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A cheap install can cost more than it saves. Before you hire anyone, it pays to confirm you are dealing with a licensed air conditioning installer in Queensland, because the licences decide who is allowed to handle refrigerant, connect power and take on building work. This guide covers the checks every Sunshine Coast homeowner can do in a few minutes, from Noosa to Caloundra.
What licences does an air conditioning installer need in Queensland?
A Queensland air conditioning installer needs three things. The business needs a refrigerant trading authorisation and each technician a refrigerant handling licence, both issued under the ARCtick scheme. Electrical connection needs a licensed electrician working for a licensed electrical contractor. Building work above a set value also needs a QBCC licence in the right class.
The refrigerant licence matters because air conditioners run on gases that are harmful if released, and handling them without a licence is against the law. The business authorisation number starts with AU, and it is the one to ask a company for.
The QBCC licence is about the building side of the job. Ducted systems in particular involve work in the roof space, cutting ceilings for outlets and returns, and fixing equipment to the structure, so the licence class should cover air conditioning and refrigeration work. A QBCC licence also shows the business meets financial and technical requirements set by the regulator.
Electrical work is where many split system installs go wrong. A restricted electrical licence allows a technician to disconnect and reconnect equipment on an existing circuit, but a new dedicated circuit back to the switchboard needs a fully licensed electrician. A company that holds both, as we do, can handle the whole install without bringing in another trade.
How do you check an installer's licence?
You can check every licence yourself online in a few minutes. Search the business on the QBCC licence search, look up the refrigerant authorisation on the ARCtick website, and check the electrical contractor licence on the Queensland Electrical Safety Office register. Each search shows whether the licence is current and who holds it.
Ask for the licence numbers before you accept a quote. A reputable installer will put them on the quote, the invoice and the website without being asked. If a company is vague, or the name on the licence does not match the name on the quote, treat that as a reason to keep looking.
It is also worth asking who will do the work. Some companies sell the job and pass it to subcontractors, which makes it harder to know whose licence covers your install. Our installs are done by our own licensed installers and electricians, not subcontractors.
What else should you ask before hiring an installer?
Beyond licences, ask about insurance, warranty and who designs the system. A good installer carries public liability insurance, gives a written workmanship warranty on top of the manufacturer warranty, and sizes the system from your home rather than a rule of thumb. Get those answers in writing on the quote.
The workmanship warranty covers the installation itself, which is separate from the equipment. Manufacturer warranties on the unit are common, but a fault caused by poor pipework, drainage or wiring falls on the installer. A longer workmanship warranty is a sign the company expects its work to last.
Paperwork at the end of the job matters too. Electrical work in Queensland should come with a certificate of testing and compliance from the electrician, and you should receive the manufacturer warranty details registered in your name. Keep them together, because a warranty claim or a future sale of the home may ask for them.
Finally, look for a proper site inspection before a fixed price. A quote given over the phone for a ducted system cannot account for your roof space, insulation or switchboard, and that is where the extras appear later. A detailed written proposal, with the equipment and scope listed, protects you as much as it protects the installer.
Why choose Delta Temp as your licensed installer?
Delta Temp is a Sunshine Coast business based at 2/11 Abeles Street, Baringa, with more than 1,000 systems installed. We hold QBCC licence 15415739, ARCtick refrigerant trading authorisation AU 59733 and electrical contractor licence 1505107, and we are fully insured, a Fujitsu Dealer and a Hisense Pro Dealer.
Every installation carries our 10-year workmanship warranty, on top of the manufacturer warranty. All of our licence numbers and business details are listed on our business facts page so you can check them yourself, and our warranty page explains what is covered.
