How much does air conditioner installation cost?

During summer, the last thing you want is a sweaty, uncomfortable home. Air conditioners are the perfect way to keep your home nice and cool while you enjoy the sunshine and maybe an ice cream or two. Installing an air conditioner is a tricky process that should be done by a professional, so you can cool down faster. 

An average hourly rate for air conditioner installation in Australia is $80. This, of course, depends on the job they are tasked to complete. It costs, on average, $5,000 to install an air conditioner into your home. This price varies depending on the size of the house, how many windows you have and the type of air conditioner you’re planning to install.

Whether you need to install a split system, ducted, portable unit or window units, or even repair the air conditioner that you currently have, the prices may increase or decrease. This guide will be the first step to you cooling your home down, just in time for summer!

Do I need to hire an aircon installer?

There are many different types of air conditioners out there, and sometimes you may think you can install it yourself. However, a licensed electrician is the safest and legal option for those who want to install an air conditioner into their home. Of course, a portable air conditioner can be installed by yourself, but it’s best to hire a professional for the following installations and repairs:

• Ducted system

• Window units

• Central cooling

• Split system

• Pipe repairs

In Australia, the Australian Refrigerator Council requires you to hire a licensed electrician or plumber to install or repair an air conditioner into a building. They must hold a full Refrigeration & Air Conditioning licence or a restricted license; the latter only allows them to install split system aircons. 

What are some questions to ask an electrician?

Before you hire an electrician to install or repair an air conditioner in your home, there are a few questions that you definitely need to ask, to make sure you’re getting the best possible professional for the job. 

• Do they have a full Refrigeration & Air Conditioning licence?

• How many tradies will be present whilst the installation or repair takes place?

• Do they have insurance?

• What services do they provide?

• Do I need a permit to have this air conditioner?

• What is included in their service fees?

Before you hire the professional, be sure that all tradies present in your home are licensed. Some tradies are certified air conditioner installers, some may be plumbers with certified training in installation and repair, and some have training but no license. Be sure to confirm these before you hire, as your installation process needs to be legal and at the best quality. 

Air conditioner installation and repair prices for different types of services

Prices for air conditioner installation can vary from service to service. Some electricians are paid by the hour, but others charge based on the air conditioner brand, type, wattage and any other services added to the original job requested. 

What factors affect the price of air conditioner installation services?

There are many factors that can affect the price of installing an air conditioner into your home. Some of the factors can dramatically increase or decrease the overall cost, so here are a few of them listed:

• Number of windows in the sprecified location

• Type and size of the unit

• Brand of aircon

• Amount of cable ducting required

• Amount of refrigeration piping and interconnecting cable used

• Accessibility 
  
  

Other types of services that electricians can do

There are many other things that electricians, plumbers and aircon installers can do for you while they’re preparing the aircon, some of which include: 

• Maintaining aircons

• Checking refrigerant levels and recharging

• Replacing circuit board and fuses

• Replacing air filters

• Resetting thermostat and calibrating 

• Fixing leaks

Air conditioner installation prices for different types of brands

If you’re in need of installing an air conditioner, but you’re not sure how much your brand of air conditioner will cost, here is a breakdown of the average price of each service:

Average hourly rate for air conditioner installers in Australia

Depending on whether you’re installing an air conditioner in a domestic building or a commercial building, the hourly rate can vary. Fair Work Australia has set the Electrical Power Industry Award Pay Guide for electricians at the following rates:

These rates are based on averages from Fair Work Australia. For domestic buildings, the hourly rate is $60-$100, whereas the commercial hourly rate is $80-$140. The prices will vary, once again, depending on the service that is required, and any other factors that may affect the price. Some are listed below:

• Location 

• Accessibility to air conditioner

• Size and type of aircon

• Brand of aircon

The type of air conditioner brand will also help determine the final cost of the installation. Certain split system air conditioner brands will increase the overall cost of installation, due to specific parts, services and maintenance. The following prices for certain air conditioner brands are listed below:

Average air conditioner installation prices based on Australian state or territory

Air conditioner prices vary depending on your location in Australia. Typically, larger populated cities have cheaper rates for installation; the rates are listed below: 

Getting ready to hire someone to install or repair an air conditioner in your home

Getting ready to cool down your home? Let’s get started! Here are the things you’ll need to prepare for your listing. Explain your task, post your listing, review your offers, select the right person and they’ll get your building cool! 

Here are some things to include in your listing: 

• Location

• Budget

• Type of aircon

• Size of aircon

• Specific room / whole house

• Type of insulation you have

• Whether you need ductwork

• Whether you need repairs or installation

The more information you include in this listing, the better your outcome will be. It makes it much easier for the electrician when they come to help you out. It’s also a good idea to have everything listed down, so they can refer to it later if they need to.