Aircon repair costs in Chiang Mai: how much is too much, and what to check before you agree to a price

I understand the feeling of not being sure whether a repair price is fair. Aircon repair costs are hard to compare in advance.

Parts prices depend on the model, the brand and whether the unit is an inverter, and they vary a great deal. What I can do is show you what a repair bill is made up of, so you can ask the right questions and judge for yourself how reasonable the figure is.

What goes into an aircon repair bill

An aircon repair is not one lump sum. It is made up of four layers, and you can ask whoever is doing the work to show you each one separately.

I list labour and parts as quoted before the repair because an accurate price has to be based on the model and the cause actually found. So I give you the figure after checking the unit and before starting any work, every time.

Is a 500 THB aircon diagnostic charge too much?

Many people hesitate at this figure because they are used to services that say they will come and check for free. The reality is that the fuel and the technician's time spent finding the cause are always a cost, whether or not they are charged separately. The difference is which line of the bill that cost sits on, and you can check it with the following four questions.

• Are travel and diagnostic time included in the labour or the parts? Ask for each part as a separate figure before you decide.
• If, after the check, you decide not to repair today, is there any charge, and how much?
• Which readings show that this part has failed? Ask to see the measured values.
• If several parts need replacing, ask for each one to be tested and explained: which have really failed, and which are being replaced as a precaution.

In my case, that cost is shown on the first line of the bill as a 500 THB diagnostic charge, and I take the full amount off if you decide to go ahead with the repair with me. The diagnostic charge covers the time spent finding the cause, whether or not you decide to repair. If I find that a clean alone will solve the problem, I will tell you so.

How much is too much for an aircon repair?

The answer is not in the figure on its own, but in how it compares with the following three things.

1. 1Compared with the price of a new unit: if the repair costs more than roughly half the price of a new aircon of the same size, and the existing unit is already old, I consider replacing it better value in the long run.
2. 2Compared with the unit's remaining life: an expensive control board repair on a ten-year-old aircon is often followed by the next part wearing out at around the same time.
3. 3Compared with how clear the diagnosis is: you should be told where the fault is and which reading shows it. A repair is worth the money when the diagnosis is clear, whether the figure is high or low.

8 questions to ask a technician before agreeing to a repair price

Ask all of these before the technician starts removing any parts, because once parts are out your options become much more limited. These questions apply to every service provider, including me.

1. 1What is causing this fault, how do you know, and what did you measure?
2. 2Which parts need replacing, how much is each one, and how much is the labour?
3. 3Is the quoted price final, or could it go up along the way? If it does, will you tell me first?
4. 4Are the parts genuine, compatible or second-hand?
5. 5How long is the warranty on the replaced parts, and how long on the work itself?
6. 6Can I see the old parts that were removed?
7. 7If the fault is still there after the repair, will there be any extra charge?
8. 8Will I get a bill or receipt, and can it be issued in a company name?

6 things you should have before agreeing to a repair

Sometimes the uncertainty comes from incomplete communication. The six points below are what you should have before you agree to a repair. If any of them is missing, you are entitled to ask for time to think it over and to consult another provider as well.

• You have seen the old parts that were removed with your own eyes, before they are taken away.
• You have separate, complete figures for labour and parts before any part is removed.
• You have seen the readings behind the diagnosis, such as refrigerant pressure or current draw, and if the refrigerant is low, an explanation of where it leaked out.
• If several parts need replacing, you have heard the test result for each one showing which have really failed.
• You have time to decide without being pushed into an immediate answer, especially when not all the readings have been taken.
• You have a written bill and warranty terms, with a clear way to get back in touch, and you know what will be done with the old parts.

Refrigerant: the hardest item to check, so ask the clearest questions

Refrigerant is something you cannot see or measure yourself, which makes it the item most likely to be charged again and again if you do not ask the full set of questions. There is only one principle to remember: an aircon is a sealed system, and refrigerant is not used up like fuel. So if it is low, it has always leaked out somewhere.

Adding refrigerant without first looking for the leak means paying for refrigerant that will leak out again. The unit works for around two months and then the same symptoms return. Among the jobs I take on, a fair number of homes have been topping up two or three times a year for several years in a row, which is a sign the leak should be found before the next top-up.

Another issue aircon owners in Chiang Mai often run into is the price of refrigerant. From my survey of Chiang Mai shops, only two types have published prices: R-22 at 25 THB per pound and R-410A at 75 THB per pound. R32, which major manufacturers have switched to in new inverter models, has no reference price yet, so there is nothing to compare the figure you are given on site against. I charge the same 25 THB per pound for R32 and R410A, and I show you how many pounds before adding any.

How an aircon repair should go, from first contact to finished job

1. 1

   Describe the symptoms in detail when you first get in touch

   Tell me when the problem started, whether it happens all the time or only at certain times, and whether there is any noise or smell with it. The more complete the details, the better I can bring parts that match the symptoms, so you do not have to wait for a second visit.

2. 2

   The technician checks and shows you the readings

   I measure the refrigerant pressure, the current draw and the temperature of the air going in and coming out, then explain what the readings tell us. This step is what the 500 THB diagnostic charge covers.

3. 3

   A quote with labour and parts shown separately

   You should have the full figures before any part is removed, and you have the right to decline and pay only the diagnostic charge.

4. 4

   Work starts only after you confirm

   If I find something else that needs fixing during the repair, I stop and give you a new price to consider before carrying on.

5. 5

   Testing in front of you before packing up

   I switch the unit on and measure the outlet air temperature again with you watching, then hand back the old parts that were removed so you can check them.

6. 6

   Receive the bill and warranty terms

   It should state which parts were replaced and until when the work is under warranty. For a business, ask for the receipt to be issued in the company name as well.

Summary

• An aircon repair bill is made up of a diagnostic charge, labour and parts, and all three should be clearly separated.
• I charge 500 THB for diagnosis and take it off the bill if you repair with me. The diagnostic charge covers the time spent finding the cause, whether or not you decide to repair.
• There is no single parts price because it depends on the model. I quote for your actual model before any repair.
• Ask all your questions before agreeing, especially to see the old parts that were removed.
• Low refrigerant means there is a leak, which has to be found before recharging. For R410A, I choose to recover it and weigh in a fresh charge so the amount is exactly to specification.
• If the repair costs more than roughly half the price of a new unit and the unit is already old, consider replacing it.