Age, refrigerant, capacity and the new office’s layout — a simple way to decide whether your ACs move with you.
When an office moves, the ACs are often forgotten until the last week. Should they be uninstalled and reinstalled at the new address, or sold with the rest of the furniture? The answer depends on a few simple questions.
How old are they?
ACs more than seven or eight years old are rarely worth shifting. Efficiency drops with age, and older units may run on R-22 refrigerant, which is being phased out under India's commitments under the Montreal Protocol. Servicing R-22 units will only get harder. Newer inverter units are usually worth keeping.
Does the new office need the same capacity?
A 2-ton cassette that suited your old open floor may be wrong for the new layout. If the new space is a managed building with central AC or VRV, your split units may not be needed at all.
What does shifting really cost?
Shifting isn't just labour. Each unit needs uninstallation, transport, new copper piping in most cases, reinstallation, and often a gas top-up. For older units, the total can come close to what a newer unit costs. Ask your AC vendor for a per-unit shifting quote before deciding.
Who owns them?
In many commercial leases, ACs installed by the landlord must stay. Check the lease before listing them for sale.
A quick decision table
| Situation | Usually better to… |
|---|---|
| Inverter ACs under 5 years, new office needs split units | Shift them |
| Units older than 8 years or on R-22 | Sell them |
| New office has central AC or VRV | Sell them |
| Mixed lot of old and new | Shift the newest, sell the rest with the furniture |
Selling ACs with the furniture
ACs sold in the same lot as office furniture usually get a better overall deal, because the buyer's crew and truck are already on site. We uninstall with our own technicians, pump the gas down where the compressor works, and remove indoor and outdoor units along with copper piping. See used AC buyers in Noida, Delhi and Gurugram.
Quick questions
Do buyers take ACs that don’t work?
Yes. Non-working ACs are priced on their copper, aluminium and compressor value.
Can the landlord stop me selling the office ACs?
If the landlord installed them, they usually belong to the landlord. Check your lease before selling.
Adarsh Old Office Furniture Buyer
Old office furniture buyers and office dismantling crew based in Sector 94, Noida. Written from our own jobs across Delhi NCR.
