The replacement of air conditioner systems involves an onsite assessment, removing the old unit with its refrigerant recovered by a licensed technician, installing the new indoor and outdoor units, connecting the pipework and electrics, then testing everything before handover. A split system is usually finished in a few hours to a day. A ducted system takes longer, often a day or more, depending on the size of the home and the condition of the ductwork. Here is what happens at each stage, so there are no surprises on the day.
It starts with a visit. We look at your existing system, the rooms it serves and the power supply, then recommend a replacement that suits how the home is used today, which is not always the same as when the old system went in. You get a quote before anything is booked.
On the day, the old system is switched off and the refrigerant is recovered. Only a licensed technician can do this. The Australian Government’s refrigeration and air conditioning guide for consumers explains that it is an offence for anyone else to handle these refrigerants. The old indoor and outdoor units are then removed, the new ones are mounted, and the pipework and wiring are connected. Finally we test the system and show you how to use it.
Our split system air conditioning and ducted air conditioning pages explain what each type involves in more detail.
The refrigerant has to come out first. The government’s HFC FAQ says products should be disposed of correctly at the end of their life, with refrigerants removed by a licensed technician for recycling or disposal. You cannot simply put an old unit in a skip. Ask for removal and disposal to be written into the quote, so it is covered and not left for you to sort out afterwards.
For a split system, most single head jobs take around three to five hours. Multi head systems and more complex jobs can take a full day. Ducted systems are bigger jobs, since the indoor unit, ducting, vents and controls all need to be dealt with. We confirm the timeframe when we quote, because it depends on the size of the system and how easy the access is.
Your cooling will be off while the work is done, so it is worth choosing a day that is not forecast to be the hottest of the week. Booking before summer helps with this, as Brisbane installers get busy once the heat arrives.
Sometimes, but not always. Existing refrigerant pipes can occasionally be reused if they are the right size, clean, free of leaks and suitable for the new system. If they are old, damaged or not compatible, they should be replaced, since a leak or a blockage in the pipework causes problems later and is much harder to fix once everything is closed up. Ductwork follows the same logic. If it is in good condition and suits the new unit, it may be kept. If it is damaged or poorly laid out, replacing it often gives a better result.
We would rather tell you what is worth keeping than quote for work you do not need, or skip work that will cost you more later.
Often you do not, but it needs to be checked. The old circuit has to suit the new system, and a larger or more modern unit may need a dedicated circuit. If your switchboard has no spare circuit available, one has to be added. Because we are licensed electricians as well as air conditioning technicians, this is done as part of the same job by our electrician services team, with no second tradesperson to arrange.
Not necessarily. Homes change. Rooms get added, insulation improves, and families use spaces differently. The old system may have been too small or too large from the start. The size of the replacement should be worked out from the space as it is now, not copied from the unit being removed.
It is rarely a good idea. Indoor and outdoor units are generally designed to work as a matched pair, and mixing old and new parts can affect performance and warranty. If one part has failed on an old system, the sensible question is whether the whole system is still worth keeping, which we will answer honestly.
Clear access to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, move any furniture or valuables out of the way, and let us know about pets. Make sure someone is home to approve the work and see how the new system operates before we leave.
If your system is ageing, struggling or past repair, we are happy to look at it and give you a straight answer. At BG Electrical and Air Con we handle the replacement of air conditioner systems for Brisbane homes and businesses, and we stand behind our workmanship. Read more about us, or get in touch for a free onsite quote.
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