How old is too old to repair an air conditioner?
Most split and ducted systems last about 10 to 15 years. Some go longer, especially if they have been serviced. Salt air near the coast, plus heat and humidity, wears outdoor units faster, so a Sunshine Coast system often sits at the shorter end.
A 14-year-old system is at the point where it is worth asking whether to replace it. A 20-year-old system is well past it. If it has stopped cooling, a repair might work, but you are paying to fix one part while the rest of the system keeps ageing.
When is repairing the better choice?
Repair makes sense when the system is fairly young and the fault is small. A fan motor, a capacitor, a blocked drain, a sensor or an accessible refrigerant leak are all typical examples. If the system is still under manufacturer warranty, check that first. Fujitsu has 5 years and Hisense has 7 years, parts and labour.
Repair is also reasonable if the system has been serviced regularly and ran well until the fault. Keep in mind that our 10 year workmanship warranty is on installations. It covers defects in our installation work only. It does not cover equipment faults, fair wear and tear or lack of servicing. The full terms are at deltatemp.com.au/warranty/.
When should I replace the whole system?
Replace when the repair is a large share of the cost of a new system. A common rule is that if the repair is around half the cost of replacing, or it is the second repair in a short time, replacing is usually the smarter spend. A failed compressor or a failed outdoor unit on an older system usually tips it. The compressor is the most expensive part, and every other part of the unit is the same age.
Refrigerant matters too. Some older systems use R22, which is no longer made, so topping up relies on scarce reclaimed gas. Older systems are also usually less efficient than a new inverter system, so a replacement can use noticeably less power over a Queensland summer. That can offset some of the upfront cost.
Does a replacement need to be the same size as the old one?
Not always. Homes change with extensions, new insulation and different glass, and the original system may never have been sized well. For ducted, we add up the heat load of every zoned room at about 150 W per square metre. Then we size the system at about 70% of that total, because the zones are never all running flat out at once.
In practice, a 12.5 kW system suits 5 zones (4 bedrooms plus an open kitchen, living and dining), about 120 m2 of zoned rooms. A 14 kW suits 6 zones, which is the same plus a media room or similar, about 130 m2. The inspection adjusts for insulation, glass, ceiling height and orientation. Return air matters as well. As a rule of thumb, 10 to 14 kW ducted takes a 900 x 500 return grille, and 16 kW and above takes a 900 x 550. A return grille that is too small can make a good system struggle.
How does Delta Temp help me decide?
Delta Temp Climate Solutions is based at 2/11 Abeles Street, Baringa, and services the Sunshine Coast from Caboolture to Noosa, not Gympie. We are QBCC licensed, ARC authorised and insured. We install brands including Fujitsu and Hisense, and zone controllers including AirTouch 5. The cost of a replacement depends on the system type, its size, the number of zones, the condition of any existing ducting, access and the brand. We do not guess at it over the phone.
For ducted, we do a free site inspection first, and the quote is fixed after that inspection. If you decide to replace, finance through humm is available, always subject to approval by humm. A Comfort Club servicing plan exists to help keep a new system in good shape. Call 1800 335 828 or visit deltatemp.com.au.
