Stories / In the room
In the room
Inside the flat, most of the jobs are small, and one or two are yours. The filter, the drip, the smell, the noise and the number on the remote.
Cleaning the filters yourselfClean split AC filters about every two weeks while the AC is in daily use, with the power off, and let them dry fully in the shade before they go back.
Water running down the bedroom wallSplit AC water leakage indoors most often comes from a clogged drain pipe or a filter dirty enough to let ice form on the coil, so clean the filter and call a technician if it still drips.
The musty smell when it starts upA split AC smells musty when damp and dirt sit inside it, so clean the filter, let the unit dry out, and book a proper clean if the smell stays; a burnt smell is different, so switch off at the MCB.
Clicks, rattles and the hum at nightSplit AC noises such as light clicks and flap creaks are usually normal, but a new abnormal noise from the indoor unit means stop it, turn off the power and call for service.
Why your new AC starts at 24 °CThe AC temperature setting of 24 °C is the required default on star-labelled room ACs sold in India since 1 January 2020, and you can still change it, though the Power Ministry says each degree warmer saves about 6 per cent.