repair job.

[kpelszyn]

i knew i was being ripped off! and my landlord is the one that set up "his" contact to repair it! Sorry for not being clear, but it was fixed the first time bc it wasn't blowing cold air, just a breeze. I'm not too savvy on the technological words...but i think they put some chemical in it last time and set up scaffolding so that the cool air would start, which it did. But now the same air con doesn't blow cool air, will run for 3 minutes then completely shut off- it seems to be connected to the circuit thing (again, i have no idea what the correct terminonolgy is) and the switch turns off for the main circuit. but hong kong foot- I do know a GREAT car mechanic that can fix anything! so pls if you can recommend someone to help with my aircon i'd be so grateful! thank you!
Oh and the aircon that was leaking into the people below us- I still don't know what it was that was "broken" just my mgmnt company told me that I had to have it fixed, the air con company came in left me a bill written in chinese with numbers and that was that.

[Sunfire]

Water dripping from air conditioners is an easy fix. Either the drainage hasn't been installed (a simple plastic tray with a hose connected) or it's clogged. Algae and/or mold tend to build up, so they need to be regularly cleared.

[wtbhotia]

the AC should be part of your rental, the landlord is responsible for the maintenance, why are you paying it.

[chicachinita]

I had exactly the same problem soon after my husband and I moved into the apartment but fortunately I was born here so I got advice from my family and avoided being ripped off.

OK, first thing, it is the landlord's responsibility to maintain electrical appliances in safe, working conditions (look at your contract for clarity/supportive evidence).

Second, the price you mentioned is actually cheap if saffolding was involved (see below).

Third, if by any chance you have to fix it (again, not your obligation but the landlord's!), google the air conditioner's brand name AND "Hong Kong" and usually there is a section on maintenance and service under which there may be a number you can call to ask about maintenence and repair and/or a list of local companies that are recommended/authorised to repair their products. This is exactly what I did and the price (including scaffloding, which was put up and only put down after about a week after I ran the air conditioning unit for about a week to check it does work following the repair work) was higher than the price you quoted. In any case, my landlord paid (even so, I got the repair company this way so that there is no despute with the landlord in regards to price as it is a contracted local company on the manufacturer's own website...in my case, my landlord asked me to arrange the repair and reimbursed me afterwards as she is rarely in HK).

Lastly, if the above is not valid, then go to your building mangement's office and ask them. For large apartment complexes, the air conditioning units are from the same manufacturer so they must have relationships with them and therefore can point you in the right direction.

Hope this helps.

[kpelszyn]

thank you so much chinachinita!