Air Conditioning Replacement in Perth

Sometimes we can remove the old air conditioner and fit a similar new one in the same place.

Sometimes that would repeat a problem. The old unit may have been too small for the room. It may have been in a poor position or hard to service. A ducted system may also have damaged ducts or zones that no longer work.

Before we quote, we find out why you want to replace the system. Then we check what can stay and what needs to change.

First confirm whether replacement is justified

Not necessarily.

An old system that has stopped cooling or developed a fault may still be repairable.

Replacement starts to make more sense when the system keeps breaking down. It may also be hard to justify an expensive repair on an older unit, especially when important parts are hard to get.

The air conditioner itself may not be the only problem. It may be the wrong size for the room. Noise, poor drainage or weak airflow may come from the way it was installed. Your needs may also have changed since it went in.

If nobody has found the fault yet, we may suggest a fault check first. Once you know what has failed and what the repair will cost, it is much easier to compare repair and replacement.

The site check before a recommendation

We do not choose the new air conditioner by copying the number on the old one.

First, we ask how the old system worked before it failed. Did every room feel comfortable? Was it noisy? Did water drain properly? Your answers help us spot problems that a simple swap would not fix.

We then look at the rooms you want to heat and cool. Their size and layout matter. So does the way you use them. This helps us work out how much heating and cooling the new system needs to provide. Air-conditioner makers call this its capacity.

Next, we inspect the parts around the air conditioner. This includes the copper pipes, drain and power supply. We check where the indoor and outdoor units sit and whether we can reach them safely.

For a ducted system, we also need to look in the roof space. We check the ducts, the return-air grille and the zones. These are the parts that carry and control the airflow around your home.

After those checks, we can tell you whether a simple changeover should work or whether the quote needs to allow for other changes.

Reusing the same equipment position

Often, yes. We call this a like-for-like changeover. It means fitting a new system of a similar type and size in the same general position.

This can be a good option when the old air conditioner kept the room comfortable before it failed. The indoor and outdoor units also need to be in sensible positions. The existing pipes, drain, power supply and mounting need to suit the new model.

We still check those parts before we quote. An old installation is not automatically a good one just because it has been there for years.

If the old setup caused trouble, replacement is a good time to fix it.

Changing the size or position

Sometimes the existing air conditioner never worked particularly well.

Perhaps the room never became comfortable. Air may not have reached the far end of an open-plan area. The outdoor unit may have disturbed a bedroom or neighbour. You may also have had water leaks or trouble reaching the unit for cleaning.

Furniture and renovations can change how air moves through a room. If the room has changed since the old unit was installed, its original position may no longer work well.

We can check whether a different capacity or position would help. If a unit moves, it usually needs a new pipe route and drain. The electrical cable may also need to move, and we may need to make a new opening through the wall. The quote should show this work clearly.

Choosing between split, multi-head and ducted

There isn’t one setup that is best for every home.

Individual split systems

A split system has one indoor unit connected to one outdoor unit. It can work well when you mainly heat or cool one room or a few selected rooms.

Each system has its own controls. You can leave unused rooms off, and a fault in one system does not stop every other room.

Multi-head air conditioning

A multi-head system connects several indoor units to one outdoor unit. It can help when there is not enough room outside for several separate units.

The pipes must be able to reach each room. If several rooms will run at the same time, we also need to make sure the outdoor unit has enough capacity.

Ducted air conditioning

Ducted air conditioning sends air through flexible tubes in the roof. These tubes are the ducts. The air enters each room through a ceiling outlet, and you control the system from one main controller.

Most ducted systems also have zones. A zone lets you turn the airflow to a room or group of rooms on and off.

The home needs enough roof space for the indoor unit and ducts. The large return-air grille also needs to pull enough air back to the system. We check all of this before recommending a ducted replacement.

Reusing existing pipework

Sometimes.

The refrigerant pipes are the insulated copper pipes between the indoor and outdoor units. They carry the refrigerant that moves heat in or out of your home.

The new model may need a different pipe size. The old run may also be too long, damaged or difficult to join reliably. We compare it with the new unit maker’s instructions and inspect the parts we can reach.

A photo can show us the pipe route, but it cannot confirm that the pipes are suitable inside. If they need to be replaced, we include the new run in the quote.

Drainage, power and the outdoor mount

They may be able to stay, but we check each one.

An air conditioner removes water from the air while it cools. This water is called condensate. The drain must carry it away without leaking or running back towards the indoor unit.

We check the electrical circuit against the new model. We check the cable and circuit breaker. If the circuit has a safety switch, we check that too. We also check the isolating switch. This is the switch near the outdoor unit that lets a technician turn it off safely.

The outdoor unit may sit on a wall bracket, a concrete slab or a metal frame. Its support must still be sound and suit the size and weight of the new unit. The unit also needs clear space around it so it can move air and be reached for future service work.

We also look at the old wall openings and plastic pipe cover. If any of these parts need work, the quote will say what we plan to change.

Ducted replacement has a wider scope

A ducted system has more parts hidden in the roof. Replacing only the indoor and outdoor machines will not fix a problem in those other parts.

We check whether the ducts are torn, crushed or losing their insulation. Damaged ducts can lose heated or cooled air before it reaches a room.

We also check the return air. This is the air that comes back through the large grille, usually in a hallway. If that path is too small or badly placed, the new unit may struggle to move enough air.

