Whole-home Heating & Cooling
Martin Heating & Cooling install Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning systems across Geelong, Ballarat & Melbourne's West.
For personalised advice, call us on 1300 146 525 or use our online enquiry form. Or keep scrolling for FAQs, features, rebates and how much it costs to install an electric ducted heating and cooling system in your home.
Our fully inclusive quotes include:
Why Install Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning?
Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners are the ultimate all-in-one system. They provide energy-efficient electric ducted heating and refrigerated cooling for your entire home, making it ideal for year‑round use in Geelong, Ballarat and Melbourne.
Ducted Air Conditioning is rapidly gaining popularity as the preferred choice for both new home builds, and homeowners looking to upgrade their current system.
Available in a range of sizes, they are suitable for installation in new and existing homes of all sizes.
They have a discreet design, with most of the system concealed and only the vents visible in each room.
Ducted Air Conditioning FAQs
Ducted Air Conditioners are the most popular option for replacing gas ducted heating with electric ducted heating, which also currently attracts government rebates.
They are also ideal for those looking to replace their ducted evaporative cooling with refrigerated cooling.
Find out more info below.
Don’t be confused by the name!
Just to clarify, these systems are also known by a few names including: Central Heating and Cooling, Ducted Split System, Electric Ducted Heating and Refrigerated Cooling, Heat Pump Heating and Cooling and just Ducted Air Conditioning.
Using just one system, your ducted reverse cycle air conditioner can keep your entire house at your preferred temperature all year round.
The air conditioner itself is ‘split’ into two main components: an outdoor compressor and an indoor unit, which is sometimes why it’s sometimes referred to as a ducted split system.
The indoor unit connects to a network of ducts and distributes heated or cooled air to each room through vents installed in the ceiling or floor, keeping every part of your home comfortable.
Operating your Ducted Air Conditioner
You can operate your system manually, setting your preferred temperature as needed. Alternatively, you can program the controller to automatically adjust temperatures or turn the system on and off at different times of day and night.
If your system has zoning, you can choose which areas of your home to heat or cool at any time. This helps reduce running costs by avoiding heating or cooling rooms you’re not using. You can also schedule zones to turn on or off automatically, adding even more convenience and efficiency.
Whether your ducts and outlets are in your ceiling or floor will depend on the design of your house.
Roof cavity installation
It is preferable to install ducted air conditioning indoor units, along with the ducts and vents in your roof cavity, as it is generally more easily accessible for installation and ongoing maintenance.
Under house installation
Generally, units are installed under the house with ducts and vents in your floor if:
a) it is not possible to install it in the roof, but there’s room underneath as your house is built on a subfloor (or stumps),
b) If you currently have gas ducted heating with floor vents and want to keep their current set up. However, it does limit your range of air conditioners, as not all are made to live underfloor or completely outside.
What if I don’t have room in my roof or under floor?
If, for example you live in a townhouse which has a concrete slab floor and a flat roof, then the next best thing is a ductless Multi-Head Split System.
Yes, in the majority of cases it is possible to install a Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner into an existing double story house on both levels.
As part of our assessment, our tech will be able to confirm this with you.
If it’s not possible, they will let you know your options, such as installing a ducted system upstairs and wall mounted split systems downstairs. Or a multi-head split system.
Yes you can!
If you currently have a Gas Ducted Heating and are looking for an electric replacement, you have a couple of options…
Option 1 – Replace your Gas Ducted Heater with Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning
Upgrading to Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning is by far the most popular option for switching to electric.
Not only does it provide ducted electric heating and refrigerated cooling, but bonus! – it’s currently eligible for Government Rebates.
It’s an all-in-one system, utilizing the same energy-efficient technology to both heat and cool.
Government Rebates
As part of the Victorian Government Energy Upgrade Scheme (VEU), there are currently Government Rebates for removing your Gas Ducted Heater and replacing it with a Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner, which can save you thousands of dollars.
As a full service provider, we supply and install your unit of choice, remove and dispose of your old system, fulfill all rebate conditions and complete required paperwork.
Only certain air conditioners which have met energy efficiency criteria have been approved to participate in the rebate program. We have approved options for all house types and budgets, including models from Rinnai, Braemar, ActronAir, Daikin and Mitsubishi.
