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Splits 12 to 15 years, ducted 15 plus - if they're serviced. Here's what kills them early and when to stop repairing.
How Long Do Air Conditioners Last?
Lifespan
The Straight Answer
Serviced systems reach the long end of the range. Neglected ones die young, and it's nearly always the same causes.
How long does an air conditioner last? A quality split system runs 12 to 15 years, a ducted system 15 plus, and the difference between the short end and the long end is almost entirely servicing. The compressor is usually the part that calls time - once it fails on an older unit, replacement beats repair. We've been watching Sydney systems age since 1991, so these numbers come from roof spaces, not brochures.
Brand matters less than people think past the budget tier - a serviced mid-range unit outlives a neglected premium one. What matters: annual servicing, clean filters, gas staying where it should, and the unit being sized right so it isn't flogged every day of summer.
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Quick Numbers
Lifespan by System Type
Real-world Sydney numbers, serviced annually.
Split systems: 12 to 15 years
Modern inverter splits are reliable to 12 easily. Past that, fan motors and boards start the conversation about whether the next repair is worth it.
Ducted systems: 15 to 20 years
The big gear lasts longer, and the ducting itself outlives the unit - which is why a ducted replacement costs less than a first install.
Neglected anything: 8 to 10 years
Never serviced, filters never washed, running low on gas for years - that's how a 15-year system becomes an 8-year system.
Old R22 units: replace now
If your system runs R22 gas it's 20-odd years old, the gas is $265 a kg when you can get it, and parts are gone. Any significant fault is the finish line.
What Kills Air Conditioners Early
Three killers, all preventable. First, running low on gas for years - a slow leak nobody notices makes the compressor work harder every single day, and compressors that die at year 9 usually spent years 6 to 9 underfed. Second, choked airflow - packed filters and caked coils overheat the system and stretch every run time. Third, short cycling from oversizing or sensor faults, which wears the compressor like city driving wears a clutch.
The pattern is obvious from our side: the systems we service every year hit 15 plus. The ones we meet for the first time when they die hit 9 or 10. A $250 service annually is cheap insurance on an $8,000 system.
Common Factors
What's Actually Gone Wrong
What decides how long a system lasts, most important first.
Signs your system is nearing the end
Longer and longer run times, power bills creeping up, new noises, more frequent faults, and refrigerant top-ups becoming a habit. Any two of those on a 12-plus-year unit means start planning.
The $600 rule for repair vs replace
If a repair quote passes $600 on a unit over 15 years old, put the money toward a new system. Under 10 years old, repair almost always wins. In between, we quote both and let the numbers decide.
Does heavy use shorten the life?
Sensible daily use, no. Being undersized and running flat out every hot day, yes. A correctly sized system loafs along and lasts. Size right and use it freely.
Can one part dying mean the whole unit is done?
Only the compressor on an older unit. Capacitors, sensors, fans, boards and drains are all fair-money repairs at any age. A dead compressor past year 12 is the genuine end.
How to Get the Long End of the Range
Service it annually before summer - that catches low gas, tired capacitors and dirty coils while they're cheap problems. Wash the filters every couple of months in heavy use. Keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves, cobwebs and garden creep so it can breathe. And fix small faults when they appear - the $165 capacitor ignored in November becomes the cooked compressor in January. Service options and prices are on our pricing guide.
Diagnosis Process
Not Sure Where Yours Stands?
A $250 plus GST service gives you the full picture - pressures, electricals, coil condition, and an honest read on how many years are left. No scare tactics, just the numbers. Since 1991, 4.8 stars from 280+ reviews. (02) 9820 4500.
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We measure, not guess
Sizes come from volume and glass, verdicts come from testing. No brochure numbers, no sight-unseen quotes.
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You get the numbers and the options
Real installed prices, repair-versus-replace maths, and the trade-offs in plain English. You decide with the facts in front of you.
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Fixed quote before any work
The price agreed is the price paid, and installs and repair parts carry lifetime workmanship warranty.
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Fixed quote before we fix
Once we know the fault, we quote the repair before we start. You decide. Most jobs get done same visit.
Real Jobs
When Replacement Is the Answer
If the maths says replace, size the new one properly with the sizing calculator and check real installed prices on the pricing guide. A new split starts around $1,800 installed, ducted replacements from $7,000 reusing sound ducts.
The Crew That Tells You Straight
We repair what's worth repairing and say so when it isn't. Family run since 1991, fixed pricing, a lifetime workmanship warranty on installs and repair parts. Licence 273312C, ARCtick AU13058. (02) 9820 4500.
Related reading: how often to service and why needing gas means having a leak.
FAQ's
Aircon Lifespan - Common Questions
12 to 15 years serviced annually. The compressor usually reaches end of life first. Neglected units manage 8 to 10.
15 to 20 years for the unit, and the ductwork itself usually outlives it – so a replacement costs well under a first install.
Usually yes for capacitors, sensors, fans and gas leaks. A compressor failure at that age is the one fault where replacement deserves a hard look.
Annually, before summer. Twice a year if it heats and cools year round. It’s the single biggest factor in reaching the 15-year end of the range.
Maintenance beats badge. That said, we install Panasonic, Daikin and Actron because they’re the gear we’re happy to stand behind for lifetime workmanship warranty and 15 years of service calls.
Jay’s Air. We quote the repair and the replacement side by side and tell you which way we’d go in our own home. Family run since 1991, 4.8 stars from 280+ reviews. (02) 9820 4500.