Summers in Melbourne’s north can push well past 40 degrees, and winter nights in Mernda, Sunbury and the Kinglake ranges get properly cold. A good heating and cooling system makes a big difference to how comfortable your home is and what you pay in power bills. Here’s how to choose an air conditioning installer in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, and what to check before you book.
Check they hold the right licences
Anyone who installs, services or removes a split system or other refrigerant-based air conditioner in Australia needs a refrigerant handling licence from the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), and the business needs a refrigerant trading authorisation. Look for the ARCtick logo, or search the ARC’s public register by name or licence number.
Connecting a new system to your switchboard is electrical work, so it has to be done by a licensed electrician or a technician with the right restricted licence. You should get a Certificate of Electrical Safety at the end of the job. If you’re installing or replacing gas ducted heating, a gas wall furnace or a gas space heater, that’s gasfitting work for a licensed gasfitter registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), and gasfitting worth $750 or more needs a compliance certificate.
Get the size right
A system that’s too small runs flat out and still struggles on a hot day, while one that’s too big costs more to buy and can cycle on and off. A good installer will visit your home and work out the capacity you need from the room size, ceiling height, insulation, windows and which way the room faces, rather than guessing from a floor plan. West-facing living areas and rooms with lots of glass usually need more capacity than you’d expect.
Ask about the options too. Reverse cycle split systems heat and cool and are often the most efficient way to heat a room. Ducted systems suit whole-home comfort, and zoning lets you heat or cool only the rooms you’re using. Evaporative cooling is cheaper to run but works best in dry heat and needs open windows.
Compare quotes properly
Get two or three written quotes and make sure each one covers the same things:
- The brand, model and capacity in kilowatts for heating and cooling
- The energy rating of the unit
- Where the indoor and outdoor units will go, and the length of the pipe run
- Electrical work, including whether you need a new circuit or a switchboard upgrade
- Removal and disposal of your old unit, including safe recovery of refrigerant
- The manufacturer’s warranty and the installer’s own warranty on workmanship
A much cheaper quote often leaves something out, like the electrical connection or a longer pipe run, which gets added later.
Look into rebates and discounts
The Victorian Energy Upgrades program offers discounts on high-efficiency reverse cycle air conditioners, particularly when you’re replacing an older gas or electric heater. The discount is applied by an accredited provider, so ask installers whether they take part and what discount you’d get. Check the Victorian Energy Upgrades website for the current offers before you sign.
Keep it serviced
Clean the filters on split systems every few months and have the system serviced as the manufacturer recommends. For gas heaters, Energy Safe Victoria recommends a service by a licensed gasfitter at least every two years, because a faulty heater can leak carbon monoxide. It’s worth booking heating services in autumn, before the winter rush, and cooling services in spring. Our seasonal home maintenance checklist has more on what to do and when.
Questions worth asking
- Do you hold an ARC licence, and who does the electrical connection?
- How did you work out the size of the system you’re recommending?
- What’s included in the quote, and what could cost extra?
- Can I get a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount on this system?
- What warranty do you give on your installation work?
- Do you service the systems you install?
Find air conditioning and heating businesses near you
Local Business Near Me lists air conditioning and heating businesses across Melbourne’s northern suburbs. Pick your suburb, compare local businesses and call them directly. It’s free to use and there’s no middleman taking a cut.
Need another trade? You can also browse electricians, plumbers and gasfitters and solar and batteries.
