1. Choosing the Right System
Split Systems, Ducted, and Multi-Head Options
The single most consequential decision in any air conditioning project is the selection of the system itself — and it's a decision that deserves considerably more attention than the product specifications and brand comparisons that dominate most consumer research. The right air conditioning system for any given property is not necessarily the most powerful, the most feature-rich, or the least expensive option available. It's the system that most precisely matches the thermal load requirements of the space, the usage patterns of the occupants, the physical constraints of the installation environment, and the long-term operating cost objectives of the owner.
Split system air conditioners remain the most popular choice for residential applications across both Melbourne and Perth, and for good reason. Their combination of installation flexibility, cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, and wide availability in configurations from small single-room units to powerful models capable of conditioning large open-plan living areas makes them the most versatile option for the majority of residential applications. A single split system installed in the main living area of a home provides the most frequently used space with reliable, efficient climate control, and additional units can be added to bedrooms and secondary living areas as needs and budgets allow.
Ducted air conditioning systems offer whole-home or whole-building climate control from a single central unit, distributing conditioned air through a network of ducts and ceiling outlets that deliver consistent temperature across every room simultaneously. For larger homes, properties with multiple living zones, and buildings where aesthetic consistency and minimal visual intrusion of equipment are priorities, ducted systems offer advantages that individual split systems cannot match. The investment in a ducted system is substantially higher than individual units, but for the right property and usage profile, the comfort outcome and operational simplicity justify the premium significantly.
Multi-head split systems — where multiple indoor units connect to a single outdoor unit — provide a middle path between individual split systems and full ducted installation for homes and businesses with multi-room conditioning requirements but without the space, structure, or budget for ducted infrastructure. This configuration reduces the number of outdoor units required, simplifies the electrical installation, and allows different rooms to be maintained at different temperatures independently — a meaningful practical benefit in households or offices with diverse occupant preferences.
Reverse Cycle and Capacity Selection
Reverse cycle systems, which provide both heating and cooling from the same equipment, are overwhelmingly the most energy-efficient and practically sensible choice for both Melbourne and Perth climates. The heating efficiency of a reverse cycle system — which moves heat rather than generating it, achieving efficiencies of three to five times the energy input — makes it dramatically more cost-effective than resistive electric heating across Melbourne's cooler months and Perth's winter period. Given that both cities require meaningful heating as well as cooling across the calendar year, the operational cost advantage of reverse cycle technology is substantial and accumulates significantly over the life of the system.
Selecting the correct capacity — measured in kilowatts — is a technical calculation that depends on the floor area of the space, ceiling height, insulation quality, window area and orientation, shading, climate zone, occupancy patterns, and heat-generating appliances and equipment within the space. Undersized systems run continuously without achieving the desired temperature, consume disproportionate energy, and wear out prematurely. Oversized systems cool or heat too rapidly, cycle on and off frequently, fail to adequately dehumidify the air, and also consume more energy than a correctly sized unit. Proper load calculation — not rule-of-thumb square metre estimates — is the only reliable basis for capacity selection, and it's a service our team provides as a standard part of every installation project.
2. Home Aircon Installation
Assessment and Unit Placement
Residential air conditioning installation encompasses a far wider range of technical complexity than it might initially appear. The difference between installing a single split system in a straightforward brick veneer home and commissioning a zoned ducted system in a two-storey timber-framed home with complex roof geometry and existing electrical infrastructure is enormous — and both scenarios are common across Melbourne and Perth residential suburbs. Our installation team has the experience and technical depth to handle the full range of residential complexity without the quality compromises or unexpected complications that less experienced installers encounter.
The pre-installation assessment is the foundation of a successful residential installation. Before a single bracket is mounted or a cable is run, our technicians assess the property to determine the optimal positioning for both indoor and outdoor units, the most appropriate refrigerant line routing, the electrical supply requirements and any necessary upgrades, and any structural or architectural considerations that might affect the installation approach. This assessment is where the difference between a neat, efficient, professionally finished installation and a functional but aesthetically compromised one is determined, and we give it the time and attention it deserves.
