00
We get the story
What it's doing, when it started, how old the unit is. Half the diagnosis is knowing what changed.
How we call it on the job: the age, the fault, the gas, the running cost and what the repair quote is really telling you. From the crew that does both, since 1991.
Should I repair or replace my air conditioner?
Repair or Replace
The Quick Answer
Under 10 years old with one fault, repair it. Over 15, or on its second breakdown in two years, replace it. In between, it depends on the fault, and we will tell you straight when we are standing in front of it.
Most of the time it comes down to two numbers: how old the unit is, and what the repair costs against a new one. We have been repairing and replacing air conditioning across Campbelltown, Macarthur and Sydney since 1991, so we have had this conversation a few thousand times. Here is how we think about it.
Repair it if: the unit is under 10 years old, it is the first real fault, parts are still available, and the fix is a normal one. Capacitor, fan motor, board, sensor, blocked drain, remote receiver. These are bread and butter repairs and most get done on the first visit.
Replace it if: it is 15 years or older, it needs refrigerant and it runs on R22, the compressor has failed, this is the second breakdown in two years, or the repair quote is more than about a third of a new system installed.
In between: get the repair quoted properly, ask what else is likely to go next, and weigh the running cost of the old unit against a new inverter. Our how long air conditioners last page has the typical lifespans by system type if you want the longer version.
The "$5000 rule" people keep googling. Multiply the unit's age by the repair cost. Under $5,000, repair. Over, replace. It is an American rule of thumb for American prices and it does not translate cleanly here, but the idea behind it is right: the older the unit, the less a repair makes sense. A $600 repair on a 4 year old system is an easy yes. The same $600 on a 16 year old system is money you will probably spend again next summer.
0+
Years of Industry Experience
Licensed, Certified & Insured Technicians
Environmentally Responsible & ARCtick Certified
100% Service Satisfaction Guarantee
Flexible & Affordable Financing Options
Wide Range of Systems & Leading Brands
The Four Tests
Four questions that decide it
Answer these and you are most of the way there.
How old is it?
Splits last around 12 to 15 years with a bit of care. Ducted often goes 15 to 20 because the big parts are out of the weather. Past those numbers, every repair is a repair on something wearing out everywhere at once.
What is the fault?
A capacitor, a fan motor, a sensor or a blocked drain is a normal repair on any age of unit. A dead compressor or a fried inverter board on an old unit is the end of the road nearly every time.
Does it need gas?
If it needs refrigerant, that is a leak, not a top-up. On a newer R32 unit we find the leak, fix it and regas. On an old R22 unit that combination often costs more than the unit is worth.
What is the quote against a new one?
A good repair quote names the part, says whether it is still made, and tells you what else is likely to go. If the quote is more than about a third of a new system installed, put the money towards the replacement.
Repair or replace, fault by fault
The faults we nearly always repair
Capacitor. The outdoor fan hums but will not spin, or the unit tries to start and gives up. A cheap part and a quick fix on any age of unit. Repair it.
Fan motor. Indoor or outdoor fan not running, or running rough and noisy. A normal repair on a unit under about 12 years. On an older unit we check the rest of the system before we fit it.
Sensor. The unit throws a code, short cycles or cools badly because a temperature sensor has drifted. Cheap part, quick fix. Repair it.
Blocked drain or leaking water. Water dripping from the indoor unit is nearly always a blocked drain or a dirty coil. Not a reason to replace anything.
Remote receiver or wall controller. The unit will not respond, or the ducted controller has died. Repair or replace the part, not the system.
Zone motors on ducted. One zone stuck open or shut. A motor swap on an otherwise good ducted system is a repair every time, even on a 25 year old unit that still runs well.
The faults that usually mean replacement
Compressor. The heart of the system. On a unit under warranty, the manufacturer covers it and we fit it. On a 10 year old unit out of warranty, a compressor plus labour plus gas gets close to a third of a new system, and the rest of the unit is the same age. On anything older, replace it.
Inverter board on an old unit. Boards on newer units are a normal repair. On a unit past 12 years, the board is often no longer made or costs more than it should, and the compressor it drives is tired too. Usually replace.
Refrigerant leak on an R22 system. R22 is no longer produced in Australia and what is left is expensive. A leak find, a repair and a regas on an R22 unit is paying to keep an obsolete system alive. That is the tipping point for most of the old ducted systems we see. See our regas guide for why a top-up on its own is a waste of money.
Second breakdown in two years. Different fault, same old unit. The pattern matters more than the part. When a system starts failing in different places, it is telling you something.
The running cost nobody counts
A 15 year old ducted system can cost noticeably more to run than a new inverter doing the same job, and over a Macarthur summer that adds up. It does not decide the question on its own, but when repair and replace are close, it tips it. Our power bills page covers what pushes the bill up and what does not.
What replacement actually costs
A split system install runs from around $1,800 for a 2.5kW bedroom unit up to about $3,500 for a 7.1kW living area unit, supplied and installed. A ducted replacement in a typical 3 to 4 bedroom home runs from around $8,000 to $12,000 installed, and a straight swap reusing sound ductwork usually comes in at the lower end. The full tables are on our pricing page and the ducted cost guide. If the numbers are a stretch, our finance page covers the options.