Zones use small doors inside the ducts to control where the air goes. These doors are called dampers, and small motors open and close them. We check whether the dampers, motors and wall controller will work with the new system.

Sensors tell some systems what the temperature is in different parts of the home. If the old setup uses them, we check them too. We also make sure there is safe access through the roof space for the work.

Good ducts and zones can often stay. This can save money and reduce disruption. Damaged or badly sized parts can carry the same comfort problems into the new system.

This is why changing only the main units can cost much less than replacing or redesigning the whole ducted setup. The quote should make clear which job you are getting.

Removing the old air conditioner

We include the old equipment in the replacement plan.

First, we turn off and isolate the power. The old system may still contain refrigerant. A licensed refrigeration technician uses special equipment to capture this gas so it can be handled correctly.

We then remove the indoor and outdoor units and arrange suitable disposal. If you want to keep any old part, tell us before the work starts.

When electrical work is part of replacement

Maybe.

Some systems need a new electrical circuit. We check this before quoting.

The new model may draw a different amount of power from the old one. We check whether the existing cable and circuit breaker suit it. We also check the isolating switch beside the outdoor unit.

A new air conditioner does not automatically mean you need a new switchboard. But we will not assume the old circuit is suitable just because it powered the previous unit.

If electrical work is needed, we include it in the quote. You should not have to find another contractor halfway through the job.

Air-conditioner replacement cost factors

There is a big difference between replacing a small wall split in the same position and redesigning a ducted system.

The system itself is one part of the price. A larger unit usually costs more. A multi-head system has several indoor units, so there is more equipment to fit.

The unit positions also matter. A long pipe route takes more material and time. A new drain, new electrical circuit or new wall opening adds work. High outdoor units or tight roof spaces can take longer to reach safely.

A ducted quote may only cover the indoor and outdoor machines. Another quote may also include new ducts, a larger return-air grille and new zone controls. Those are not the same job.

The quote should also say who removes the old equipment. If walls, ceilings or paint need repair after equipment moves, check whether that repair is included.

This is why one generic replacement price can be misleading. Compare the complete installed job, not only the price of the air conditioner.

Brand choice follows the actual requirements

There is no single brand that is best for every home.

We first narrow the choice to models that can do the job. The unit needs enough capacity for the rooms you will use. It must fit the available indoor and outdoor space. Its sound level and controls also need to suit you.

Then we can compare the exact models. We look at their features and the warranty support available for them. That is more useful than treating every model from one brand as the same.

You do not need to choose a brand, model or size before you contact us. We help with that after we have seen the job.

Running cost and energy efficiency

A newer air conditioner may use less electricity than an older one, but the label cannot tell you exactly what your bill will be.

The longer the system runs, the more power it uses. A very low cooling setting or very high heating setting also makes it work harder.

Your home changes the result too. Poor insulation lets heat move in and out more quickly. Large sunny windows can add a lot of heat in summer. With a ducted system, the number of zones running at once also affects use.

Your electricity price then decides what that power costs you.

If running cost matters to you, compare the energy labels for the exact models in the quotes. The Australian zoned energy label shows how models perform in different Australian climates. It is useful for comparison, but the system still needs to suit your home.

Installation day

We start by protecting the areas where we will work. Then we turn off the power, recover the old refrigerant and remove the old equipment.

We fit the new indoor and outdoor units. We connect the refrigerant pipes and make sure the drain runs the right way. We then complete any electrical work included in the quote.

Once everything is connected, we run and test the system. For a ducted unit, we also set up the controller and check each zone.

We clean the work area and show you how to use the new system before we leave.

Tell us early if access needs special planning. This may apply when the outdoor unit is high up, the roof space is tight or tenants are living at the property. Strata rules, parking limits and business opening hours can also affect when and how we do the work.

Handover records and operating information

We show you how to switch between cooling and heating and how to set the temperature. If you have a ducted system, we also show you how to use the zones.

We point out the filters and explain how to reach them for cleaning. We check the drain and confirm that the system is running before handover.

You receive the model details, manuals and available warranty information for the equipment. We also tell you which old parts stayed in place and what maintenance they may need later.

The installation itself is covered by our own workmanship warranty. If something goes wrong because of work we did, we come back and fix it at no extra charge. See our warranty FAQ for the full terms.

Information for a replacement quote

Tell us your suburb and what type of system you have. If you do not know whether it is split, multi-head or ducted, photos will usually help us identify it.

Send a clear photo of each indoor unit and the outdoor unit. Step back far enough to show the space around them. A close photo of the model number is useful if you can reach it safely.

Tell us roughly how old the system is and what it is doing now. If another technician has diagnosed the fault or given you a repair quote, send that information too.

Let us know which rooms you want to heat and cool. A switchboard photo can help us plan the electrical check. Photos should only be taken where you can do so safely.

For a ducted system, include the wall controller and the large return-air grille. Tell us about roof access if you know where it is.

Also mention anything that may affect access to the job. This could be strata approval, a tenant, limited parking or a locked side gate.

You do not need to choose a brand, model or capacity before contacting us.

Sending this information is free, and there’s no obligation to book.

Request a replacement assessment

Send us a few details about the old system and what has not worked well for you.

We will tell you if finding the fault should come first. If replacement makes sense, we will check whether the new system can use the same positions and existing parts. If something needs to change, we will explain why and show it in the quote.

Request a replacement assessment