Split System Aircon Installation: Who Supplies the Unit?

Two quotes. One room. Different scope.

You’ve got two quotes for the same room. One is a few hundred dollars less and says “installation only – client to supply unit.” It looks like the obvious saving, until you ask who you ring if the unit dies in month three. This is the difference between a supply and install aircon quote and a buy-your-own arrangement. If the installer supplies the unit, one party owns the whole job – a dead-on-arrival unit, a wrong model delivered, or a warranty claim is their problem to resolve. If you supply, the installer can only warrant their labour and you become the middleman between the retailer and the installer when the unit faults.

Who handles the fault line?

When an installer handles a supply and install aircon package, they take responsibility for the equipment they put in your wall. If a compressor fails in year two, or the indoor unit never reaches the temperature set, you call them. They deal with the manufacturer. If you bought the unit yourself, the installer is gone after the job. You are now the middleman. You call the retailer, explain the fault, ask for a claim form, wait for approval, then book the installer to return. The installer can only warranty their labour. Any hardware failure lands on your phone and your wallet.

Capacity choices matter before you buy

Buying your own unit means you choose the kW rating before anyone has done a heat-load check on the room. Get it undersized and no installer can fix that at commissioning. An undersized unit will cycle too often, waste power, and never cool the space effectively. Agree the model and capacity with the installer first, then decide who buys it. Sizing depends on room volume, windows, orientation, and Brisbane’s humidity. If you pick the capacity wrong, the installation works perfectly but the system underperforms. Agree model and capacity with the installer before deciding who buys.

What your quote must itemise

What “supply and install” should itemise on the quote: exact model number (not just brand and series), indoor and outdoor unit, pipe/loom allowance in metres, electrical scope, mounting brackets, and who lodges any manufacturer rebate claim. If any of these is missing, the price isn’t comparable to the other quote. A quote that lists a two-metre pipe allowance versus one that lists four hides the real cost. Add the pipe run beyond the allowance. Add the bracket. Add the electrical outlet work. A proper quote lists every line item so you see what you are buying.

Rebates and paperwork

Manufacturer promotions are typically claimed by the purchaser of the unit, so if you buy your own unit, the claim is yours to make. If the installer supplies it, confirm in writing who submits it and what proof of purchase you receive. The purchaser claims the rebate; confirm in writing who submits. If you handle the unit purchase, you need to keep that invoice. If the installer handles it, they need to send you the rebate confirmation. Do not assume the rebate follows the installation. It follows the unit purchase.

When buy-your-own makes sense

The practical rule of thumb: buy-your-own only makes sense when you already know the exact model and capacity, you’re confident the retailer’s warranty process is workable, and the installer has agreed in writing to install a unit they didn’t supply. Many installers will not install a unit they didn’t supply, or will exclude it from their workmanship guarantee. This exclusion is the centrepiece. Get it in writing that they accept the specific model and guarantee their labour on that unit. But you must get the installer’s agreement on scope and warranty before they start.

Hidden cost check

A cheaper “installation only” price isn’t cheaper if it excludes the pipe run, bracket, or electrical work that the supply-and-install quote included. Compare the two quotes line by line on scope, not on the headline number. Look at the pipe allowance. Look at the outlet work. Look at the mounting hardware. A quote that charges for extra metre is standard. A quote that says “all-in” may include up to four metres. If your wall is six metres away, the hidden cost emerges. Add the line items to see the real total.

How we quote it here

We install split systems across Brisbane and can quote either way – supply-and-install with the model and capacity confirmed against your room, or installation of a unit you’ve already bought, with the scope and responsibility split written into the quote before we start. If you want us to supply and install, we confirm the model, the kW, and the pipe allowance in our quote. If you want to supply, we write in the quote what we will and will not warranty, and we confirm any rebate handling. You get a clean line-item price and clear ownership of the job.

Next step

If you have two quotes and need help comparing scope, send us the two quotes’ line items and room details. We will show you where the responsibility splits and what each quote actually includes. We can also confirm capacity and model before you buy. Send us the room details and the two quotes. We will respond with a written scope comparison and a firm quote that covers supply and install aircon, or installation of your unit, with no surprises.