A practical framework based on age, repair cost, refrigerant type and running cost, rather than whichever answer suits the contractor.
A practical framework based on age, repair cost, refrigerant type and running cost, rather than whichever answer suits the contractor.
This is the question we are asked most often, and it is the one where the customer is most exposed to a self-interested answer. A company that only installs will find a reason to replace. A company that only repairs will keep patching a machine that should have been retired two summers ago.
Here is the framework we use internally, which you are welcome to apply to any quotation you receive from anybody.
If three of the four point the same way, the decision is straightforward. If they are split, the deciding factor is usually how long you intend to keep the property.
| Age of unit | Minor fault | Major fault (compressor or coil) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | Repair | Repair, and check whether warranty applies |
| 5 to 8 years | Repair | Get both quotations, compare over 3 years |
| 8 to 12 years | Repair if cheap | Replace |
| Over 12 years | Repair only as a stopgap | Replace |
Older systems in the UAE still run on R22, which has been phased out under the Montreal Protocol. Where it is still available it is expensive, and it will only become more so. If a system on R22 needs a significant refrigerant-related repair, replacement is almost always the right call, because you are investing in a machine whose consumable is disappearing.
Modern units use R410A or, increasingly, R32. Both are readily available, and R32 systems tend to be more efficient with a lower environmental impact.
The most common mistake at replacement time is like-for-like. The old unit's capacity was chosen for the building as it was, sometimes decades ago, often by a developer optimizing cost rather than comfort.
A heat load assessment takes account of glazing area and orientation, insulation, ceiling height, occupancy and the equipment in the room. Oversizing is as damaging as undersizing: an oversized unit satisfies the thermostat quickly, short-cycles, and never runs long enough to dehumidify, which is why some homes feel cold and clammy at the same time.
Insist that whoever quotes for a replacement explains how they arrived at the capacity.
Eight to twelve years for a split system and twelve to fifteen for a ducted system, provided it is serviced twice a year. Coastal properties sit at the lower end of both ranges because of salt attack on the condenser.
In the UAE, generally yes. Inverter compressors modulate rather than cycling on and off, which suits our long cooling season and typically pays back the price difference within a few years on a heavily used system.
It is rarely advisable. Indoor and outdoor units are matched pairs designed to work together, and mixing them usually means reduced capacity, warranty problems and poor efficiency.
Yes. We quote both where both are viable and we set out the three-year cost of each. We would rather do a AED 449 repair now and earn the replacement in four years than sell you a machine you did not need.
Call, message us on WhatsApp, or book online. Fixed written quotation before any work starts.
