Aircon servicing in the North-East region of Singapore

Aircon servicing across the North-East region's towns

Aircon work in the North-East region depends on how old the homes in each town are and what kind they are. The figures here come from two official tables. The Census of Population 2020 counts households by planning area. HDB's HDB Property Information dataset counts flats by HDB town. The two use different boundaries, so a planning area and the HDB town with the same name do not cover exactly the same blocks.

1. Older wiring in Ang Mo Kio and Serangoon. In HDB's Ang Mo Kio town, 84% of units are in blocks completed in 1986 or earlier. In HDB's Serangoon town the share is 59% (HDB Property Information). Under HDB's renovation rules, flats without higher electrical loading need an HDB permit to install new 15A power points for aircon. That wiring must be done by an EMA Licensed Electrical Worker, so ask early whether your new system needs a new power point.
2. Newer, larger flats in Punggol and Sengkang. In HDB's Punggol town, 100% of units are in blocks completed in 1998 or later, and the median block completion year is 2012. In HDB's Sengkang town the share is 97% and the median is 2002 (HDB Property Information). The Sengkang planning area has 31,507 4-room and 28,680 5-room or executive HDB households (Census 2020). Larger flats often have several indoor units, and each one adds to a general service or chemical wash. If you replace a system in an HDB flat, it must be installed by a BCA trained installer.
3. A mixed picture in Hougang. HDB's Hougang town is split: 44% of units are in blocks from 1986 or earlier, 26% from 1987 to 1997 and 30% from 1998 or later (HDB Property Information). The Home Improvement Programme covers flats built up to 1986, and since 2018 also flats built from 1987 to 1997. Its essential works include upgrading the electrical supply and take about 10 working days in each flat. A precinct is upgraded only if at least 75% of eligible Singapore citizen households vote yes, so check your own block's status before you plan a new installation around it.
4. Condo rules in Serangoon, Hougang and Sengkang. Condos and apartments make up 16% of households in the Serangoon planning area, 15% in Hougang and 14% in Sengkang (Census 2020). Condo owners must follow their MCST by-laws, and any change to common property needs the MCST's prior written approval. Check with your MCST before an installation that could touch common property.
5. Landed homes and refrigerant work. Landed homes make up 26% of households in the Serangoon planning area and 7% in Ang Mo Kio, while the Punggol planning area has only 69 landed households (Census 2020). Larger homes may have more indoor units, so a service visit can take longer. For gas refills on any home system, note that NEA's mandatory technician certification covers water-cooled chillers, not household aircon. ITE runs a Certificate of Competency in Residential Air-Conditioning System (Refrigerant) for home refrigerant work, so it is fair to ask whether your technician holds it.