Indoor unit placement is a decision with significant implications for both performance and aesthetics. The position of a split system indoor unit determines how effectively conditioned air is distributed across the room, how visible and intrusive the unit appears in the living space, and how easily it can be serviced and maintained over the life of the installation. Our installers bring a genuine eye for the practical and aesthetic dimensions of unit placement, working with homeowners to find positions that maximise both performance and visual compatibility with the room's architecture and furnishings.
Outdoor unit placement requires equally careful consideration across Melbourne and Perth residential environments. The outdoor unit must be positioned to allow adequate airflow for efficient heat exchange, accessible for periodic maintenance and servicing, protected from direct afternoon sun where possible to maintain efficiency in peak summer conditions, and located in a position that minimises noise impact on both the property's occupants and neighbouring properties. In Melbourne's inner suburbs and Perth's established residential areas, where properties can be closely spaced and council regulations govern certain aspects of outdoor equipment placement, navigating these requirements requires local knowledge and experience.
Electrical Work and Ducted Installations
Electrical work associated with air conditioning installation is a licensed electrical task that must be performed by a registered electrician — and in most cases, our installation teams include licensed electricians or work in direct coordination with electrical contractors. The electrical scope of an air conditioning installation typically includes a dedicated circuit from the switchboard to the outdoor unit, appropriate circuit protection, and compliance with Australian wiring standards and the specific requirements of the state electrical safety regulator. In older Melbourne and Perth homes where the existing electrical infrastructure may be inadequate for modern air conditioning loads, the electrical assessment and any necessary upgrades are addressed as part of the installation project.
Ducted system installation in residential properties is a substantially more involved project than split system work, typically requiring coordination across multiple trades — air conditioning technicians, electricians, and in some cases builders and plasterers — and a more detailed pre-installation planning process to map duct routing, register positions, and zoning configurations. Our project management capability ensures that residential ducted installations are coordinated smoothly across all required trades, completed within agreed timelines, and finished to a standard where the ductwork, electrical work, and decorative finishes are all completed to the quality homeowners expect.
3. Commercial Aircon Projects
Design, Offices, and Retail Environments
Commercial air conditioning installation operates at a scale, complexity, and regulatory stringency that places it in a different category from residential work entirely. Office buildings, retail developments, hospitality venues, healthcare facilities, schools, and industrial premises all have air conditioning requirements that reflect the specific nature of their operations, occupancy patterns, regulatory obligations, and design standards — and meeting those requirements demands a level of commercial installation experience and technical capability that not all contractors can genuinely provide.
The design process for commercial air conditioning projects begins with a thorough analysis of the building's heating and cooling loads, which in a commercial context encompasses not just the thermal characteristics of the building envelope but the heat generated by occupants, lighting, equipment, server rooms and other heat-intensive functions, and the ventilation requirements mandated by the National Construction Code and relevant Australian standards. This load analysis informs the system selection, equipment capacity specification, duct design, and zoning configuration that collectively determine whether the installed system can actually deliver the comfort and air quality outcomes the building requires.
Office environments present particular air conditioning challenges related to the diversity of thermal loads across different areas of a building, the varying occupancy patterns of different spaces, and the need to maintain comfortable working conditions while meeting increasingly stringent energy performance requirements. Open-plan office floors, enclosed meeting rooms, server rooms, reception areas, and executive offices all have different conditioning requirements that a well-designed commercial system addresses through zoning, variable air volume control, and supplementary cooling for high heat-load areas. Our commercial installation team has delivered office air conditioning projects across Melbourne and Perth's CBD and suburban business districts, and we bring the design experience these projects require.
Retail and hospitality installations add the dimension of customer experience to the technical requirements of commercial air conditioning. A retail environment that is too warm in summer or draughty in winter directly affects how long customers stay and how much they spend. A restaurant or café where the air conditioning is noisy, creates uncomfortable draughts over dining areas, or fails to manage the heat load from a busy kitchen service affects the dining experience in ways that go directly to the operator's bottom line. Our approach to retail and hospitality installations balances the technical requirements of commercial system performance with the experiential requirements of customer-facing environments.
