Air conditioner installation quote checklist for Byron Bay homes

Before you accept an air conditioning quote in Byron Bay, look up the business on the NSW licence register, look up the technician on the national refrigerant licence register, and make sure the quote names the exact model, its kW capacity and every item of work. Then get a written contract before handing over any money, and sign any discount paperwork before the install day.

This page is a working checklist. Print it or keep it open while you read each quote. The businesses that quote are independent local providers, so each one sets its own terms and the checks below are how you hold them to account.

Step 1: Has the business got a NSW air conditioning licence?

Anyone installing or working on a fixed air con system in this state must be licensed or hold a certificate. The NSW Government licence page states that doing the work unlicensed is a breach of the Home Building Act 1989. Building Commission NSW manages that licensing. Portable plug-in units are outside the scheme.

How to check:

• Open the Service NSW tradesperson licence check.
• Search by the business or person’s name, the licence number, the ABN or ACN, the licence type, or the suburb or postcode.
• Confirm the name on the register matches the name on the quote.
• Confirm the licence status is current and covers air conditioning and refrigeration.
• Read any conditions on the licence.

The NSW Government page on checking a tradesperson explains that the result can show licence categories, expiry dates, conditions, public warnings and any suspension or cancellation. Look at the conditions carefully. The NSW air conditioning licence extends to some associated electrical wiring for servicing and maintenance, and work beyond that scope needs a separate electrical licence, so a condition can limit the electrical side. If the job includes a new circuit or switchboard work, ask who will do it and under which licence.

Step 2: Does the technician hold a refrigerant handling licence?

Refrigerant licensing is federal. The scheme sits under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and its Regulations, and the Australian Refrigeration Council legislation page sets out that any person fitting, maintaining or fixing this equipment needs their own licence. The scheme has run since 1 July 2005.

• Ask for the name of each technician who will attend.
• Ask for each technician’s ARC licence number.
• Check it on the Look for the Tick licence check by licence number, or by first name and surname.
• Confirm the result says the licence is current, and that the licence type suits the work.
• On the day, ask to see the technician’s licence before work begins, as the Look for the Tick site recommends.

Step 3: Does the business hold a refrigerant trading authorisation?

A business that acquires, stores or disposes of refrigerant needs a refrigerant trading authorisation, which is separate from the technician’s own licence. An installer that buys gas, keeps it in the van and recovers it from your old unit should hold one.

• Ask the business for its authorisation number and write it on the quote.

The about page has the full background on how this website passes enquiries on and the three licence lookups in a single table.

Step 4: Does the quote name the equipment?

• Brand and full model number of each indoor unit
• Brand and full model number of each outdoor unit
• Cooling and heating capacity in kW
• Star rating on the Energy Rating Label
• Annual energy use in kWh

A quote that just says “7 kW split” leaves room for a cheaper substitute on the day. With model numbers you can check the specifications and compare two quotes properly.

Step 5: Is the placement agreed?

• Where the indoor unit will go on which wall, and its height
• Where the outdoor unit will sit: wall bracket, ground slab or roof stand
• The route the pipes will take and whether they run inside or outside
• Where the condensate drain will discharge, and whether a pump is needed
• Clearance around the outdoor unit for airflow and for future servicing

Step 6: What is included and what is extra?

Go through the quote line by line and mark each item as included, excluded or not mentioned.

Item	Included	Excluded	Not mentioned
Pipe run up to an agreed length	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Rate for extra metres of pipe	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
New dedicated circuit and isolator	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Switchboard work	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Brackets, slab or stand	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Pipe covers on outside walls	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Removal of the old unit and refrigerant recovery	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Making good of holes and patching	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Commissioning and handover of controls	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]

Anything in the “not mentioned” column needs a written answer before you sign. For what typical jobs cost locally, compare the totals against the Byron Bay air conditioning cost bands.

Step 7: What warranty applies?

• Manufacturer’s warranty period on the equipment
• Who registers the warranty with the manufacturer
• The installer’s own workmanship warranty, in writing
• Whether the manufacturer’s warranty has any conditions about coastal installation or regular servicing

The ARC says any warranty you need should come directly from the licensed service provider. Keep the invoice, the model numbers and the install date together.

Step 8: Is there an Energy Savings Scheme discount?

If the quote includes a NSW Energy Savings Scheme discount:

• The discount is shown on the quote itself.
• You have the nomination form and know which Accredited Certificate Provider it names.
• The form is signed and returned before the installation starts, because work already done will not be reimbursed.
• You understand you still pay a minimum amount yourself.

The Byron Bay rebates guide explains who runs the scheme and how the discount works.

Step 9: Is there a written contract?

The NSW Government’s advice is simple: do not pay any money without a written contract. Before paying a deposit:

• The contract names the business, its licence number and its ABN.
• The contract lists the equipment, the scope and the price.
• The payment stages are set out, including what is due on completion.
• The start date and expected length of the job are stated.

Not sure whether a quote measures up? You can get another air con quote to check against before committing.

Step 10: Extra questions for a house near the beach

Homes in Byron Bay, Suffolk Park, Brunswick Heads and Lennox Head that sit close to the dunes need a few more answers:

• Is the outdoor unit coastal-rated or does its coil carry a protective coating?
• Will the installer put the outdoor unit on the side of the house away from the prevailing sea breeze?
• Are the brackets and fixings stainless or otherwise corrosion resistant?
• How often does the manufacturer recommend a wash-down near salt water, and does skipping it affect the warranty?

The coastal corrosion protection page explains coil coatings and placement in more detail.

How do you score two or three quotes against this list?

Give each quote a column and run down the steps above. Every tick is a point, and every blank is a question to send back by email so the answer is in writing. A quote that scores well on licences, model numbers and inclusions but sits a little higher on price is often the safer choice, because there is less room for surprise charges on the day. If two quotes end up level, ask each provider how long the job will take, how many technicians will attend, and what happens if they find asbestos in an old eave or a damaged switchboard. The answers tell you a lot about how carefully each one has looked at the house.

Red flags to stop on

Walk away, or at least pause, if a provider:

• cannot give a licence number, or the name on the register does not match the quote
• wants the full price up front with no contract
• will not name the model until the day of installation
• says a discount will be “sorted later” after the install
• vents refrigerant or refuses to recover it from an old unit

Next step

When you send your quote checklist enquiry, include your suburb, what you want installed, any quotes you already hold (with prices blacked out if you prefer), and which items on this checklist you could not get answered. Mention if the house is within a short walk of the beach.

Send a job enquiry