Work through this before you sign anything. There is a printable version at the bottom.
Before you get quotes
- Decided which rooms or areas you want conditioned
- Decided whether you need heating as well as cooling
- Checked whether evaporative suits your climate, or whether you need refrigerated
- Measured the rooms, including ceiling height, not just floor area
- Noted window sizes and which way they face, especially west-facing glass
- Noted whether the ceiling is insulated
- Identified where an outdoor unit could go, with clearance and away from bedroom windows
- For ducted: checked there is roof or under-floor space, and access to it
- Checked whether you need strata, body corporate or council approval
- Found your climate zone using the Energy Rating Calculator
- Checked what rebates or discounts apply in your state
When the installer visits
- They did a heat load assessment, not a guess from floor area
- They walked the site and confirmed where both units will go
- They explained why they recommend that system, and offered alternatives
- They checked whether electrical work or a switchboard upgrade is needed
- For ducted: they discussed zones, which rooms group together, and duct sealing
- They did not pressure you to sign on the day
Checking their credentials
- Refrigerant Handling Licence sighted, or verified at lookforthetick.com.au
- Confirmed which licence: RAC01 covers all work, RSS03 covers installing and decommissioning single-head splits under 18kW only
- Licensed electrician for the electrical work
- Insured
- Has a contactable address and phone number
- Checked online reviews
Checking the quote
- Model numbers for indoor and outdoor units
- Capacity in kW, for both heating and cooling
- Star rating for your climate zone, or written performance figures if the system carries no label
- Estimated annual energy use in kWh, so you can work out running costs
- Noise levels, indoor and outdoor
- All electrical work included, or priced separately and disclosed
- Mounting of the outdoor unit specified, brackets or slab
- Condensate drainage included
- For ducted: number of zones, dampers, duct sealing, duct insulation R-value
- Commissioning and warranty registration included
- Removal, refrigerant recovery and disposal of the old system included
- Making good after installation
- Anything that could add to the price once work starts, disclosed
- Payment terms: a deposit is normal, paying in full up front is not
Warranty
- Manufacturer warranty term confirmed
- Confirmed whether it covers parts and labour or parts only
- Installation warranty from the installer confirmed
- Checked who pays freight on a returned part, and the labour to fit it
- Checked for any condition that could void it, such as a compulsory annual service
Comparing your quotes
- Every quote is for comparable capacity
- Every quote includes the same scope of electrical and other work
- If one is much cheaper, you know what has been left out
- Compared running costs, not just purchase price
After installation
- Received warranty documentation
- Received compliance certificates for the electrical work
- Received operating manuals
- Installer demonstrated the controls
- You know how to clean the filters, and how often
- You know when the first service is due