Healthcare, Education, and Project Management
Healthcare and education facilities carry specific regulatory and performance requirements for air conditioning and ventilation that reflect the particular needs of their occupants and the nature of activities conducted within them. Healthcare settings require air changes, filtration, and pressure relationships that prevent the spread of airborne infection. Educational environments need to maintain thermal comfort and air quality that supports concentration and learning without the noise or draught issues that distract students and teachers. We have the specific experience to design and install systems that meet the performance requirements of these regulated environments across both Melbourne and Perth.
Project management for commercial air conditioning installations involves coordinating multiple trades, managing equipment procurement and delivery logistics, scheduling work to minimise disruption to building occupants and operations, and maintaining clear communication with building owners, facility managers, head contractors, and other stakeholders throughout the project. Our commercial project management capability has been developed across a substantial portfolio of projects in both cities, and it's a competency we regard as equally important as our technical installation expertise in delivering commercial air conditioning projects that meet their brief on time and within budget.
4. Energy Efficiency Considerations
Star Ratings, Inverter Technology, and Zoning
Energy efficiency in air conditioning has moved from a secondary consideration — something customers asked about after price and capacity — to a primary one, driven by electricity cost increases, energy performance requirements in commercial buildings, environmental consciousness among residential buyers, and the simple economic reality that a system running in Melbourne or Perth for six to eight months of the year accumulates substantial energy costs that dwarf the initial purchase price over the system's life. Choosing and installing an efficient system is one of the most impactful financial decisions a property owner can make.
The Energy Star rating system provides the most accessible comparative framework for assessing the energy efficiency of residential air conditioning systems in Australia. Each additional star on the rating label represents an efficiency improvement of approximately ten percent, which translates directly into ongoing electricity cost savings across every operating hour of the system's life. For a system that will run for several hours each day across a Melbourne summer and winter or a Perth cooling season of six months or more, the energy cost difference between a three-star and a five-star rated system is significant enough to recover the price premium of the more efficient unit within a few years of operation.
Inverter technology is the most important technical development in air conditioning energy efficiency, and it's now standard across virtually all new split system and ducted equipment at quality price points. Unlike fixed-speed compressors that run at full power or not at all, inverter compressors continuously vary their operating speed to match the actual heating or cooling demand of the space. This continuous modulation eliminates the energy-intensive start-stop cycling of fixed-speed systems, maintains more consistent temperature with less overshoot, and achieves the seasonal efficiency ratings that make modern air conditioning far more economical to operate than older equipment. Replacing a pre-inverter era system with a modern inverter unit typically produces immediate and substantial energy bill reductions.
Zoning — dividing a ducted system's conditioned areas into independently controllable zones — is a powerful tool for reducing the energy consumption of ducted air conditioning in both residential and commercial applications. A whole-house ducted system conditioning unoccupied bedrooms during the day, or a commercial system cooling empty meeting rooms overnight, wastes significant energy that a properly implemented zoning strategy eliminates. Modern zoning controllers, including smartphone-app-integrated systems, allow precise control over which zones are conditioned at any time, enabling energy consumption to be matched closely to actual occupancy patterns rather than treated as an all-or-nothing proposition.
Building Envelope and Smart Controls
Building envelope quality has a profound effect on the energy consumption of any air conditioning system, and addressing it as part of an installation project — or recommending improvements where the opportunity exists — is part of genuinely professional installation advice. Inadequate ceiling insulation, leaking ductwork, poorly sealed window and door gaps, and unshaded west-facing windows all increase the heating and cooling loads a system must meet, driving up both the required capacity and the running costs. Our assessment process identifies building envelope issues that are within the customer's control to address, enabling them to make informed decisions about complementary measures that will improve system efficiency and occupant comfort.
Smart controls and building management system integration represent the leading edge of energy efficiency management for both residential and commercial air conditioning installations. Modern air conditioning systems with smartphone control, presence detection, weather-responsive programming, and integration with broader building automation platforms can reduce energy consumption significantly compared to manual or basic timer-controlled operation, by conditioning spaces only when and to the extent that occupancy and conditions actually require. We specify and install smart control solutions across the residential and commercial work we undertake in Melbourne and Perth, and we can advise on the integration of new systems with existing building management infrastructure.
