Compare Aircon Quotes Sunshine Coast

Licence and legal checks

The business name and QBCC licence number are written on the quote.
The licence scope covers mechanical services air-conditioning and refrigeration work.
The refrigerant handler has an ARCtick licence for the work being quoted.
Electrical work is included by a Queensland licensed electrician or electrical contractor.
Insurance is current and public liability is at least $5 million.

Unit and sizing

The quote names the brand, model and kW capacity of each indoor and outdoor unit.
The installer explains why that size suits the room area, ceiling height, windows and afternoon sun.
For ducted, the quote states outlet count, return-air size, zones and controller type.
Coastal exposure is considered for outdoor unit position, brackets and fixings.
The quoted system is Australian stock with normal Australian warranty support.

Inclusions and variation traps

Pipe run length is stated, with a rate for extra metres if the route changes.
Drainage is described, including condensate pump cost if gravity drainage will not work.
Wall bracket, slab, roof bracket or stand is included if needed.
Switchboard upgrades, safety switch and dedicated circuit allowances are clear.
Old-unit decommissioning, refrigerant recovery and disposal are priced if it is a replacement.
Scaffold, boom lift, roof access and asbestos exclusions are written down.

Payment and warranty

Deposit is within the Queensland limits for the contract value.
Progress payments match work completed, not arbitrary dates.
Manufacturer warranty and workmanship warranty are both stated in years.
The final invoice will show serial numbers and licence details.

Red flags - walk away if you see these

No QBCC licence, no ARCtick licence, or licence details only promised after payment.
Full payment upfront for an install, or a deposit above the Queensland limits.
No exact model number, just a brand and a room size guess.
Cash-only pricing with no invoice, no warranty paperwork and no serial numbers.
They say refrigerant can be topped up without leak detection.
They dismiss neighbour noise, strata rules or drainage as something to sort out later.

What a compliant written quote should say

For small service work, a simple written quote or work order can be enough. For residential building work over $3,300, Queensland expects a written, dated agreement with the contracting parties, licence number, site address, scope, price or pricing method, timing, specifications and cooling-off information where required. Air conditioning sits inside domestic building work when it is supplied and installed as part of a home improvement, so the paperwork matters.

In plain English, the quote should let you compare like with like. "Install split system in lounge" is not enough. A useful quote says something like: supply and install a 5.0 kW reverse-cycle split, back-to-back wall install, up to 5 m of pipe, wall bracket, drain to garden bed, dedicated circuit by licensed electrician, commissioning test and old unit disposal. That detail is what stops a $2,300 quote becoming $3,100 on the day.

For a bigger ducted job, compare the ducted scope line by line: number of outlets, zone count, return-air position, duct insulation, controller, roof-space access, outdoor unit location and noise risk. If one quote is $2,000 lower but has fewer zones and no electrical allowance, it is not the same job.

What is usually excluded and charged later

The common variations on Sunshine Coast installs are not mysterious. Long pipe runs cost more because copper, insulation, trunking and labour all increase. A condensate pump may be needed where gravity drainage cannot run to a legal discharge point. Double-storey homes in Buderim or Mooloolaba can need scaffold or safer roof access. Older homes can reveal brittle wiring, no spare switchboard capacity or asbestos eaves. Coastal homes around Kawana, Coolum and Noosa may need better outdoor stands and corrosion-resistant fixings.

None of those are dishonest when they are listed honestly. The problem is a quote that wins on price by excluding predictable items. Ask each installer to state the variation rate before you sign: extra pipe per metre, extra electrical circuit, pump, bracket, old unit removal, roof access and disposal. You can compare these numbers against the pricing guide and the cost calculator before approving.

Deposits, licences and checks

QBCC deposit guidance is specific: 20% maximum for work valued at $3,300 or less, 10% for $3,301 to $19,999, and 5% for more than $20,000, with limited exceptions for substantial off-site custom work. A standard split or ducted aircon install is not a reason to pay the whole job upfront. Payment on completion is normal for smaller service and repair work.

Check the QBCC licence register for the contractor and the right mechanical services air-conditioning and refrigeration class. Check the refrigerant licence through ARCtick. Check electrical licensing through the Queensland Electrical Safety Office if the quote includes a new circuit or hard-wired connection. A split-system installer with refrigerant credentials still cannot legally perform unrestricted electrical work unless they also hold the right electrical licence.

One honest constraint: the cheapest quote can be the right call if the scope is identical and the installer is properly licensed. We do not tell homeowners to pay more for the same work. The trap is assuming two one-line quotes describe the same job when one includes electrical, drainage and disposal and the other does not.

How to compare quotes in 10 minutes

Put the quotes side by side and highlight the model number first. Then compare capacity, install type, electrical allowance, pipe length, drainage, access, old-unit disposal, warranty and deposit. If you are in a unit or townhouse, add strata approval and outdoor unit location. If you are near the beach, add condenser corrosion protection and clearance for airflow. If the quote is for a repair, compare diagnosis quality against our aircon repairs page and the refrigerant leak detection guide.

The quote you want is not necessarily the longest one. It is the one that answers the expensive questions before work starts. That is the paperwork that protects you if the system is noisy, drains badly, is undersized, or fails a warranty claim because the install was not documented.

Get a price

Get an itemised aircon quote to compare

Send the room, system type and any competing scope and we will reply within 1 business day with a clear written price.

Aircon quote comparison questions

How many aircon quotes should I get?

Get 2 or 3 written quotes if the job is over $2,000, especially for ducted or multi-head work. One clear fixed quote is enough for a small $180 to $350 service if the licence and inclusions are obvious.

What must a Queensland aircon quote state?

For residential building work over $3,300, the contract should identify the contractor, licence number, site address, scope, price or pricing method, timing, and any plans or specifications. For air conditioning, also insist on model numbers, kW capacity, pipe run, drainage, electrical work and warranty terms.

What deposit is legal in Queensland?

QBCC guidance says the maximum deposit is 20% for work valued at $3,300 or less, 10% for $3,301 to $19,999, and 5% for work over $20,000. A request for full payment upfront is a red flag unless the job is a small completed service paid after the visit.

How do I check an aircon licence?

Check the contractor on the QBCC licence search for mechanical services air-conditioning and refrigeration work, and check refrigerant handling through ARCtick. Electrical work needs a Queensland electrical work licence or electrical contractor licence, which can be checked through the Electrical Safety Office.

What exclusions cause surprise variations?

Common exclusions are switchboard upgrades, new dedicated circuits, scaffold, long pipe runs, asbestos, condensate pumps, roof repairs, strata approval and old-unit disposal. Any one of those can add $150 to $1,500, so they should be priced or clearly listed as provisional before you sign.

Is the cheapest aircon quote usually bad?

Not always, but a quote 20% to 30% below the others needs careful checking. It may be a different model, a shorter warranty path, no licensed electrical allowance, no wall bracket, no drain solution or no site visit.

Compare Sunshine Coast aircon quotes by scope, licence and exclusions, not just price