my condo air cond not strong, macam gas leaking.

called air cond guy to come, confirmed leaking but not from air cond, suspect from piping that goes from ceiling board through the concrete ceiling to outside the fan.

Air cond guy claimed its about 60 feet. And every 2 feet copper piping is RM 25. If costed together about 1,500.

Really that expensive?

I have 4 other air conds in my unit, if any of the copper piping koyak...wow it means 1,500 X 5.

Are there any alternative?

Call another one for 2nd opinion.
Do not mention the other guy or leaking copper lines

fuyioh!

can’t he trace and repair the leak?..just charge you time and labor?

Find the leak, cut and join back the copper pipe.

Usually the pipe leak is at the outdoor or indoor unit.
Did he even check those first before suggesting u change the copper pipe?

This post has been edited by COOLPINK: Feb 24 2025, 08:16 AM

The leak can repair.
Get an electronic nose to smell the refrigerant.

Usually it's at the welding joint

Definitely. Follow what the others have commented. Get a second opinion from another contractor, don't mention its leaking, let them figure it out, and propose a remedial measure. Good ones will be able to propose a repair which does not replacing everything.

Not every repairman is skilled. So, get more to have a look at it, and sometimes it's a matter of what tools they have, so if they can't do it, find someone who can.
Best of luck.

You can provide your own copper piping, u go besi buruk ask around see got any or not, these are the kind of item where it is easily stolen by worker then sold to besi buruk for a quick buck. This kind of copper typically they are buying at RM30 / kilo. If u offer them at RM50 / kilo chances is they are more than willing to sell you.

Sounds like BS to me

The root cause might be correct, but the solution is dumb. Copper pipe can cut and weld back, so normally just cut the leak part and join. What for replace the entire copper pipe?

agree... unless the copper pipe is damaged all over, there is no need to replace the whole piping, just the damaged section is good enough.

the problem is that the piping goes through some concrete roofing as well as over the plaster board.

he says he is pumping high pressure gas to detect. If got sound or yellow stain on plaster board that is where the leakage is.

However, if the leakage is over the concreate ceiling, that's difficult to trace.

he suggested to replace the whole piping, he claims to be 60 feet. I don't think its that long.

Yes I am finding a second opinion.

yeah that's exactly what I am doing.

I asking my dad's friend for help.

I don't want to ask another contractor...may also specify the same thing.

nowadays they just wanna scam a buck.

I agree.

I suspecting something not right.

For me, I usually postpone my decision. I don't care if waifu and children nag all day at me no air cond.

the contractor just want to take short cut n earn extra buck.

60 feet of piping? I bet the excess length he just keep it for himself for future jobs. No way I will pass any extra piping to him.

I am avoiding the average contractor.

For this reason, I am asking a father's friend who is also doing this role.

Yes, including labour

Last time my aircon also leaking so i bought a new aircon from Shopee and call technician for installation.
then the technician dismantled old aircon together with old piping and reinstalled new aircon with new piping set.
Installation cost at around RM250 (10 feet copper only).

Your one is house?

Condo different as condo mgmt want to look nice, so only allocated areas can have air cond, therefore the long piping.

If I can, I will sure hang an air cond outside my window. But due to aesthetics don't want to lower condo value, management have rules.

Yes. Mine is double terrace house.

bollocks, they can cut where the leak is and fit a new extension with torch gas, thats how copper pipe works. Theres also many modern tools to find the leak nowadays. Clearly this guy is trying to rob you. Move away and find a better guy. Keep in mind what i said. And use it as reference.

60 ft copper pipe, is the compressor efficient enought to support such a long distance. you should think how to move the compressor nearer to wall unit. I dont think this is a good idea.please consul expert.

Your a/cond always not cold, or recently only not cold? One roll of 15m/50ft of copper pipe is about RM 250 - RM 350 (based on diameter and wall thickness) Need 2 pipes per a/cond. So the a/cond man wants to make 100%+ profit on the pipes

This post has been edited by stormer.lyn: Feb 24 2025, 10:07 AM

60ft = 20m, it is at the limit of of performance for fully inverter unit. The option for non-inverter unit is totally out of consideration due to distance limitation.

Some Strata, they limit the location to place the outdoor unit but they will specify what type of AC to use ( inverter or non-inverter).

This is a common issue with the newly built unit, developer want to conceal the piping in the slab. But once the piping leaks, it is almost impossible to detect / repair. Ended up, the AC contractor usually will suggest to by-pass the old pipe & run the new pipes. Just like the old plumbing pipe in old house, if you ask the plumber go to detect & repair, the plumber will ask the owner to by-pass with the new piping.

last time had the same problem, but we did detect the leak.
instead, reinstall the ac back to back to balcony and put condenser there with short piping requirement.

Modern R32 system no problem. Example cheapest Daikin 1hp can go 25m~82ft. I've even done 30m installs (no elevation changes tho) with no issue.

