Aircon installer pricing in Stellenbosch

9000-12000 BTU split installed: R14,000-R32,000. 18000-24000 BTU split: R32,000-R65,000. Multi-split (3-5 indoor units): R150,000-R450,000. Ducted central R150,000-R450,000. UHNW VRV/multi-split R220,000-R850,000. Mostertsdrift, Brandwacht, Welgevonden premium of 30-50%. Per-hour SAQCC Gas-certified labour R580-R1,200.

Yes, legally required for refrigerant handling. Certification R8,500-R22,000 (training + practical) with annual renewal R450-R1,200. Print Practitioner number on every quote; UHNW family-office vetting and wine industry commercial insurers won't accept uncertified work.

R220,000-R850,000 for a UHNW home with VRV/multi-split or ducted system. Quote separately: outdoor units, indoor units, refrigerant piping, condensate drainage, electrical first-fix, zoning controls, commissioning, SAQCC certification. Lead time 6-10 weeks via Cape Town suppliers. UHNW prefer Daikin VRV, Mitsubishi City Multi, Fujitsu Airstage with 10-year warranty.

Yes, Stellenbosch Mediterranean climate (occasional 38 degC+ summer, mild winters with overnight frost in winelands) makes reverse-cycle inverter splits cost-effective dual-season standard. Quote reverse-cycle as residential default; covers both summer cooling and winter morning heating. Mostertsdrift, Brandwacht, Welgevonden appreciate the dual-season value.

Yes, on every CBD Heritage Conservation Area retrofit. Heritage Cape Dutch buildings need concealed refrigerant pipe routing respecting lime-mortar walls, yellowwood floors, and thatched roof structure. Quote heritage aircon retrofit at premium R900-R1,650 per hour with ACA controls admin (R3,500-R12,000). Surface-mounted piping not acceptable; concealed routing adds 40-60% to standard install.

Wall-split installations run roughly R1,310-500 per kW installed. A 5kW unit fully installed is R7,880-3,200; a 12kW multi-head system is R21,900-9,000. Ducted systems run R3,060-1,200 per kW because of the ducting work.

Heat-load rule of thumb: 0.15kW per square metre in moderate climates, 0.20kW in hot climates. A 25sqm bedroom needs 4-5kW; a 50sqm open-plan needs 7-9kW. Over-sized units short-cycle and waste energy; under-sized never cool the room. Insist on a heat-load calc for any install over R13,150.

For installs over R8,750, get 2-3 quotes. Compare brand, capacity, warranty, refrigerant type, and install detail. The cheapest quote often uses budget brands with 3-year warranties vs branded units with 5-7 year warranties for 10-20% more.

Wall splits are individual units, cheaper, easier to install, each room independent. Ducted is one outdoor unit with hidden roof-space ducting to all rooms, more expensive but cleaner aesthetic and centralised control. Wall splits cost half what ducted does for the same total kW.

A standard 5kW wall-split install is 4-6 hours for a 2-person team. Multi-head and ducted systems take 2-3 days. Larger commercial or ceiling-cassette installs take 4-5 days.