Why is my aircon light blinking?

Aircon blinking light: what it usually means

Daikin's troubleshooting guide says a flashing operation lamp likely means the air conditioner is malfunctioning, and lists it under units that do not operate. In plain terms, it has detected a fault and stopped.

An aircon light flashing is not always a fault, though. On some models, a light can also blink as a timer or filter reminder. Check the manual for your model to see which lamp is which and what each pattern means.

If the aircon will not start and the operation lamp stays off, that is a different case. Daikin lists simpler checks for it: whether the breaker has tripped or a fuse has blown, whether the plug is connected, whether there is a power failure, whether the remote control batteries need replacing and whether the timer is set correctly. The guide to an aircon not turning on covers that case. If the lamp is flashing instead, go to the single reset below.

Try one reset

For a flashing operation lamp, Daikin's troubleshooting page gives one reset at the aircon's dedicated circuit breaker, which Daikin says is in the main fuse box. If you do not know which switch it is, ask your installer or a qualified electrician.

1. Turn the aircon off. Use the remote control.
2. Switch off its breaker. Turn off the aircon's dedicated breaker in the main fuse box.
3. Wait twenty minutes. Leave the breaker off for twenty minutes.
4. Switch back on. Turn the breaker on, then turn the aircon on.
5. Check the operation light. If it still flashes, leave the unit off and arrange a check.

Do the reset once only. If the problem remains, Daikin says to contact your nearest Daikin representative; for another brand, contact the maker or your servicing company.

If the breaker had already tripped, a practical step (not a rule from any source) is to switch off or unplug what was running, then push the tripped switch back up once. If it trips again straight away, leave it off and call a Licensed Electrician. Never hold or tape a switch up, or open the DB box cover. Power trip help has more.

Error codes differ by brand

Daikin's troubleshooting page is its global guide, so use it alongside the manual for your own model, not instead of it. If your unit is a Daikin, the guide to Daikin aircon servicing covers that brand.

Codes and blink patterns are not the same across brands, and they can differ between models of one brand. So do not look up an aircon error code in another brand's list and act on what it says.

Before you call anyone, note:

• which light is blinking (operation, timer or another lamp)
• how many blinks come before each pause, and whether the pattern repeats
• any code shown on the unit's display, if it has one
• the brand and model
• what happened just before, such as a power cut, a tripped breaker, a smell or dripping water

What a repair visit costs

FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY

Published aircon repair and inspection rates

For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published rates from 11 companies run from S$40 to S$100. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a market average or a quote.

See 21 published repair or inspection rates and sources

Lowest matching advertised rate per company, in SGD as published. "From" marks a starting price and ranges are shown in full. Check the source for minimums, GST and inclusions.

Company	Service as listed	Rate	Source
Skyzone Aircon Pte Ltd	Aircon diagnosis fee (residential)	S$27.25 per visit	skyzone.com.sg
Snowflake Services LLP	Diagnostic visit (waived if you proceed)	S$30 per visit	snowflakeaircon.sg
City Cooling Pte Ltd	Checking	S$35 per unit	citycoolingengr.com.sg
A-Max Aircon	Troubleshooting	S$40 per job	amaxaircon.com
Blossom Engineering & Construction Pte. Ltd.	Troubleshooting	S$40 per job	blossomaircon.com
Coolest Aircon Service Pte Ltd	Aircon Repair	S$40 per visit	coolestaircon.com.sg
Doctor Cool	Aircon repair or troubleshooting	S$40 per job	doctorcoolsg.com
SmartCool Aircon Servicing Singapore	Troubleshooting	S$40 to S$80 per job	smartcool.sg
Thetop Aircon Service	Aircon troubleshooting repair	From S$40 per job	thetop.com.sg
Goodcool	Aircon Troubleshooting	S$43.60 per job	bestairconservicing.com
Aircon Boon	Ttroubleshooting [sic]	S$50 per job	airconsg88.com
Sky Blue Aircon Engineering Pte. Ltd.	Troubleshooting & diagnostics visit (from; waived upon repair)	From S$50 per visit	skyblueaircon.com
Jiaxing Holdings Pte. Ltd.	Onsite inspection checking fee (waived if the repair proceeds within 1 month)	S$54.50 per visit	jiaxing-aircon.sg
Heng Aircon Pte Ltd	Diagnostic check	S$60 per visit	hengaircon.com
Same Day Aircon Servicing Repair	Repair troubleshooting (fix quoted separately)	From S$60 to S$80 per job	urgentairconservicing.sg
Vois Pte. Ltd.	Aircon troubleshooting	From S$60 per unit	vois.com.sg
Airple	Aircon Troubleshooting	S$60.60 per job	airple.com.sg
Lion City Air Conditioner Services	Gas troubleshooting	S$87.20 per job	lioncityaircon.sg
Joydom Engineering Pte. Ltd.	On-site troubleshooting visit	S$100 per job	joydom.com.sg
Cool-Aire Aircon Servicing	VRF Troubleshooting - On site survey / Transport charges	S$150 per visit	coolaire.com.sg
Homeone Aircon	Compressor replacement labour, split (<3hp), parts excluded	S$600 per unit	homeone.com.sg

The table shows each company's published rate as printed. In all, 21 companies publish a repair or inspection line. 11 of them price it per job, from S$40 to S$100 per job, with S$43.60 in the middle, which is the middle company's own published rate. These are visit and diagnosis rates before parts.

Other lines use a different unit, such as a residential diagnosis fee of S$27.25 per visit or a checking line at S$35 per unit. Some say the fee is waived if you go ahead with the repair. Repair work can have its own line: one company prints compressor replacement labour for a split unit below 3 horsepower (hp) at S$600 per unit, parts excluded.

Ask whether the price covers diagnosis only, whether parts are extra and whether the visit fee is waived if you proceed. See aircon repair cost for more on pricing, or compare companies offering aircon repair.

When to stop and call a professional

Leave the aircon off at the remote and get help if:

• It still blinks after one reset. Book a diagnosis rather than resetting again.
• The breaker trips. HDB explains that a miniature circuit breaker (MCB) trips to cut supply to its circuit on an overcurrent from an overload or short circuit. Leave it off and call a Licensed Electrician.
• You smell burning. Daikin says to stop operation, unplug the power cord or turn off the circuit breaker, and contact the place of purchase. See aircon burning smell, and call 995 for fire or smoke.
• Water is leaking. Daikin says to stop using the aircon, collect the water in a bucket or with a floor cloth, and check whether water comes out of the drain hose outside. If water reaches a socket, plug or the DB box, keep away and call a Licensed Electrician.

Then compare aircon companies in the directory.

Questions