Moving into a new home or office: when to service or install your aircon

Moving into a new home or office is one of the more common triggers for an aircon decision, whether that means servicing an inherited unit, checking it is actually safe to use, or deciding it makes more sense to start fresh with a new installation.

If a new installation turns out to be the right call, installation specialists on this directory are ranked using real customer feedback, which is a reasonable place to start comparing. The home page lists every category on this directory if the inherited unit only needs servicing rather than replacement.

What to check on an inherited unit

• Age. Ask the previous owner or landlord, or check the unit’s model plate, since age is the single biggest factor in whether repair or replacement makes more sense.
• Service history. A unit that was serviced regularly is a safer bet than one with no record of maintenance.
• Refrigerant type. Older units may use R22, which is being phased down and becoming costlier to service.
• Cooling performance and noise. Run it for a full day and note if cooling feels weak or the unit is unusually loud.
• Visible condition. Rust on the outdoor unit, water stains near the indoor unit, or a musty smell are all signs worth investigating before relying on the system.

A simple move-in checklist

1. Book a general inspection and service in the first two weeks, even if the unit seems to be cooling fine.
2. Ask for the refrigerant type and gas pressure reading as part of that visit.
3. Get a written note on the unit’s condition, useful for renters documenting move-in state, and for owners deciding on repair versus replacement.
4. Clarify who is responsible for future repairs, particularly for renters, since this is often unclear in the tenancy agreement.
5. Plan for a chemical wash within the first few months if there is no clear record of one having been done recently.

Repair, service, or replace: a rough guide

Unit age	Condition at move-in	Reasonable approach
Under 3 years	Cooling well, serviced recently	Routine service only
3 to 8 years	Cooling fine, no service record	Full inspection and service, establish a baseline
8 to 12 years	Weak cooling or frequent noise	Repair likely, but weigh against replacement cost
Over 12 years	Old refrigerant, frequent faults	Replacement often more cost-effective than repeated repairs

For an office or commercial move

A commercial space often has more units and higher usage hours than a home, which makes an inherited system’s condition matter even more. A basic inspection across all units, checking for consistent performance and any units that are clear outliers, gives a realistic picture of what to budget for in the first year. If the space is being fitted out from scratch, sizing new units correctly for the layout, rather than matching whatever was there before, usually gives better results long term.

Setting up a maintenance routine from day one

Whether you inherited a unit or installed new, starting a regular servicing routine from the first month, rather than waiting until something goes wrong, is the difference between catching small issues early and facing a bigger repair bill later.

Renting versus buying: a different set of priorities

Renters generally have less reason to invest in a full replacement of an inherited unit, since the cost benefit favours the landlord over a tenancy that may not last long enough to recoup it. Documenting condition and pushing for a proper baseline service is usually the more practical move for a renter. Buyers, on the other hand, are investing in a property they intend to keep, so factoring an aging unit’s likely replacement cost into the purchase decision, or negotiating it into the price, is a reasonable step before finalising a sale. A pre-purchase inspection report, if one was done, is also worth reviewing specifically for any aircon notes before the deal closes.

More on how this directory ranks and scores providers is on the methodology page.