Browse Forums Heating, Cooling & Insulation 1 Jul 30, 2010 9:21 pm I am currently in the process of building a house, and am now getting a quote from the electrician who is wiring the house to install a split system reverse-cycle air conditioning (single phase) in most of the rooms. It is not a massive house by any means, and the rooms are just average size. I am just after a very rough figure on what it *should* cost per room to install a split system – i.e. FULLY INSTALLED – including all wiring and piping. I guess I just want to make sure I am not getting ripped off, since I haven't done this before. I am after a fairly decent brand of unit such as say Panasonic. Re: Split System cost 2Aug 01, 2010 5:48 am I've had two of them installed and each time the install was $600 plus the cost of the air cond. It depends on which size you buy, the last one cost around $900 and the larger one before that was $1600 (both panasonic) but that one does a few rooms. There may not be much advantage to getting it prewired because most of the install was getting the units up and the wiring was a fairly small part of it. Re: Split System cost 3Aug 01, 2010 11:07 am Thanks piscean -that's given me something to go buy. Will be getting my quote next week. Unfortunately I am using a project builder for the home, so if I prewire the air conditioning, I don't have any choice than to use their electrician - so no bargaining power there. So I am still debating whether to prewire or not. Aside from the one unit, the rest of the units can be installed up against the external wall. The electrician said they would just drill a hole straight through the brick wall to run the pipes. So this means that the external units will sit directly outside the walls of the rooms - correct? So if I wanted to put the external units at the back of the house (where they are less conspicuous) then I am assuming they would have to run the pipes through the walls and this could only be done at prewire stage? (To avoid having external pipes running around to the back of the house.) Re: Split System cost 4Aug 01, 2010 7:59 pm Yep they just put the pipes through the wall to the outside in a normal install (in my house it was through the double brick), so I don't know what it would cost to have the external units further away because you would be looking at extra copper piping and labour to take it to the back of the house. Re: Split System cost 5Aug 02, 2010 7:47 pm Ok, so if I just get my electrician to install the wiring and piping only, will the electrician need to know which brand of air conditioner I am going to install? Are there different size pipes for different brands? Re: Split System cost 6Aug 02, 2010 8:25 pm Have a read of this thread where the aircons came from one source and the labour from another: http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=35408 This may sway your decision to give the supply and fit to one person so if it doesn't fly, theres only one person to argue with. Re: Split System cost 7Aug 02, 2010 8:31 pm Apparently also, different brands of AC include different things in the box for the wiring. So yeah, good idea to know the brand at least, so they know what they need to supply. Status: sold our first house, moved in with parents, bought our second in Pakenham, still planning to build in a few years time. Re: Split System cost 8Aug 02, 2010 8:53 pm OK, my electrician has quoted me install of "Midea" (or equivalent) units. Never heard of these. All I can tell is they are made in China, and are popular there. I would rather something like Panasonic since I have used them before and they are reliable. The quote for the Midea's fully installed is: $1670 each for the 2.65kw units (standard back to back installation) $2554 for a 6.15kw unit (with some extra piping and wiring) $2563 for a 7kw unit (with some extra piping and wiring) Do those prices sound fair? I know they will try and sell me the Midea's and say they are great and everything else, but I'm tempted to pay extra and get a brand at least I've heard of before. Anybody's thoughts on this? Re: Split System cost 9Aug 02, 2010 10:36 pm taz I've never heard of midea and I would trust your gut and get something like the panasonic. just as an example, In February this year our larger panasonic wasnt working properly and had a strange code appearing. We contacted panasonic who put us in touch with their local repairer and it all got fixed no problems under warranty so at least with a company like panasonic who have a reputation there is the after sales service if things go wrong. I would try contacting an aircon installer who does the split systems and get some quotes for doing it afterwards, they will have a good idea about the logistics of the pipes and how much extra it will cost so you can do a proper comparison with what the electrician is quoting. I bought both my panasonics through a store and they just gave me the number for an installer but when something went wrong panasonic just enlisted their local repairer and it had nothing to do with the original installer or the store I bought it from, the repairer just came out to see what the fault was and went from there. Re: Split System cost 10Aug 02, 2010 11:44 pm Yes, the option of installing post-build is becoming more tempting. Only problem is 2 of the units are in a position such that I will have to pre-install pipes. Might get the builders' electrician to do those only since I don't have a choice. So, for simple back-to-back installs, there shouldn't be a problem installing cabling through the walls post-build? Even on the bottom storey of a 2-storey house? Re: Split System cost 11Aug 10, 2010 8:26 am TazR OK, my electrician has quoted me install of "Midea" (or equivalent) units. Never heard of these. All I can tell is they are made in China, and are popular there. I would rather something like Panasonic since I have used them before and they are reliable. The quote for the Midea's fully installed is: $1670 each for the 2.65kw units (standard back to back installation) $2554 for a 6.15kw unit (with some extra piping and wiring) $2563 for a 7kw unit (with some extra piping and wiring) Do those prices sound fair? I know they will try and sell me the Midea's and say they are great and everything else, but I'm tempted to pay extra and get a brand at least I've heard of before. Anybody's thoughts on this? Why do so many people use electricans for installing splits and not aircon installers the only thing the electrcian should be doing is wiring the system also noticed electricians seem to only offer the brands made in china like midea's must be so their prices don't look so expensive or maybe their electrical whole salers sell these cheap brands of units if you want a good unit thats sized right and installed by quailfied tradesman use a airconditioning company Re: Split System cost 12Aug 12, 2010 4:37 pm Here Here! First and foremost I am a Fridgy. We come across so many systems that are short of refrigerant and more often than not they have been installed by an electrician. As soon as you go further than a back to back the electricians do not add extra refrigerant required. Qualified refrigeration Mechanics have the right tools, understand why you do and dont do things, they evacuate the system correctly, pressure test etc. Money well spent in the long run. I must say I am not aiming at all electricians, but some should'nt be doing this work. 2 2523 We already paid for somfy motors for the blinds. The quote above was purely for “pre-wiring” so the blinds company can install the motors and blinds. That’s why we… 5 16268 Move your linen into laundry and access laundry from your present linen space 1 8007 |