Ducts
We are often asked if existing ducts can be re-used when upgrading from gas to electric. The majority of the time, they will need to be upgraded. Circumstances where they may be re-used include:
- If you currently have Add On Refrigerated Cooling, your existing ducts may be suitable
- If you are installing a Hybrid Reverse Cycle Heating system (see below), you may be able to reuse them
It does, of course, depend on the condition of your current ducts. Our technician will confirm whether you need to replace your ducts too.
Keep in mind, while installing new ducts will add to your overall cost, it can save you on running costs in the long run. We use R1.5 ducts, which are insulated to minimize heating/cooling loss.
Option 2 – Replace your Gas Ducted Heater with Hybrid Reverse Cycle Heating
A new product on the market is Braemar’s Dominator Hybrid Reverse Cycle Ducted Heating system. It is designed to be a direct replacement for your Gas Ducted Heater, re-using your existing ducts and outlets (where possible), which eliminates the cost of upgrading your ductwork.
It provides both electric heating and refrigerated cooling, so you may ask – how is it different from a normal Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner?
Where a Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner provides both heating and cooling equally well, the Hybrid Reverse Cycle Heating system is first and foremost a Ducted Heater, with the capabilities of a refrigerated cooling system if required.
For this reason, it is recommended if you currently have an Evaporative Cooler, keep it an still use it on hot days, with the added option of using the refrigerated cooling on humid days.
Visit our Braemar Dominator page for more info.
Option 3 – Convert your Add On Cooler into a heater
Do you currently have both a Brivis Gas Ducted Heater and Brivis Add On Refrigerated Cooler?
If yes, then there is a chance you will be able to convert your Add On Cooler into an electric ducted heater with a new product from Brivis called SmartSens.
And good news is, you can can keep your Gas Ducted Heater but switch between using gas heating (via your Gas Ducted Heater) and electric heating (via your Add On Cooler). Don’t worry, your Cooler still cools, it’s just now a reverse cycle air conditioner!
As Authorised Brivis repair agents, we are able to supply and install the conversion kits. Check out our Brivis SmartSens page for more information and eligible models.
Not sure what’s right for your house and budget? No worries, get in touch and our staff can let you know your options.
Ducted Reverse Cycle Conditioners uses Refrigerated Cooling, which gives you precise control over temperature and can be used with Zoning.
Should I keep or get rid of my existing Evaporative Cooler?
If your ducted air conditioning system is being installed in your roof, the majority of the time we will need to remove the Evaporative Cooler ducts.
If it’s being installed under your floor boards, you can keep your Evaporative Cooler and keep using it if you choose to.
For the Evaporative cooler unit on your roof, we can remove it for you. If you have spare roof tiles, we can put them on for you. If you don’t, or have a metal roof, we can seal the hole with a metal plate. Or you can simply choose to leave the cooler unit on the roof.
In order to determine which size Ducted Reverse Cycle unit is required for your home, a member from our design team will need to carry out a Heating/Cooling Load Calculation. This can be done with house plans, if available.
The calculation takes into consideration:
- The size of the rooms required to be heated or cooled, as well as the ceiling height
- How many outlets (or vents) you will need – some large rooms will require more than one outlet
- Whether you want to heat or cool the entire home at once (see below)
- The area you live in – areas with frequent winter frosts may require a larger size unit
Ducted Air Conditioner size guide
Each house is unique and needs to be assessed. But a rough guide for a standard sized, single story house is…
- 2 bedrooms: 7-10kw
- 3-4 bedrooms, 1 living area: 12-15kw
- 3-4 bedrooms, 2 living areas: 15-18kw
- Larger house – 18-25kw
The importance of correct sizing
Most people would like the option to heat or cool their whole house at once. In which case you need a unit correctly sized to do this.
However, some companies (not us!) quote on a smaller size unit to make a sale, but in the fine print it will say you have to use it with zoning as it can only heat and cool parts of your house at a time.
This is fine if that’s what you want, but if it’s not, make sure you ask if it can do the whole house at once!
