A Cool Case of Air‑Con Fever
When your nine air‑conditioners start a full‑throttle protest, you might just be labeled the neighborhood’s unofficial climate control commissioner—unless you’re Huang, 64, who decided it was time for a fresh start.
Where the Coolness Stopped at the Wall
- Threats from neighbors were on full volume.
- Even the local press got involved.
- Right‑winged hawks (the authorities) joined the chorus.
Eventually, on Sept 17, his four‑room apartment on Compassvale Road became a place too chilly for the neighbors, and Huang quietly slipped out.
New Home, New Chill Show
Fast forward to his executive flat in Sengkang—where he plans to install all eight of his beloved units. Yes, he’s getting a deposit of SG$7,600 (that’s the 2.2‑percent penalty for letting the lease end early) and a re‑installation fee, which has landed at about SG$20,000 in total.
So, What Makes 20,000??
Swap the price for comfort?
- “If I can keep my sofa temperature on point, I’ve lost nothing.”
- “No matter the price tag, I’m about to turn my house into my personal VIP lounge.”
Bottom line: A longer lease and a little money go a long way to keep an entire household cool and happy—or at least that’s how Huang’s story pitches it.
Too cool for neighbours
Huang’s Air‑Con Saga: Comfort or Chaos?
Last month, a rather cozy mystery made headlines when Huang’s air‑conditioning units got the headline treatment. With liver cancer in the mix, the 57‑year‑old decided a $13,000 splash of cool air was worth it, but it turned out to be more of a wet puzzle for his neighbours.
The Decked‑Out Dilemma
- Temperature Twist: He dialed the thermostat down to 18°C, the chilly number that made his living area feel like a sub‑freezer.
- Packed Up: Instead of just pressing a button, he padded off multiple layers of clothes, convinced a “warm body equals higher immunity.”
- Condensation Chaos: The AC’s sweat turned the floor below into a puddle parade, and the air above turned his neighbours’ living spaces into a damp drama.
Neighbourly Nuisances and Negotiations
At the heart of the storm was Liu, the lady who lives above Huang. She blamed the AC for a wet‑floor fiasco that forced her wife to mop just three times a day. For two whole months, their foyer felt like an ice rink.
Super‑subsequent “meeting” on 22 August split the plot: Liu was the one who got a note from the authorities saying Huang would be moving next month. Truth? Huang’s move was the solution the neighbours had been waiting for.
Below the Air‑Con’s Arch – The Mouldy Mood
Then there’s Su, the neighbour below. He was stuck with a mouldy ceiling that turned his paint into a soggy mess. He poked a conversation with Huang, who made a genuine promise to increase the temperature. Unfortunately, the promise remained unfulfilled.
Now Su is charting a repair plan and expects to spend around $500 to repaint his ceiling. “We’re not just letting the landlord shrug the problem off while we’re still touching rent,” he says, “they have to step in and pull their weight.”
The Takeaway – Warmth, Responsibility, and a Shared Front
- Comfort With a Consequence: Every chill comes with a wet trade‑off; the neighbours are still left cooling down a little harder.
- Neighbours in the Mix: The plot shows that a neighbour’s comfort isn’t just a personal thing – it’s a shared space. All voices need to be heard.
- Huang’s Move: The move was a final crack in the puzzle. Without his air‑con, the floor won’t be wetly slippery and no more mouldy ceilings.
In the end, Huang’s story reminds us that technology can be both a life‑saver and a home‑infringing hazard. Let’s keep an eye on how the landlord handles the after‑effects – because nobody likes a damp dilemma.