Most repairs, by comparison, are a few hundred dollars. When a repair gets past a third of the replacement number on a unit that is already old, replacement starts to win.
Replacing an old unit? Check our NSW air conditioning rebates page before you sign anything. There is no cash rebate, but an eligible replacement can get a discount off the install.
Before You Decide
Four things to do first
Plenty of "dead" air conditioners are nothing of the sort. Before anyone talks about replacing anything, run through these. They are safe, they are free, and they sort out a fair share of the calls we get.
Restart at the isolator
Turn the system off at the isolator switch by the outdoor unit, wait five minutes, switch it back on. This clears one-off faults from power flickers and storms. If the fault comes straight back, it is real.
Wash the filters
Pop the front off the indoor unit, pull the filters, rinse under the tap and let them dry. Choked filters cause weak airflow, icing and fan faults, and a lot of “it is not cooling any more” calls.
Check the outdoor unit
Make sure it can breathe. No leaves, garden growth or junk piled against it, and the fan is turning when the system runs. A choked or dead outdoor unit looks like a much bigger problem than it is.
Get the fault named on the quote
Whoever quotes the repair should tell you the part, whether it is still made, and what else is likely to go. If they cannot, get a second opinion before you spend real money on an old unit.
When Replacement Wins
Replace it when the unit is 15 years or older and the fault is a big one, when it needs gas and runs on R22, when the compressor has gone out of warranty, when this is the second breakdown in two years, or when the repair quote is more than about a third of a new system installed. If the unit is under 10 years old and the fault is a normal one, repair it and do not let anyone talk you into a new system you do not need. A diagnostic call is $250 plus GST and we quote the fix before we touch anything.
How We Call It
Repairs and Replacements, Done Properly
We diagnose it properly before anyone talks about replacing anything. If it is a simple fix on a decent unit, we fix it. Repairs come with 12 months on parts and our lifetime workmanship guarantee. If we think you would be throwing good money after bad, we say so, quote a replacement, and you decide. No pressure either way. See our repairs page, ducted repairs and split system repairs, or call (02) 9820 4500.
00
Gauges on, pressures read
Refrigerant pressures tell us straight away if it's a gas problem or something else.
00
Electricals and capacitor tested
We check the capacitor, test the fan motors and go over the electricals for anything on the way out.
00
Coils and filters checked
Covers come off so we can see the state of the coils and filters, not guess at them.
00
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.
Still Not Sure?
Send Us the Details
Tell us the brand, roughly how old it is, what it is doing and any code on the display, and we will give you a straight opinion on the phone before we come out. Call (02) 9820 4500 or flick us a message. If it is worth fixing we will say so. If it is not, we will say that too.
Licensed and Local
NSW licence 273312C, ARCtick AU13058, $20M public liability, our own techs not subbies. We repair every brand and install Panasonic, Daikin and Actron. Family run since 1991.
FAQ's
Repair or Replace: Common Questions
Usually yes, if it is the first fault and the part is a normal one like a capacitor, fan motor, sensor or board. Ten years is middle age for a split system, not old age. If it is the compressor or a refrigerant leak on an R22 unit, get a replacement quote alongside the repair.
Rarely. At 20 years the parts are hard to get, the gas is probably R22 and something else is due to go. We would quote a replacement and only repair it if the fix is small, like a capacitor or a zone motor on a ducted system that otherwise runs well.
A split system install runs from around $1,800 for a 2.5kW unit. A ducted replacement in a typical 3 to 4 bedroom home runs from around $8,000 to $12,000 installed. Most repairs are a few hundred dollars. When a repair gets past a third of those numbers on an old unit, replacement starts to win.
If it needs gas it has a leak. We find and fix the leak first, then regas. On an R32 unit that is a normal repair. On an R22 unit the combination is often more than the unit is worth, and we will tell you that before we start.
A diagnostic call is $250 plus GST. That covers the visit and the diagnosis, and we quote the repair before we touch anything. If replacement is the smarter spend we say so on the spot and quote that instead.
Multiply the unit’s age in years by the repair cost. Under $5,000, repair. Over, replace. It is an American rule of thumb built on American prices, so treat it as a rough guide only. The idea behind it holds: the older the unit, the less sense a big repair makes.
Split systems around 12 to 15 years with regular servicing. Ducted systems 15 to 20 because the main components are protected from the weather. A serviced unit lasts longer than a neglected one, and a unit that was sized right from the start lasts longer than one that has been working flat out.
Nearly always, if you are replacing a unit that is 15 years or older. Modern inverter units use noticeably less power for the same cooling. It will not pay for the new system on its own, but it takes the edge off the price over a few summers.
Jay’s Air Conditioning. Family run since 1991, our own crew not subbies, fixed prices and a straight answer on repair versus replace. NSW licence 273312C, ARCtick AU13058, 4.8 stars from 290+ reviews. Give us a bell on (02) 9820 4500.