Installation of Air Conditioners

HDB has a set of guidelines for the installation of air conditioners in HDB flats. Details of these guidelines can be found in “Electrical Guide For Your HDB Flat” on the HDB InfoWEB, at www.hdb.gov.sg.

Flat owners must bear in mind the following:
• Installation must be carried out only by a BCA trained air conditioner installer.

• Stainless steel material must be used, where brackets are required for the mounting of the air condensing unit.

• The air conditioner and compressor must be installed at a location approved by HDB.

Leaking Pipes

Water and steam leaks can cause you to lose a lot of money, not to mention it wastes our precious water. Learn what causes leaks and how to detect them.

Loose fittings
Fittings, such as tap washers and joints, can come loose over time.

Corrosion
Unlined galvanised iron pipes generally corrode after five or six years of use.

Overflow
Float valves which are faulty or misaligned can cause overflow in water tanks and cooling towers. Water tanks and cooling towers should not normally overflow.

You may have a leak if:
The meter continues to run when all taps and fittings are turned off.
- Water consumption is unusually high.
- The ground over buried pipes is damp.
- There is an unexplained flow of clear water.
- Water is rust coloured.
- The water pressure drops.
- Steam is seen rising from pipes.

Note that overflowing or leaking cooling towers are seldom noticed because overflow pipes are sometimes connected directly to sewers, concealing discharge.

If any of these happen:
1. Shut off the water supply.
2. Get a licensed water service worker to repair the leak by replacing the pipe or fittings

PUB can help if you need a list of licensed water service workers.

Repair an Overflowing Cistern

How to repair an overflowing cistern? You can do it yourself.

Spalling Concrete

Spalling concrete refers to minor cracks and bulges on the concrete cover ofceilings. This is caused by the corrosion of steel bars embedded in the concrete slab over a period of time.

What is wrong
The minor cracks and bulges on the ceilings may eventually cause the concrete cover to dislodge, exposing the steel bars embedded in the floor slab.

Possible cause
Natural deterioration process called carbonation.

Getting it fixed
Engage a contractor to carry out appropriate repair works which generally involve the following steps:
• remove the concrete at the “spalled” areas to expose the steel bars.
• clean the exposed steel bars and apply rust inhibitor.
• apply bonding agent to affected surface.
• patch up the hacked area using polymer modified cement mortar or epoxy mortar.
• paint affected area to match the surroundings.

Preventive measures
• Paint ceiling regularly every 3 to 5 years to slow down the carbonation
process.
• Check ceiling regularly and seal holes/cracks so as to prevent ingress of moisture and oxygen, the presence of which would cause the embedded steel bars in the concrete to corrode.
• Keep level of humidity down in wet areas like the toilets/bathrooms by opening doors/vents.

Extracted from HDB Handbook.

Clear a Choked Wash Basin/Kitchen Sink

How to Clear a Choked Wash Basin/Kitchen Sink
Components
• The common waste trap used for the wash basin and kitchen sink in HDB flats is the “Bottle trap”.

Possible cause
• Chokes are caused by solid matter or hardened grease in the bottle trap.

What you will need
• Wire hook/thin stick.

How to clear the chokes
• Detach the lower section of the trap by twisting it open (anti-clockwise).
• Remove the solid matter with a wire hook or a thin stick. Flush water to clear the remaining waste.
• If the obstruction is in the pipe, remove the cleaning eye cap.
• Use a wire hook or thin stick to remove the solid matter in the pipe.
• Screw (clockwise) the lower section of the trap back in position.

Extracted from HDB Handbook.

PUB Licensed Plumbers

In Singapore, water service work shall only be carried out by a licensed water service plumber. Where the work involves the design of a pumping system or storage tank, a professional engineer must also be engaged to make the submission before the licensed water service plumber can proceed with the work. The professional engineers and licensed water service plumbers shall comply with the Singapore Standard CP48: 1989 - Code of Practice For Water Services and the Public Utilities (Water Supply) Regulations in their submissions and water service installation works.

Water service plumbers are licensed by PUB to ensure that good standard of water service work is maintained in customers' premises. There are currently more than 800 licensed water service plumbers in Singapore whom customers can select to carry out water service work in their premises. Licences are issued to water service plumbers who possess the necessary qualifications and experience to maintain quality service and standards in water service work and to ensure that their work does not cause water wastage or contaminate the water supply to customers.

To search for licensed water service plumber Click here