Features & Benefits
Ducted Reverse Cycle systems are designed to meet all your heating and cooling needs. They are perfect for year-round use in Geelong, Ballarat and Melbourne where the weather can be unpredictable. All you need to do is set your preferred temperature and the system will take care of the rest.
However, there are optional upgrades that can enhance their performance. One upgrade we highly recommend is Zoning, which helps reduce your running costs by only heating and cooling the rooms you need.
WIFI control is very popular feature – handy if you are out and about and the weather suddenly changes (or can’t be bothered getting off the couch and going to the wall controller!)
Government rebates, the ability to use renewable energy to lower running costs, and energy efficiency are some of the benefits of electric ducted heating.
Regardless of the temperature outside, Refrigerated Cooling allows you to set the exact temperature you desire, which the system will maintain.
Inverter technology has increased the energy efficiency of electric heating and cooling systems. It means they don’t turn on and off repeatedly like traditional systems because they continuously adjust their output to maintain a steady temperature.
So instead of running at full speed then shutting off when the desired temperature is reached, an inverter system modulates its speed to provide just the right amount of heating or cooling.
This also makes them quieter and extends their lifespan.
We only recommend and install units which are built to handle temperature extremes we experience in Geelong & Melbourne, from hot summers to frosty winters.
Zoning is great for saving on running costs as you are only heating or cooling the rooms you currently need, plus its programmable, so it can automatically turn on and off at different periods.
For example, you might have your living areas as Zone A, which you heat or cool during the day and bedrooms as Zone B which you heat or cool during the night.
Want to know more about the ins and outs of Zoning?
Have a read of our What is Zoning page or ask one of our friendly staff members
You can program your Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner to:
- Turn on or off at certain times
- Run different programs depending on the day of the week
- Set different temperatures throughout your home
Installing additional temperature sensors gives you precise control your your home’s temperature.
It allows your system to know exactly what temperature each room is, so it can adjust the temperature accordingly.
Read more about it in our Temperature Sensor page.
All Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners come with a programmable wall controller, which is also your temperature sensor, as standard.
Optional features include:
- WIFI control & app
- Zone motors
- Touch screen controller
- Additional Temperature Sensors
Ducted Air Conditioning Installation Costs & Rebates
Thanks to advances in technology and government rebates, Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning systems are now more energy efficient and affordable to install than ever before.
See below for information on running costs, government rebates and get an idea of how much it costs to install a new ducted heating and cooling system in your home.
The cost to supply and install a Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning system varies depending on:
- The size (in kw) of the Air Conditioning unit your house requires
- How many ducts and vents you need
- Brand
- Optional features you want
We tailor quotes to suit your home and brand preferences, but to give you an idea on prices.
13kw Ducted Reverse Cycle system, fully installed from $9,600 including:
- 13kw Air Conditioner (could suit a standard 3 bedroom home)
- Quality install – by our own staff (we don’t use subcontractors)
- All parts & labour – including licenced Electrician
- Wall Controller
- 2 Zones
- 8 Outlets
- Ducts – quality insulated R1.5
- Priced from $9,600 with the VEU government rebate (includes removal of gas ducted heater), or $10,940 without.
18kw Ducted Ducted Reverse Cycle system, fully installed from $11,815 including:
- 18kw Air Conditioner (could suit a standard 4 bedroom home with 2 living areas)
- Quality install – by our own staff (we don’t use subcontractors)
- All parts & labour – including licenced Electrician
- AirTouch5 Touchscreen Controller
- WIFI Control
- 2 Zones
- 10 Outlets
- Ducts – quality insulated R1.5
- Priced from $11,815 with the VEU government rebate (includes removal of gas ducted heater)
To get a personalised quote, fill in our quote request form, or give us call on 1300 146 525 during office hours and speak to one of our qualified tradespeople.
Visit our Promotions page for current rebate package deals.
As the old saying goes, if something is too good to be true, it usually is!
As well as being installers, we are Authorised Warranty Repairers and Zone Contractors for multiple manufactures, so we have seen our share of dodgy installs. Unfortunately dodgy installs are not covered under warranty and the repairs to the home owner can be costly.
To help you determine if the quote you have recieved is right for you, we have put together a checklist –
-
What brands are they offering?
