What is an Aircon Fan Coil Unit?
An Aircon Fan Coil Unit or FCU is a simple device that uses a coil and a fan to heat or cool air in the room without connecting to ductwork. It is part of an entire aircon unit found in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
The fan draws the air in space into the unit, air moves over the coil, which heats or cools the air, and then the same fan pushes it back out into the room. FCUs can be less expensive to install than ducted aircon units and are available in ceiling, floor-mounted, and freestanding configurations.
How does an Aircon Fan Coil Unit work?
The basic mechanism of an FCU is just like a normal aircon unit as it also starts the process by sucking air from the indoor environment into an empty space inside the aircon unit. This air is then transferred over coils which are either hot or cold depending on user requirement.
After a complete cycle of air over the coils, it is blown back to the indoor environment of your room. When the air comes out of the aircon unit, it is cold or hot which can easily change the temperature of your room just like any other aircon unit.
Do keep this fact in mind the Fan Coil Unit is just a simple shaped system that consists entirely of a fan and coils. The air circulates between these two components without any hard-to-understand or complex procedure. FCU can operate flawlessly without requiring an excessive amount of ductwork or other related equipment.
The central part of fan coil units has a cooling tower or boilers that circulate hot or cold water in the aircon unit. This is a major mechanism that is used to mitigate or increase the temperature to keep it suitable for the residents.
In other words:
It is like the air rotating in the room moves over the coils that are either hot or cold. The air during the passage gets the same temperature and then comes back to the indoor environment.
This consistent and continuous process of air rotating makes the room temperature suitable for the residents. One of the major reasons behind preferring FCU over the ducted type of aircon units is that they are fairly less costly and can bring efficient permanence as well. In short, it’s a singular aircon unit that can stand and operate on its own to circulate air without the existence of ductwork.
Where are Aircon Fan Coil Units commonly used?
Fan coil units are commonly found in different buildings and establishments with small private spaces. Some of these buildings usually include small to medium offices and even private casino rooms. These units are usually controlled by local thermostats or sometimes, the building’s management system itself.
In some high-rise buildings, fan coil units are usually positioned and arranged vertically. This arrangement results in the units being located one above the other on different floors and all connected by the same piping loop.
Apart from these establishments, shopping centers with multiple small spaces also prefer using fan coil units for their cooling. Since FCUs are much cheaper to purchase and install than air handling units, these spaces normally gravitate to it for better value for money and to complement their areas.
What are the Types of Aircon Fan Coil Unit?
Fan Coil Units are usually divided into four main categories such as:
– Vertical FCUs
– Underfloor FCUs
– Horizontal exposed FCUs
– Horizontal chassis FCUs
Talking about their features and specifications, almost all these different kinds of FCUs provide the same performance and outcomes. The units are categorized to fit changing building requirements and specifications. However, it is also recommended to ask a professional aircon servicing company to help you choose the right type of aircon fan coil unit for your needs.
What are the benefits of having an Aircon Fan Coil Unit?
1) It is cheaper to procure and install than other central aircon units
Because they commonly power small to medium-sized spaces, fan coil units are relatively cheaper compared to larger types of aircon units. Additionally, they are also easier to install because of their size, resulting in more affordable aircon installation costs than the other types of aircon units.
Pro 338 Reminder: Always call for a professional aircon servicing company in SG to have any type of aircon unit installed either in your home or office properly and safely.
2) It provides individual room-level control for temperatures
Another benefit of having an aircon fan coil unit is that you can be more flexible with the temperature settings by having room-level customization for your space.
Pro 338 Reminder: A professional aircon servicing company recommends setting your aircon unit at its ideal temperature. An ideal aircon unit temperature is one that’s not too high and not too low, and in that case, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) recommends 25°C as an efficient temperature that gives you the benefits of an aircon unit, keeps your electricity bills manageable, and manages your environmental impact at the same time.
3) It is energy-efficient
With proper maintenance and operation, an aircon fan coil unit can produce a good deal of energy efficiency that can save power and energy consumption.
Pro 338 Reminder: Any type of aircon unit that’s not regularly serviced and maintained will cost you a hefty amount. Call on a professional aircon servicing company to perform regular checks or maybe repairs that will also save you from spending too much if it suffers from any type of aircon issues.
4) It provides installation location flexibility
While it is true that a central aircon unit needs fairly large areas with clearance to allow air to circulate through the aircon unit, an aircon fan coil unit does need to have air circulating through, but these small, rectangular box units can easily mount to most ceilings or walls and still achieve the proper amount of air circulation.
The small size and installation flexibilities make the fan coil an ideal choice for offices that have little outdoor space or a roof that can’t support the weight of a large industrial unit or for managers that simply want to keep things small and simple.
Pro 338 Reminder: Fan coil units are specialized aircon units typically found in offices or small businesses. The fan coil includes a coil that gets warm or cold, depending on your thermostat setting, and a fan to blow out the temperature changed the air. This simplified aircon unit has some clear advantages over traditional central aircon units but also has a flaw:
5) It can only cool a smaller area or zone
The fan coil unit can’t single-handedly cool a three-story office building. An aircon fan coil unit is more meant to provide cooling to a small area of architecturally open offices or to an individual larger office.
This problem is only a con if you don’t use a fan coil as it is intended. For many office owners, this small cooling area is actually the main selling point.
It is, therefore, safer to discuss your options in further detail with your trusted and reliable professional aircon servicing company when it comes to recommendations or a variety of choices when it comes to the cooling needs of your home or office.
