CCS Smell Issues - Anyone Else Experiencing This?

COMPILING TENGAH RESIDENTS' FCU SMELL COMPLAINTS

I've been seeing multiple residents in the Tengah community Telegram group reporting persistent smell issues with their Fan Coil Unit (FCU) systems provided by SP Group. This seems to be a widespread problem that deserves more visibility.

COMMON COMPLAINTS

The Problem:

• Strong sewer-like smell coming from FCU units
• Smell persists even when the unit is POWERED OFF
• Problem occurs across multiple units and residents
• Issue has been ongoing for an extended period
• Standing near the FCU is like standing beside a sewer

SP Group's Standard Response: According to residents, SP Group consistently provides the same replies:

• Claims "it's normal"
• Suggests opening windows for air circulation
• Recommends using fan mode for 2-5 minutes
• Claims "not many residents complain" (contradicted by the evidence in our Telegram group)
• No follow-ups after initial response

Manufacturer Blame:

• SP Group reportedly tells residents it's Daikin's fault (the manufacturer)
• Suggests the issue is with the equipment, not their service
• Says they cannot use oil-based solutions as it will coat the rotor fan and coil, trapping more smell

WHAT RESIDENTS HAVE TRIED

Multiple residents have attempted various solutions with limited success:

1. Fan mode operation (2-5 minutes as suggested by SP Group)
2. Vacuum suction on vents/drains (milk bottle vacuum method)
3. Cleaning accessible components
4. Extended ventilation (opening windows)
5. Turning off the system completely at 7am - smell still present by 6:57pm

Result: Most solutions provide only temporary relief (few days at best) before the smell returns.

THE REAL CONCERN

The fact that this smell persists EVEN WHEN THE UNIT IS POWERED OFF suggests this is NOT a normal operational issue. This indicates a potential:

• Drain trap problem (sewer gas backing up)
• Mold or bacterial growth in the system
• Installation defect in the drainage system
• Design flaw in the FCU or drainage setup

One resident noted: "Never turn on the power, stand beside also smelly" - this is clearly not normal.

QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY

1. Are other CCS users (SP Group or Keppel) experiencing similar smell issues?
2. Has anyone successfully resolved this problem permanently?
3. Should we consider collective action or escalation to HDB/BCA?
4. Are there health concerns we should be aware of with this type of smell?
5. Is this specific to certain BTO projects or FCU models?

WHY THIS MATTERS

Centralised Cooling is being rolled out to many new BTO projects across Singapore. If this is a systemic issue with SP Group's implementation or the Daikin FCU units they're using, it needs to be addressed urgently before more residents are affected.

The pattern of identical complaints, identical responses from SP Group, and lack of permanent solutions suggests this is not isolated incidents but a widespread problem that requires proper investigation and resolution.

IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES, PLEASE SHARE:

• Your BTO project name
• When the smell started
• What you've tried
• SP Group's response to you
• Whether the issue was resolved

This post compiles observations from the Tengah community Telegram group. The goal is to bring visibility to what appears to be a widespread issue and find collective solutions. Let's help each other and hold our service providers accountable for delivering the quality we paid for.