Aircon LG Gas Leak, Tenant-Landlord Dispute

Aircon case in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore: cooling loss traced to rust-related gas leak at outdoor unit pipe joints — normal wear and not caused by tenant misuse after targeted diagnosis checks.

Case Details

Reported: The office aircon is not cold. We asked our landlord to fix it, but they said we should pay because we use it every day. We think it is a building issue. Can you come and check and tell us what is actually wrong?
Unit: LG · Cassette · 5 years old
Location: Office · Tanjong Pagar, Singapore

What We Checked

Gas pressure was below the normal range on the ceiling cassette circuit.
Indoor cassette unit was clean and well-maintained — filters had been serviced regularly.
Outdoor unit pipe joints showed rust and green buildup at the fittings.
Bubble test confirmed active leak at the outdoor unit gas line connection.
LG error code CH35 was active, consistent with low-pressure protection.
No signs of tenant-caused damage — the fault was rust from years of outdoor exposure.

The Diagnosis

The gas leak was caused by rust at the outdoor unit pipe joints. This is normal wear from years of weather exposure — not from misuse, neglect, or anything the tenant did. The indoor unit had been well-kept with regular filter cleaning. The outdoor rust pattern matched the kind of aging we see on units this old. We recorded the findings with photos and test data for both sides.

What Fixed It

We gave both sides a written report covering the leak location, rust evidence, and our finding that the fault was normal wear. We advised outdoor unit replacement since the rust had spread across the joint area. The tenant and landlord used the report to discuss who should pay, based on their lease terms. After reading the report, the landlord approved the replacement. The tenant was not charged.

The landlord approved outdoor unit replacement based on the written report. A new matching outdoor unit was installed, the system was pressure-tested and recharged. Cooling returned to normal in the office with no further gas loss.

Why This Happens

How to handle aircon repair disputes between tenant and landlord.

Clear records of the fault — including photos, test results, and a written finding — help both sides agree on who should pay.
Rust from weather exposure is normal wear over time. It usually falls under the landlord's duty to maintain building fixtures.
Tenant-caused issues usually involve dirty filters, thermostat misuse, or physical damage — none of which cause outdoor unit pipe rust.
A neutral third-party finding can stop disputes from growing and speed up the repair decision.

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