Pointers when surveying retail shops
When searching for retail shops to install your air con, please remember to ask the following
1) Price includes GST?
2) Price includes 2 times installations? First Installation for Piping only and Second Installation for Indoor Units / Outdoor Units. Some installers will install outdoor unit during first installation.
3) If u do need them to go to home to discuss with you and your contractor how the air con trunking will run, will there be additional cost?
( this is known as site survey or site view, it is done after the major hacking and before the first installation )
4) Make sure the retail shop uses BCA trained workers if you need a stainless steel bracket to support the outdoor unit outisde your home. Request the installers to show u their cert before installation.
** Though for those with air con ledge, it is not neccessary. **
5) Go for 'Class 1' or 'Class O' PSB certified insulation though i would say it is not that important as the rating does not reflect the quality and insulation properties on the material.
Nevertheless get them to show u the sample. Ensure this will be use thru out the home and not half or part of it only.
Equally imortant is the thickness ranging from 1/4'', 3/8'', 1/2'' and 3/4'' (the usual thickness for residential) You have to ask them what thickness they are providing for the insulation. Using a thicker insulation also means better insulation properties but bigger trunking and higher cost.
** Insulation should have the brand, dimensions/thickness and 'Class Rating' printed on it.
6) Go for 16mm diameter PVC water drainage pipe.
** I would recommend insulation (1/4'') for the drainage pipe also but as far as i know, most installers do not like to do that caused it is troublesome and will incur higher cost. Unless, u are willingly to pay.
** through out the home and not part of it. The smaller size will be 10/13mm.**
7) U should use the correct copper pipe diameter
( for the gas and liquid copper pipe ) according to the manufacturer's catalogue. Get the salesman to point out for you.
8) Copper pipe should be all brand new. The colour should be very shiny! If it looks dull means it has left lying around for sometime. But if you see that the 'dull' coil still has the 'coil' shaped, it will still acceptable as it means it has not been used before or partially used.
Picture courtesy from Andrew Tan, reader.
9) Copper pipe comes in coils of abt 10m - 20m (usually 15m), depends on manufacturer. U should insist that they use one copper pipe when possible. This is to reduce the number of joints thus the chances of leakage of refridergant. But you must understand that when the piping length is more than 15 meters, there will be joints.
**Nevertheless, brazing is a 'safe' method of joining copper pipes.
10) Copper pipe should be bended with a Level Type Hand Bender
(bending tool). This will give a smooth radius. It should not never be bend using bare hands.
Picture courtesy of Andrew Tan, reader.
11) The thickness of the copper pipe has always been an issue with most of the readers. The market goes something like R22 systems 0.56mm (24SWG), R410A systems 0.61mm (23SWG). U have to confirm with the retailer.
** I personally would prefer 0.71mm for R410A system but i do understand that with the ever increasing price of copper worldwide, this upgrade do not come cheap. Nevertheless, check with the manufactuer if you need any advice.
12) Insist that they do an Evactuation of the system (vacuum process) before they 'release' the refrigerant into the system. This is remove all the moisture in the copper piping. This is especially important in airconditioners using R410A.
** Not doing this will not spoil your compressor immediately but it is one of the factors affecting the life span of compressor.
13) Check the installation warranty and what it covers like transportation and labour...terms and conditions like validilty subjected to yearly service contracts etc
14) Check if they are having their own workers or sub contractors.
** There is no way to know but just ask. Or u can ask other shops abt this shop. Basically everyone will say they are using their own workers. Nevertheless, it is always advisable to be there personally during the day of the installation.
15) Make sure it is unlimited piping length. As in no additional charges for installation using more than a certain length.
16) Lastly ask what might the case that u might have to pay additional during installation. If salesman, say no more, that get the salesman to make a note saying that there no more additional charges. If yes, get him to write down, what might be the situation u will have to pay additional.
**Remember whatever is promised to u by the salesman should be written down on the sales invoice.**
Note
Basically most of the shops will either
1) accept your request with no additional costs
2) accept your request with additional costs
3) reject your request with excuses
4) accept your request with no intentions of fufiling them after you made the deposit.
5) accept your request but try to convince you that using the other is even better than what you proposed.
6) made no or little comments about your requests but keep emphasizing they have something more to offer.
7) Give u a black face and start making sacarstic remarks.
My Advice
Visit as many shops as u can so that u can compare and feel for yourself which shop or salesman u feel most trustworthy and comfortable with. It is sometimes very important that you are comfortable or have a good impression with the salesman caused he/she is likely to be one that helps you solve any problems if any occurs.
There are quite a number of stories from the readers that when something 'unpleasant' occurs and they called the salesman, the salesman just direct the call to the head office and basically tell them that this is not his problem but the head office's.
In my opinion, a good salesman should take it into his responsibility that a problem has occured and he should ensure that his company is taking the neccessary actions in the shortest possible time to solve the problem.
On the other hand, we as consumers should also be reasonable. We should hear his explanation when disputes occur. And we should understand that at times, it is not possbile to solve a problem immediately or by the next day. Lastly, we should at times ask ourselves if we have mentioned to him before.
For example, u never mentioned this piping is going to be concealed behind the kitchen cabinet then your designer decides to install the cabinet ontop of the piping after the piping installation. Then later condensation occurs and damage your cabinet. In this case, u cannot really blame the salesman or the retailer.
3 Comments:
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At September 10, 2019 at 10:46 PM,
Mr Appliance said...
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At September 19, 2021 at 11:55 PM,
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At February 21, 2022 at 2:54 AM,
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