Ways To Clean An Aircon Unit Fan Coil: Chemical Solutions Or Vacuum Cleaning
Without proper aircon unit maintenance, the heat and humidity of Singapore will get the best of you. Keep your entire aircon unit working efficiently by cleaning the aircon unit fan coil at least once a year and following preventative measures to keep them clean during use.
It’s important to keep the aircon fan coil unit clean so that heat can exchange efficiently through the coils without being blocked by dirt and debris. A lack of routine maintenance on the coils can lead to higher energy bills and consumption or an overheating aircon unit.
It is the responsibility of the professional aircon servicing company to properly operate and maintain an aircon fan coil unit. They should be competent enough to operate and maintain the entire aircon unit equipment, to avoid any malfunction or downtime due to the breakdown of the aircon unit.
More importantly, a professional aircon servicing company shall ensure the implementation of the maintenance procedures during the routine maintenance checks that are being done semi-annually or annually.
Vacuum Cleaning Method
Coils on most aircon fan coil units can be cleaned by removing the motor and blower assemblies and brushing the air face between fins with a stiff brush followed by a thorough vacuuming. The vacuum cleaning method is easier and safer as you do not need to worry about the negative effects of chemicals. Vacuuming can help to get rid of solid debris and dust but the flip side of using a vacuum, however, is that it may not get rid of enduring tougher stains. It is not effective in extracting dirt, sticky fluid-like chemicals, or bad foul odor from the fan coil. Moreover, there are certain areas where the vacuum cleaner can’t reach, especially in round corners or components that are deeply embedded.
If the coil is heavily contaminated with dust and dirt, using a soft bristle brush or blowing low-pressure compressed air on the fins is not effective. It necessitates the use of chemical solutions.
Chemical Solution Cleaning
Most chemical solutions can be used to clean the coils and they include acids, alkaline, solvent, or detergent-based coming in liquid or powder form. The coil cleaner is mixed and diluted with water to obtain the desired concentration. Most professional aircon servicing companies mix and dilute coil cleaners in a standard pump sprayer, pressurize the sprayer and apply the liquid to the coils. When the solution is applied to the coil surface there is a chemical reaction as foaming properties help float debris out of the coil body where it can be rinsed away.
Here are the different types of Chemical Solutions used to clean an Aircon Fan Coil Unit:
Acid-based coil cleaners are very effective and will remove any material from coils including the metal on the coils if you are not careful. While proving effective as a coil cleaner, acid-based products come with a few hazards. Acids produce vapors that carry a strong acid smell which, in the right concentrations, can cause teary eyes and choke. It is also dangerous as it will dissolve just about anything it touches. Therefore, thorough rinsing is very important.
Alkaline-based coil cleaners are also very effective, fairly safe, and offer excellent cleaning results but they produce a mild odor while effectively removing foreign materials from the surface of the coils.
Solvents used as coil cleaners are very effective in removing grease but not heavy particulates and corrosion. It has a short dry time and limited rinsing. Most solvents are flammable and most give off strong smells and vapors. Solvent-based coil cleaners tend to work best in areas where a lot of water cannot be used for rinsing.
Detergent coil cleaners are usually slightly alkaline with foaming agents to speed the cleaning process. This works well in areas where there is a buildup of grease and tar, but not for removing particulates and corrosion. It usually requires thorough rinsing.
Usually, an acid- or alkaline-based coil cleaner is used but where heavy grease or tar is present, a solvent- or detergent-based coil cleaner may be needed.
A clean coil is not necessarily bright. In all probability, the brighter the coil’s surfaces, the more metal you have just removed. Consistent use of products that result in bright coils can diminish the life of the coil because they dissolve the outer surface of the metal.
Pro 338 Reminder: While we already know that most chemical solutions are dangerous and may cause harm to the various parts of the body when it’s not properly handled, a professional aircon servicing company recommends avoiding performing it in a DIY method. Yes, it will save you money but the dangers of it will also cost you a lot.
Here are some additional critical tasks that needs to performed when cleaning an Aircon Fan Coil Unit:
– Clean the surfaces of the motor and blower
– Visually inspect the inside and outside of the aircon fan coil unit
– Examine the motor and blower fan for movement, wear, tear, and dust.
– Removing dust and dirt with a vacuum
– Cleaning or changing the aircon unit filters
– Lubricating all moving parts of the aircon unit, except for the ball bearings
A professional aircon servicing company may also recommend these other tasks:
– Replace any dry, cracked, or worn belts
– Check the condition of the motor, disrepair, sounds odd, vibrates or is not operational.
– Check the function of the room thermostat
– Inspect pipe works, shut off valves, and valve actuator for any leaks.
– Check and clean the drain line for a free flow.
It’s always a good time to talk about the common issues that aircon units have. This way, you’ll be able to spot if there are problems with your unit or not and prepare for its replacement accordingly. If you require our aircon servicing services, Whatsapp us at +65 9222 4141 for a fast and transparent quote.
338 Aircon Servicing Singapore provides an extensive range of Aircon Services including Aircon Servicing, Aircon Repairs, Aircon Installation of the best aircon brands, Chemical Overhaul, Gas Top-up, Aircon Leaking Water, and Aircon Not Cold Fix, and more. We have a team of professional technicians who are equipped with vast knowledge and experience in the Aircon industry.
We have over 15 years of experience in dealing with aircon works and have completed thousands of aircon works for both residential (Landed, Condo, and HDB) and commercial. We are a highly recommended Aircon Company in Singapore, with many delighted customers and reviews over the years on Google and Facebook.
WhatsApp us at +65 9222 4141 for a transparent quotation and honest pricing for all your aircon needs or Call us at +65 9222 4141. We offer a fast and efficient service to serve any of your aircon needs!
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