- We only recommend brands we would install in our own homes, based on quality, performance history and value for money – see our section of brands we recommend
-
Do they have their own staff or use subcontractors?
-
Have they correctly sized your home?
- To do this, your house floor plans are required or a site inspection
- Be aware some companies undersize systems so their quotes seem cheaper, then the home owner is left with a system which doesn’t efficiently or effectively heat or cool their home.
-
Are their sales staff qualified trades people?
- This is super important, but unfortunately not all companies hire experience trades people as sales staff
-
Before installation, will they come around to do a site inspection?
-
Does your quote include:
- A qualified Electrician to do the electrical work?
- Ductwork? – if you are upgrading from a Gas Ducted Heater, you need to replace your ductwork with ducts which can handle both heating and cooling. Also ensure its good quality, insulated duct or you will loose heating and cooling
- Outlets?
- Zones? – including zone motors. Zoning is a must-have features as it saves on running costs and wear-and-tear on your system – why aircondition your whole house when you only use some rooms at a time?
- Removal of old unit and ductwork?
-
Will they take care of all Government Rebate requirements
- Including decommissioning the old unit, paperwork and lodgment? (this is a must-have as customers cannot apply for VEECs directly themselves)
-
Do they offer options?
- Can you choose from different brands? If no, they might be recommending a brand they benefit from, rather the best deal for you
- Do they offer upgrades such as controllers or temperature sensors to enhance your system?
-
Do they provide after sales service?
- As well as installing systems, we service and repair them. Some companies only install them, and if there are any issues, refer you to the manufacturer, which is frustrating and costly if the fault lies with the installer and not the manufacturer, but the installer is not accepting responsibility.
We hope this guide helps you make an informed decision. If you would like to speak to one on of our qualified tradespeople, give us a call during office hours or email us any time.
Currently, there are Government Rebates for installing Ducted Air Conditioning.
To qualify for the rebate, you need to replace your existing Gas Ducted Heater with a Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner.
Rebate amounts can vary depending on what area you live in. And only brands and models which have been assessed to meet certain criteria and approved by the scheme can be installed.
There are certain criteria which needs to be met during the removal/installation process, such as geo-stamped photos which need to be taken during the de-commissioning of the Gas Ducted Heater, so please don’t get yours removed beforehand, we will do it during the installation of your new system. We will also take care of all paperwork and lodge the rebate claim on your behalf.
Please let us know if you have a Gas Ducted Heater and we will include any rebates in your quote.
The running costs of your Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner will depend on various factors including:
- Your house size
- Your electricity tariff
- The star rating of your air conditioner
- How often you use it and for how long
- If you have zoning
Check out our Heating & Cooling System Selection guide for current estimated hourly running costs
We don’t just install ducted air conditioning systems — we also service and repair them. This hands-on experience gives us valuable insight into which units deliver the best performance, reliability and value over time.
We understand our customers rely on us for professional advice, which is why we only recommend systems we would install in our own homes.
Ducted Air Conditioning brands we install are Fujitsu, ActronAir, Braemar, Daikin, Rinnai and Mitsubishi Electric.
All brands have a 5 year warranty, except Rinnai has a 7 year warranty.
What our customers are saying…
Working with Martin Heating & Cooling
At Martin Heating and Cooling, we specialise in ducted air conditioning systems. We don’t just install them – we also service and repair them, so we understand exactly what’s needed for a professional, quality installation.
Our experienced staff follow all installation regulations and manufacturer guidelines, guaranteeing your system is fully compliant and your warranty stays intact.
From quote to install, our aim is to make your experience as easy as possible.
All of our quotes are fully inclusive, covering all parts, labour and any government rebates you’re eligible for. We can also remove any old, redundant systems you have.
Ducted Air Conditioning in Geelong, Ballarat & Melbourne's West
At Martin Heating & Cooling, we provide expert installation, servicing and repairs of Ducted Air Conditioning systems across Geelong, Ballarat and Melbourne’s West.
Geelong region including Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Lara
Ballarat region including Buninyong, Sebastapol, Wendouree
Melbourne’s West including Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit, Williamstown, Essendon, Braybrook, Keilor, Craigieburn, Caroline Springs, Melton, Sunbury
