Air Conditioning Repair & Service
Aircon not cooling?
We'll fix it fast, or tell you straight if it's time to replace.
From a wall unit blowing warm air to a ducted system that won't switch on, our Certificate 3 trade qualified techs diagnose the fault and get it running again, often the same day.
A broken aircon doesn't wait for a good time
A broken aircon has a habit of failing in the middle of a heatwave or the first cold snap of the season, never on a convenient Tuesday. Most faults cost less to fix than people expect: a dirty filter, a low refrigerant charge, a tripped safety switch or a worn capacitor. We diagnose the actual problem before we talk about cost, so you're not paying to replace a whole unit that only needed one inexpensive part.
When Repair Makes Sense, and When It Doesn't
There is a rule of thumb that circulates in the trade called the $5,000 rule: multiply the age of the unit in years by whatever the repair has been quoted at, and if the total comes to more than 5,000, replacement is usually the better value. It is worth knowing because it explains why the same fault can point opposite ways on a three-year-old unit and a fifteen-year-old one. It is not a price and it is not ours: the number it produces is a decision aid, not an estimate of what anything costs. We still check whether a fault is a one-off or a sign of bigger problems underneath before we recommend either option, and we'll quote both so you can compare against your own numbers.
If the numbers point the other way, our air conditioner replacement page covers what happens when a unit is not worth another repair.
Common faults we fix
Not cooling or heating
Low refrigerant, a faulty compressor or a blocked outdoor unit are the usual causes.
Weak airflow
Often a dirty filter or coil, sometimes a failing fan motor.
Water leaking indoors
Usually a blocked condensate drain, an easy fix if caught early.
Tripping the switchboard
Can point to a wiring fault or a failing component, worth checking before it happens again.
Strange noises or smells
Loose panels, worn bearings or mould in the ductwork are common culprits.
Remote or control faults
Sometimes it's the unit, sometimes it's the remote. We check both before quoting a fix.
We install it, and we look after it
We service systems we didn't install just as readily as our own. Every install includes a free first year of maintenance across two visits, then an ongoing service plan at a flat per-visit rate. If something breaks after hours, the call goes straight to our dedicated maintenance technician.
Qualified, licensed and insured
Cert 3 trade qualified tradesmen
Every technician holds a genuine four-year trade qualification.
ARC member + refrigerant licence
Licensed to purchase and handle refrigerant gas under Australian Refrigeration Council rules.
NSW Government rebate installer
Eligible upgrades can qualify for a government rebate. See our rebate page for details.
$20M public liability insurance
Full cover on every job, residential or commercial.
Air conditioning repair questions
What is the most common problem with air conditioners?
Dirty filters and low refrigerant cause the majority of callouts we see. A neglected filter restricts airflow and makes the whole system work harder, which speeds up wear on the compressor. Low refrigerant almost always means there's a slow leak somewhere in the line, not that the gas has simply run low on its own.
Is it worth repairing an old air conditioner, or should I replace it?
It depends on the fault and the age of the unit. There is a rule of thumb that circulates in the trade, the $5,000 rule: multiply the unit's age in years by whatever the repair has been quoted at, and if the result comes to more than 5,000, replacement is usually the better value. It is a way of framing the decision and not a price, so it says nothing about what your job will cost. As a practical matter, a minor repair on a system under ten years old is almost always worth doing. Once a unit passes ten to fifteen years and the repair bill starts creeping up, replacement tends to pay for itself through lower running costs. We quote both so you can compare.
Is a 7 year old air conditioner considered old?
Not really. Most residential systems are built to last 10 to 15 years with regular servicing, so a 7 year old unit still has plenty of life left. If it develops a fault at that age, it's almost always cheaper to repair than replace.
What part usually fails first on an air conditioner?
The capacitor is the most common early failure. It's a relatively cheap part that helps start the compressor and fan motors. After that, we most often replace fan motors and control boards. Refrigerant leaks tend to show up later, usually past the seven or eight year mark.
Why is my air conditioner not blowing cold air?
The three usual suspects are a dirty filter restricting airflow, a low refrigerant charge from a slow leak or a faulty compressor that's no longer pumping properly. We check all three on every callout before quoting a fix, so you get the real cause, not a guess.
Related pages
Reliable cooling, when you need it most.
Whether it is a new installation, planned maintenance or a breakdown, Standby Services gives you a clear way forward.