Guide · Fridges, washers and big appliances
How long should an air conditioner last in Australia?
An air conditioner bought for around $1,500 should last about 9 years or more.
An air conditioner should last years. A failure after the manufacturer’s warranty has ended can still be covered.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer. CHOICE’s lifespan research puts it at about 12 years.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long an air conditioner should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $700 | 7 years |
| $700 to $2,000 | 9 years |
| Over $2,000 | 10 years |
For one bought around $1,500:
- Under 5 years: very likely covered.
- 5 years to 9 years: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 9 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
If it failed before the typical lifespan CHOICE gives, say so when you ask.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- It stops cooling or heating properly, or ices up
- It leaks water inside or starts making a loud new noise
- The remote, display or a sensor fails
What usually isn’t covered
- A filter you never cleaned
- Damage from a storm, pests or a poor installation you arranged separately
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought an air conditioner here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for an air conditioner
Ask who installed it. The shop is responsible for the unit. The installer may be responsible for the installation. Keep both invoices together.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should an air conditioner last?
By our guide, an air conditioner bought for around $1,500 should last about 9 years or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to an air conditioner after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if an air conditioner fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Do I need the receipt to take an air conditioner back?
You need proof of purchase, but not the original receipt. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration can do the job.
More guides
- How long should an oven or cooktop last?
- How long should a washing machine last?
- How long should a fridge or freezer last?
- How long should a dishwasher last?
- See all guides
Where this comes from
ACCC: consumer rights and guarantees · CHOICE: how long should your appliances last