The going rate
Technicians on ServiceSeeking typically charge $80 to $140 an hoursrc for reverse cycle work, averaging about $109 an hoursrc in its May 2026 guide. Air conditioner cleaning averaged about $657 a jobsrc in 2026; its 2024 data, the latest with a full range, ran $120 to $998 (average $258)src. Any work on the refrigerant needs a licensed technician.
What do air conditioning technicians charge?
ServiceSeeking's May 2026 guide puts the typical range at $80 to $140 an hoursrc, with an average of about $109 an hoursrc. A two-hour visit at that range comes to $160 to $280 before parts or refrigerant.
Its 2024 sample of air conditioning and heating technicians came to $113.78 an hour on averagesrc. The two samples cover different jobs, so they are not a like-for-like trend, but both put the typical hour in the same broad region. A quote well outside it is worth a question.
Ask whether a quote is hourly or fixed. A fixed price for a standard service is easier to compare, as long as it lists what is included.
What have cleaning jobs cost?
Show the numbers
| Air conditioner cleaning | $120 to $998 (average $258) |
|---|---|
| Duct cleaning | $180 to $750 (average $265) |
Those ranges are from 2024, the latest low-to-high spread we found from ServiceSeeking. Look where the averages sit: close to the bottom of each range. A few large jobs stretch the top, and most homes pay nothing like the maximum.
Its 2026 cleaning guide gives averages only: about $657 a jobsrc. That is far above the 2024 average job, but neither guide says what mix of split, ducted and multi-unit cleans it counted, so treat the gap as a warning that prices vary a lot rather than as a price rise. Ask for a fixed price per indoor unit and you can compare quotes directly.
When is "topping up the gas" illegal?
When nobody has found and fixed the leak first. The Australian Refrigeration Council is blunt about it: topping up a system before it has been fully tested and all identified leaks repaired is illegalsrc, whoever does it.
A sealed system should not need regular top-ups. If a technician offers to add refrigerant without a leak test, you are paying for a repeat visit and breaking the rules at the same time.
Who can do what on a service call?
Licensed work covers installing, servicing and decommissioningsrc, and anything else that risks letting refrigerant escape. Handling refrigerant without a licence is an offencesrc.
There is a catch in the licence types. A technician with the restricted split system licence can install, but is not allowed to do service or repair work that involves refrigerantsrc. If the job involves the refrigerant, ask for someone with a full licence.
How do you compare two service quotes?
- Is it a fixed price or hourly, and is there a call-out fee?
- Does it cover filters, the indoor coil, the drain line and the outdoor unit?
- If refrigerant is mentioned, is a leak test included first?
- What is the technician's ARC licence number, and which type is it?
Rates are what tradespeople quoted on one platform, not a regulated price. Your area, access to the unit and the system's condition all change the bill.