Aircon Troubleshooting · Singapore
Why Won’t My Aircon Turn On?
Before assuming the worst, rule out power, the remote, and a tripped breaker — that’s most cases. If those are fine, it’s usually an internal electrical fault. Here’s how to check.
The short answer
Most “dead” aircons come down to power (tripped breaker / isolator off), a dead remote, or the wrong mode. If those check out, it’s usually a safety cutoff (full drain tray) or an internal board/capacitor fault that needs a technician. Don’t repeatedly reset a breaker that keeps tripping.
Common causes — and the fix for each
Work through these from simplest to most involved.
No power / tripped breaker
The most common cause. The circuit breaker has tripped, the plug/isolator is off, or there’s a power issue. Reset the breaker once — if it trips again, stop and call, as that signals a fault.
Aircon repair from $50Dead remote or wrong mode
A flat remote battery or the unit set to “Fan”/timer instead of “Cool” makes it seem dead. Replace the batteries and check the mode before assuming the worst.
Aircon repair from $50Safety cutoff tripped
Many units shut themselves off when the drainage tray is full or the system overheats — a protective measure. Clearing the drainage or the underlying cause brings it back.
Chemical wash from $110Control board or capacitor fault
If power and remote are fine but nothing happens, the PCB, receiver, or a capacitor has likely failed. These need proper diagnosis and replacement parts.
Aircon repair from $50What you can check yourself first
Rule these out before booking — they solve a lot of cases for free.
- 1Check the circuit breaker / isolator switch — reset it once if it has tripped.
- 2Replace the remote batteries and make sure the mode is set to “Cool”, not “Fan”, timer, or off.
- 3Confirm the wall plug or isolator powering the unit is switched on.
- 4If the breaker trips again immediately after resetting, stop — don’t keep resetting it, and call a technician.
When to call a technician
If power, the remote, and the mode are all fine, the fault is inside the unit — a control board, receiver, or capacitor — and that’s not safe or possible to fix without tools. A breaker that keeps tripping is a particular warning sign: it means something is drawing too much current, and forcing it back on risks the wiring.
We diagnose the exact cause, confirm the price before any work, and carry common replacement parts to fix it the same day where possible. Repair across Singapore from $50.
Other aircon problems
Aircon won’t turn on — FAQs
Why won’t my aircon turn on at all?
My aircon has power but still won’t respond — what now?
Could a tripped breaker mean something serious?
How much does it cost to fix an aircon that won’t turn on?
Aircon dead? We’ll get it running.
Same-day diagnosis across Singapore. Transparent pricing — you know the cost before we start.