Aircon Relocation: Move Your Split Unit Without Losing the Gas
Moving house, renovating or simply want the unit in a better room? Aircon relocation is more than unbolting two boxes. ARS pumps the refrigerant safely into the outdoor unit, moves the system and reinstalls it to the same standard as a new installation.
A split unit holds a pressurised charge of refrigerant in copper pipes that join the indoor and outdoor units. Cut or loosen those pipes carelessly and the gas is gone, along with any moisture-free seal the system had. Done properly, the refrigerant stays in the outdoor unit for the move and goes back into service at the new spot.
Before anything comes off the wall, though, it's worth asking whether moving it is the smart choice.
Is Your Old Unit Worth Moving?
Often it is. Sometimes the money is better spent on a new unit at the new address. Weigh up these points:
- Age and condition. A unit a few years old that cools well is a good candidate. One that's noisy, rusting or already needing repairs probably isn't.
- Refrigerant type. Older R22 units rely on a refrigerant whose supply is shrinking. If any is lost during the move, replacing it is getting harder.
- Size for the new room. A 9,000 BTU unit that suited a bedroom will struggle in a large open-plan lounge.
- The work at the other end. New pipework, brackets, core drilling and a dedicated electrical circuit are needed whether the unit is new or old. Only the cost of the unit itself is saved.
How an Aircon Relocation Is Done
- Pump down. With the unit running in cooling, the thin liquid-line valve on the outdoor unit is closed. The compressor draws the refrigerant back into the outdoor unit, then the thicker suction valve is closed and the unit switched off. Many inverter units need a forced cooling or test mode for this.
- Disconnect and seal. The pipes are disconnected at the flare nuts and the open ends sealed straight away to keep out dust and moisture. The supply is isolated before any cables are removed.
- Remove and transport. The outdoor unit travels upright and well secured. The indoor unit's coil fins are protected from knocks, because bent fins restrict airflow.
- Prepare the new position. Brackets, core drilling, a new pipe and cable run, drainage with a proper fall, and a dedicated circuit installed by a registered electrician and covered by the electrical Certificate of Compliance.
- New flares and pipework. Old pipe is rarely the right length for the new spot. Fresh copper is run where needed, and flare joints are always remade rather than reused.
- Pressure test and vacuum. The new pipework is tested with dry nitrogen, then evacuated with a vacuum pump to remove air and moisture.
- Release the refrigerant and commission. The outdoor unit's valves are opened, letting the stored charge back into the system. If the new pipe run is longer than the unit's pre-charged length, the manufacturer's extra charge is added. The unit is then tested in cooling and heating.
When the unit can't pump down
Pumping down needs a working compressor. If the unit has already failed, or a valve won't seal, the refrigerant has to be recovered into a cylinder with recovery equipment instead, and the system recharged after the move. Venting it into the air is never the answer. Any refrigerant top-up after a relocation follows the same rules as our aircon regassing work.
Moving an Aircon to a New House
An aircon relocation between properties is really a removal at one address and an installation at another, often weeks apart. The new position deserves the same planning as a brand-new unit: where the indoor unit will cool best, where the condenser can breathe, and how the pipes will run. Our guide on where to install indoor and outdoor units is worth a read before you choose spots.
If the new home is in a complex or estate, get body corporate or HOA approval before the installation date. Rules on condenser placement, trunking colour and drilling external walls vary from scheme to scheme. Our article on aircon in a complex or estate explains what's usually involved.
Closing Up the Old Position
Taking the unit away leaves a core-drilled hole through the wall, bracket fixings inside and out, and sometimes trunking and a drain outlet. The core hole should be sealed properly from both sides so water and insects can't get in. Bracket holes are filled, and loose trunking removed. Paint touch-ups to match the wall are usually best left to your painter, which tenants handing back a property should factor into their plans.
We move units across Gauteng, from Randburg homes to Pretoria townhouses and Springs businesses. Tell us both addresses, or both rooms, and get a relocation quote, or call 0861 995 092. Replacing instead of moving? See aircon installation.
Your Aircon Moving-Day Checklist
- Read your offer to purchase. Fitted aircons are often treated as fixtures that stay with the house unless the agreement excludes them.
- Book the removal early. Schedule it a few days before the removal truck, not on the same morning.
- Keep the remote and manuals with the unit. Bag and label them, along with the brand and model number.
- Ask for approval at the new address. Body corporate, HOA or landlord, in writing, before installation day.
- Plan the electrical side. The new spot needs its own circuit, done by a registered electrician.
- Leave the old wall tidy. Especially if you're renting and want your deposit back.
Relocation Questions
It is not a good idea. Undoing the pipes without pumping down first releases the refrigerant, lets moisture into the system and means a full recharge later. Refrigerant work should be done by someone registered with SAQCC Gas.
Sometimes, if they are the right size, long enough and in good condition. In practice the pipe run at a new location is usually different, so new copper is often needed. Flare joints are always remade either way.
Not if it was pumped down properly and the new pipework is leak tested. Extra refrigerant may be needed if the new pipe run is longer than the unit's pre-charged length, as set out by the manufacturer.
Yes. Keep the outdoor unit upright, dry and protected from knocks, with the pipe connections sealed. Store the indoor unit flat and padded so the coil fins are not bent.
Usually only if it is in good condition and the move is simple. R22 supply is shrinking, so if the unit is older and the new location needs a full new pipe run anyway, a new unit is often the better investment.
Taking Your Aircon With You?
Get a free quote to remove, move and reinstall your split unit properly, anywhere in Gauteng.