Every business below is checked against the QBCC licence register and ranked by quantified Google-review themes — never by who paid.
Based in Capalaba
Capalaba air-conditioning and electrical business rated 4.9 stars across 719 Google reviews. In a 100-review sample, professional, friendly service is the standout theme (68 mentions), with fast response (48) and quality installation (34) also frequently praised.
Based in Shailer Park
Shailer Park air-conditioning business rated 4.3 stars across 355 Google reviews. Across a 100-review sample, professional, friendly service (62) leads, with responsiveness (35) and communication (27) the next most-mentioned themes.
Based in Capalaba
Capalaba air-conditioning business rated 4.9 stars across 249 Google reviews. In a 100-review sample, professional, friendly service (63), fast response (53) and quality installation (38) are the most-mentioned themes.
Based in Seventeen Mile Rocks
Seventeen Mile Rocks electrical and air-conditioning business rated 4.9 stars across 217 Google reviews. Across a 100-review sample, professional, friendly service (61) leads, with fast response (47) and quality of work (36) also frequently praised.
Based in Forestdale
Air-conditioning business based in Forestdale, rated 4.9 stars across 199 Google reviews. In a 100-review sample, professional, friendly service is the standout theme (73 mentions), with fast response (49) and a clean, tidy finish (44) also frequently noted.
Based in Rocklea
Air-conditioning and refrigeration business serving the Rocklea area with a perfect 5.0 across 97 Google reviews. Across an 87-review sample, professional, friendly service (47), fast response (40) and quality of work (31) are the most-mentioned themes.
Based in Underwood
Underwood air-conditioning business with a perfect 5.0 across 94 Google reviews. In an 89-review sample, professional, friendly service is the leading theme (60), with fast response (43) and quality installation (27) also praised.
Based in Northgate
Northgate air-conditioning business rated 4.8 stars across 89 Google reviews. Across an 82-review sample, professional, friendly service is the standout theme (63 mentions), with responsiveness (30) and quality of work (24) also frequently mentioned.
Based in Mansfield
Refrigeration and air-conditioning business based in Mansfield with a perfect 5.0 across 67 Google reviews. Across a 57-review sample, response time (26) and professional, friendly service (25) lead, with quality of work also noted (18).
Based in Mansfield
Mansfield air-conditioning business rated 4.8 stars across 66 Google reviews. In a 61-review sample, professional, friendly service (30), fast response (26) and quality of work (21) are the most-mentioned themes.
Based in Coopers Plains
Coopers Plains air-conditioning business rated 4.8 stars across 66 Google reviews. In a 58-review sample, professional, friendly service is the leading theme (39), with responsiveness (22) and quality of work (11) also mentioned.
About air conditioning in Brisbane
Every technician listed here is checked against the QBCC register for the mechanical-services licensing that fixed air-conditioning work requires. The prices below are observed Greater Brisbane quotes for 2026, split by system type because a bedroom split system and a whole-home ducted install are an order of magnitude apart. Because Brisbane's real cooling challenge is humidity as much as heat, we focus on getting the system sized right — an oversized unit cools the air but leaves it damp — and on the two-licence rule (QBCC plus federal ARCtick) that separates a proper installer from a cheap cash job.
Brisbane's subtropical climate makes air conditioning a humidity problem, not just a heat one: from November to April the dew point stays high, so a system's ability to dehumidify matters as much as its cooling capacity, and mould on vents and in condensate trays is a genuine local issue. Most reverse-cycle is bought for summer cooling — winters are mild — but the heating mode is cheap insurance for the handful of cold July mornings. Housing stock shapes the choice: high-set timber Queenslanders mount split systems easily on timber walls and have accessible underfloor space, whereas running ducted air through a house with no slab and limited roof void can add cost and complexity. Bayside suburbs (Wynnum, Manly, Redlands) add salt-air corrosion to the outdoor unit's lifespan calculation. Storm season also means outdoor condensers should be sited and secured with wind and flooding in mind.
Typical prices in Brisbane
Ranges reflect quotes observed locally — not national averages, not advertised "from" prices.
| Service | Typical range (A$) |
|---|---|
Split system, bedroom (~2.5–3.5kW), supply + install Based on Canstar Blue's national supply-and-install guide (unit $600–$2,800 + install $600–$800); simple back-to-back Brisbane installs sit at the lower end. | A$1,200 — A$2,400 |
Split system, open-plan living (~7–8kW reverse-cycle), supply + install Typical Greater Brisbane quote, 2026 — higher-capacity unit plus longer pipe runs pushes above the entry-level split band; brand and inverter efficiency drive the spread. | A$2,800 — A$4,800 |
Ducted reverse-cycle, whole home (single-storey 3–4 bed) Based on Canstar Blue's national ducted guide ($9,000–$20,000 by home size); two-storey homes, more zones, or ducting a stumped timber house sit at the top or above. | A$12,000 — A$20,000 |
Add a room (extra split head, or extend ducting to one room) Typical Brisbane single-room add-on, 2026 — a standalone split head at the lower end; extending an existing ducted system with a new zone runs higher. | A$1,500 — A$4,000 |
Annual service / clean (split system, per indoor head) Typical Brisbane servicing quote, 2026 — the subtropical humidity and mould load make an annual clean (filters, coil, condensate drain) genuinely worthwhile before summer. | A$120 — A$300 |
Common questions
For most timber Queenslanders, split systems are the simpler choice: they mount straight onto timber walls, high-set homes give easy underfloor access for pipework, and you cool only the rooms you use. Ducted gives a cleaner look and even whole-home comfort, but a house with no concrete slab and a shallow roof void can make the ductwork harder and pricier to run. A common middle path is a large split in the main living area plus smaller splits in bedrooms. Ask an installer to assess your roof space and subfloor before quoting ducted.
Size to the room, not to a round number. Bigger is not better here: an oversized unit cools the air fast, then switches off before it has pulled the moisture out, leaving the room cold and clammy. A correctly sized inverter reverse-cycle unit runs longer at low output and dehumidifies as it goes. West-facing rooms, poor insulation and lots of glass all raise the load, so a technician should factor those in rather than quote off floor area alone. If a quote sizes purely by square metres with no questions about orientation, push back.
Fixed air conditioning needs more than one credential. The installation is 'mechanical services' building work under a QBCC licence (searchable on the free register); the hard-wired electrical connection must be done by a licensed electrician; and anyone handling the refrigerant must hold a federal ARCtick licence issued by the Australian Government. A portable plug-in unit needs none of this, but any wall-mounted or ducted system does. A properly licensed installer will give you these numbers without fuss — reluctance is the warning sign.
In Brisbane's humidity, moisture condenses inside the indoor unit every time it runs, and if the coil, filters and condensate drain aren't cleaned the damp interior grows mould — which is what you smell when it starts up. An annual service before summer (roughly $120–$300 per indoor head) keeps filters clear, the drain flowing and the coil clean, and it also protects efficiency. If you run the unit hard through the wet season, or someone in the home is sensitive to mould, a second clean partway through summer is reasonable.
Reverse-cycle is worth it even though Brisbane winters are mild: the heating mode adds little to the purchase price and is cheap, efficient warmth for the handful of cold July mornings, so most people buy reverse-cycle by default. For storm season, the thing to get right is the outdoor unit — it should be sited and secured against strong winds and clear of areas that flood, and after a major storm or any power surge it's worth a quick check. Air conditioning won't run during a blackout, so it isn't a substitute for storm preparation, but a well-installed system handles Brisbane's wet-season load fine.
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