If you’ve shopped for an aircon in Singapore, you’ve seen “System 3” and “System 4” everywhere, usually next to a price that seems too good. Here’s what those numbers actually mean, and how to pick the right one without overpaying.
What does “System” mean?
The number is how many indoor units (fan coils) share one outdoor unit (compressor). System 1 is one indoor unit and one compressor. System 3 is three indoor units on one compressor. Simple as that.
Which system suits which home?
System 1: one room, or adding a unit to a room that never had one.
System 2: two bedrooms, or one bedroom plus a small living area.
System 3: the common choice for 3-room and 4-room HDB flats: two bedrooms plus the living room, or three bedrooms.
System 4: larger flats and condos where every bedroom and the living room need cooling.
One compressor or two?
A multi-split system saves space on the ledge. The trade-off: if the compressor fails, every room on it loses cooling. Some families choose a System 3 plus a separate System 1 for the master bedroom, so there’s always one cool room.
BTU: bigger isn’t always better
BTU is cooling capacity. As a rough guide, a common bedroom often uses around 9,000 BTU, a master bedroom around 12,000 BTU and a living room 18,000 to 24,000 BTU. Room size, sun and ceiling height all matter, which is why we survey first.
The ticks matter
NEA’s energy label shows efficiency in ticks. More ticks usually costs more upfront but less to run, which matters for a unit you’ll use every night for years.
Questions to ask before you sign
Is the copper piping and trunking included, and how many metres? Is there a workmanship warranty? Who removes the old units? Our BTO installation guide has the full checklist.
Whichever system you have, our aircon servicing starts at $65 for the 1st unit, then +$10 for each unit from the 2nd.
We’re brand-neutral, install all major brands and include a 1-year workmanship warranty. A typical System 1 install is SGD 1,000 to 2,000. See installation or WhatsApp us for a free site survey.