Edit: Copper Pipe for 1hp-1.15hp would be RM12 for 2 feet. What cost a lot is the labor. (Open ceiling, run new pipes, close ceiling, seal wall, paint).

This post has been edited by marvinben: Feb 24 2025, 04:22 PM

IC, if the compressor location is fixed you may have no choice but to repair the leaking.

Perhaps you can arrange for someone to inject pressurized water into the copper pipe to locate the leak, and then cut and replace the damaged section with a new piece.

but all this need try and error. or else change new copper hose.

hope you get best solution without spen big amount.

yeah I have a hunch on that one.

that's why I am delaying to do so

This post has been edited by hoonanoo: Feb 24 2025, 05:14 PM

friend...if I can do that, would have done it long ago lah.

But I live in Condo, and the management don't allow this

bypass very ugly la

will make my house look like a space ship with black hose running through the ceiling.

1. is your outdoor unit really that far away? who the fuk installed an outdoor unit through concrete 40-50' away from the indoor unit?
2. how did they route the drainage? if the drainage anywhere near as long as the copper piping, I would be surprised if it isnt leaking somewhere and causing damage or mold to your house.

as others have noted. just need to repair the part that is leaking. by right, you shouldnt need to replace the whole length of pipe.

This post has been edited by homicidal85: Feb 24 2025, 05:21 PM

mine was condo. i asked management, why many can put in balcony. they say common problem and allow.

yes it is at the other side of my condo, near the wet kitchen where they house the split unit fans which are hidden by a wall of decorative metal cladding.

you be surprised how fuked up developers are these days. All aesthetics, no proper plan for these eventualities.

The copper piping goes from my master bedroom through 2 other rooms then L-share bend and through the kitchen then through to the wet kitchen and to the fans.

Some of the piping goes through the plaster boards that have a small door open to view but 50% of it goes through the concrete ceiling....

it some ways the contractor say is logical

You put a proper PVC casing to conceal the insulated piping, run it at the edge of the walls. That would be the cheapest & reliable option.

If you want to conceal by hacking, it would be worse.

Ugly = temporary. Use this to motivate yourself that you are going to move out to bigger house in near future.

It was not the problem to be faced by me. It was other people's problem, actually.

I just got to know the issue & try to understand the scenario from the people who face the issue. At least I know how to deal with this issue for another application.

Anyway, thanks for your wishes.

Is any part of the copper buried in concrete?

Previously my aircond copper pipe leak during service, they just welding it, until now perfect

If your pipings are concealed suggest to change whole copper piping
How old is your house?

Reason being there might be multiple leaking point
let's say if you hack your wall and found one leaking point
then you weld back
after few weeks if not cold then you need find other leaking spot
hacking + weld + conceal again
double work.. labor alone will be hefty

Not suggest to do half baked work
the technician also will tell you they will not guarantee.. after repair done
because if the pipe is old and started leaking, potentially other section have same issues or will have same issue soon (almost time)

This also depends on quality and thickness of the copper pipe used by your contractor

Even if you hack the whole pipe to inspect and weld back muitlple leaking spots
don't think the repair will be as good as brand new copper pipe

Just need to ensure your technician using good copper pipe
one time repair and you're good

Don't get yourself trouble
if change.. must be brand new pipe

Got hacking, drilling and conceal?
from wht I know.. the installation fees not include those above

If all included, maybe TS can double confirm again before hiring them
because it's cheaper than change/repair old piping

is brand new

no wall hack. The job scope are replace old in & outdoor unit and piping.

thats crazy man. the developer might have been better off putting up more decorative metalwork on the other side.

Even if I moved to house

I plan to use this property for rental

I don't want my tenants to be complaining no air cond.

developers don't care.

everything they do is short term plan.

Like example, what caught us offguard, was the lift. Developers never planned for a service lift. So we had to convert our 4th lift as a "service lift" by placing padding and a plywood sheet as protective flooring.

Everytime we press button to go up or down, the stupid service lift opens first. There is no special shaft for service lifts. As you know, people don't like to go into service lift, because its dirty, that's where they load the rubbish to the compactor down stairs.

This is one example of developers cutting corners to gain max profits.

no need to hack ceiling unless its for those parts that are plaster. Just pull the pipe out.

House is just 7 years old.

But contractor claimed developer used the china substandard quality cheap copper piping that tends to leak.

That's not the one time repair I am worried about.

When I moved in, I did something not thought over, i put 5 air conds in my unit. So I have many copper piping. Imagine one costs 1.5k to replace. I can't imagine 5.

The tenant will not complain about the encased refrigerant pipe in the PVC casing. To them, renting a unit is temporary only. Since it is "temporary" for you to stay until you move somewhere, it is also a "temporary" stay for the future tenant renting from you, so what is the issue with the neatly done PVC casing?

There is no need to take my comment seriously; it is just a possible option. If the idea doesn't suit your personal self, feel free to discard it away.