Free tool for Melbourne homeowners
Should You Repair or Replace Your Heating or Cooling System?
Answer six quick questions about your system, its age and the fault, and get an honest read on whether a repair is worth it, using the same logic our technicians apply on site.
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Our read
Repair or replace?
Based on a typical gas ducted heater
Book an inspection first
A technician can confirm the fault before you spend anything big.
This is a guide based on typical Melbourne repair and replacement economics, not a quote or a diagnosis. Every assumption is published below. A technician confirms the fault and your real options before any work.
How the recommendation works
The tool weighs four things, the same way a fair technician would: how far through its expected life the system is, how big the repair is compared with replacing the unit, how often it has been failing, and whether efficiency is clearly slipping.
Age against lifespan
Splits typically last about 12 years, ducted reverse cycle 15, gas ducted and evaporative 18. Past that, money is usually better in a new unit.
Repair size
A repair under 20 percent of replacement cost usually makes sense. Past 30 percent on an older unit, it rarely does.
Breakdown pattern
A first fault is normal wear. Three call outs in two years is a system telling you something.
Running costs
Rising bills on the same usage point to falling efficiency, which repairs rarely bring back on older units.
The replacement costs behind the percentages are indicative Melbourne installed prices: split systems around $2,600, ducted reverse cycle around $13,000, gas ducted around $7,000 and evaporative around $6,000. For electric panel heaters the comparison is against a $2,600 split system, because that is the sensible replacement. Your quote will differ with size and site, which is why the tool leans on ratios, not exact dollars.
Method reviewed: July 2026. The tool never gives a hard replace verdict; an inspection is always offered, because a $200 part sometimes fixes a system this maths would retire.
Method, sources and review
We publish the working behind this tool rather than asking you to trust the number. The assumptions above are the ones the calculator actually uses. These are the sources they come from.
- Indicative installed price rangesOur own Melbourne install pricing (Climate Control Solutions)
- Rebate estimates and eligibilityVictorian Energy Upgrades (Victorian Government)
Signs a repair is still worth it
Plenty of faults are cheap fixes on systems with years left in them: a failed igniter or thermocouple on a gas heater, a blocked filter strangling airflow, a faulty thermostat, or a capacitor on a split system. If your heater is blowing cold air, the cause is often one of five common and fixable faults.
If your system has stopped completely and cannot wait for a booking, get an emergency air conditioning repair instead.
On the other side, a cracked heat exchanger on an old gas ducted unit, a seized compressor on a 14 year old split, or refrigerant leaks on a system using phased out gas are classic replace signals. We repair and service all major brands, including dedicated Brivis service and Braemar service, and our annual servicing catches most of these faults before they strand you in July.
The Melbourne factor: rebates change the maths
in Victoria the repair or replace decision has a third option most guides miss. If the failing unit is gas ducted heating or electric resistance heating, replacing it with an efficient reverse cycle system can attract a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount worth thousands, which can pull a borderline repair firmly into replace territory. We handle the paperwork and the required decommissioning.
Not sure what a new system would cost to run? Compare with our running cost calculator, and size the replacement with the size calculator.
Repair or replace FAQs
Is it worth repairing a 15 year old heater?
Usually only for small repairs. At 15 years a gas ducted heater is near the end of its typical 18 year life, so a $1,000 plus repair buys very little future. A minor fix under a few hundred dollars can still make sense while you plan the replacement, especially with a VEU discount available.
What is the $5,000 rule for air conditioners?
It is a US rule of thumb: multiply the unit's age by the repair cost, and if the result tops $5,000 you replace. It is a rough shortcut for the same trade off this tool weighs properly: repair size against remaining life. Australian prices differ, so we use cost ratios and local lifespans instead of one magic number.
How much do heater repairs cost in Melbourne?
Indicatively: simple fixes like igniters, thermocouples or sensors often land between $150 and $450. Fan motors, gas valves and control boards typically run $400 to $900. Major work like heat exchangers can exceed $1,000, which is where replacement usually wins on older units. Every job is quoted before work starts.
Should I replace my ducted heating with reverse cycle?
If the gas unit is over 12 years old or facing a major repair, usually yes. A modern reverse cycle system heats for roughly a third of the running cost at current Victorian rates, cools in summer as well, and replacing gas heating may qualify for a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount.
How long do air conditioners last in Australia?
A well maintained split system typically lasts 10 to 15 years, ducted reverse cycle around 15, and gas ducted or evaporative systems 15 to 20. Annual servicing is the single biggest factor in reaching the top of those ranges.
Get a straight answer on site
Our technicians quote the repair, price the replacement including any VEU discount, and tell you plainly which one we would choose in your house. No pressure either way.
Book a technician Urgent breakdown? Go straight to repairs Or call 0412 769 022.