How much does it cost to replace a split system?
The price depends on the size of the new unit, whether the existing pipework and electrical circuit can be reused, and the work to recover the refrigerant from the old unit and take it away. A like-for-like swap in the same positions is usually the simplest job.
Reusing pipework saves work when it is in good condition and suits the new unit. Only the installer can judge that on site, so ask for a quote that says plainly whether the pipes are being reused or replaced.
We don’t publish prices. A quote depends on the old unit, the room and where the new units will go.
Source: Refrigerant handling licence types, Australian Refrigeration Council, checked 18 October 2026.
Repair or replace?
Get a repair quote and a replacement quote side by side, then compare. Replacement tends to make more sense when the unit is old and parts are hard to find, when it has needed regassing more than once (refrigerant only runs low if it is leaking), when the compressor or main circuit board has failed, or when it no longer keeps the room comfortable.
A repair is often worth it when the unit is fairly new and the fault is one part, such as a fan motor, a sensor or the remote.
Can I get a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount?
Possibly. Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) discounts apply when an approved high-efficiency reverse cycle air conditioner is installed through an accredited provider. For homes, the new unit needs a warranty of at least 5 years, and any system being replaced must be more than 2 years old.
The discount for a 3 kW to 9 kW room unit depends on what it replaces: an existing split system or other non-ducted reverse cycle air conditioner, a non-ducted gas room heater, or a hard-wired electric room heater.
Ask before you buy or install anything. Only an accredited provider can apply the discount, and retrospective discounts are typically not possible. Whether a discount applies, and how much, is confirmed in the quote, not by this website.
Source: Heating and cooling discounts, Victorian Energy Upgrades (energy.vic.gov.au, page last updated 15 October 2026), checked 18 October 2026.
Should the new unit be the same size?
Not necessarily. Size the new unit for the room as it is now, not to match the old one. New windows, insulation, a renovation or using the room differently can all change what it needs.
Put the room size in m² and the old unit’s model in the form below, and say whether heating or cooling matters more to you. If you are adding air conditioning to a room that has none, the split system installation page is the better place to start.