5. Compliance & Safety Standards
Refrigerant and Electrical Licensing
Air conditioning installation in Australia is subject to a comprehensive regulatory framework that exists for compelling reasons — the refrigerants used in air conditioning systems are environmentally damaging if released, the electrical work involved creates genuine safety risks if performed incorrectly, and the structural and weatherproofing implications of installation penetrations through building envelopes can have serious long-term consequences if not handled to the required standard. Compliance with this regulatory framework is not optional, and working with unlicensed or non-compliant installers exposes property owners to financial, legal, and safety risks that responsible installation avoids entirely.
Refrigerant handling licensing is a fundamental compliance requirement for any person or business installing, servicing, or decommissioning air conditioning systems in Australia. The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) issues refrigerant handling licences to individuals who have demonstrated the competency to work safely with refrigerants under the requirements of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act. All refrigerant handling work associated with our installations is performed by ARC-licensed technicians, and we can provide licence documentation on request for any project where compliance evidence is required by a building owner, body corporate, or regulatory authority.
Electrical licensing requirements for air conditioning installation work vary between Victoria and Western Australia, but in both states, the connection of air conditioning equipment to the electrical supply — including the installation of dedicated circuits, switchboard connections, and circuit protection — must be performed by a licensed electrician registered with the relevant state electrical safety regulator. In Victoria, licensing is administered by Energy Safe Victoria. In Western Australia, it falls under the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Our installation teams operate with the appropriate electrical licences in both states, and all electrical work is covered by the compliance certificates required by each state's regulatory framework.
Permits, Australian Standards, and Warranty
Building permits and council approvals may be required for certain air conditioning installations, particularly for larger systems, installations involving significant structural penetrations, installations in heritage-listed properties, and commercial projects where planning and building approval processes apply. Our team is familiar with the permit requirements across Melbourne's diverse local government areas and Perth's metropolitan and regional councils, and we advise customers on their specific obligations and manage the permit application process where required as part of our project scope.
The National Construction Code and relevant Australian standards — including AS/NZS 3000 for electrical wiring, AS/NZS 1668 for mechanical ventilation and air conditioning, and the refrigerant safety standards applicable to the specific refrigerant types used — establish the technical standards to which all installation work must conform. Our installation procedures are developed and continuously updated to reflect the current requirements of these standards, ensuring that every installation we complete meets the applicable technical benchmarks rather than merely the minimum thresholds that a compliance checkbox approach might achieve.
Warranty preservation is a practical compliance consideration that property owners sometimes overlook. Most air conditioning equipment warranties require installation by licensed professionals as a condition of coverage — meaning that a system installed by an unlicensed installer may have no effective warranty coverage regardless of the terms stated on the manufacturer's documentation. Our status as licensed installers of the brands we supply and install means that equipment warranties are valid and enforceable, and that customers have the protection of both our workmanship guarantee and the manufacturer's product warranty on every installation we complete.
6. Installation Timeline
Consultation, Procurement, and Single Split System Installs
Understanding the timeline for an air conditioning installation helps property owners and business operators plan effectively, manage expectations, and ensure that the installation process fits within their broader project schedule or operational constraints. While every installation is different in its complexity and duration, the typical progression from initial enquiry to completed installation follows a consistent pattern that we are transparent about from the first contact.
The initial consultation and assessment stage typically takes between one and three business days from first contact, depending on our current scheduling and the complexity of the project. For straightforward residential split system installations, an assessment can often be completed quickly and a quote provided the same day. For larger residential ducted projects, commercial installations, or projects with specific technical complexity, the assessment may involve a site visit of one to two hours and a proposal preparation period of several business days as we work through the load calculations, system design, and pricing.
Equipment procurement lead times vary by product, manufacturer, and the current supply environment. Standard residential split system units from major brands are typically available from local distributor stock with lead times of one to five business days. High-capacity systems, commercial equipment, and specialist products may carry longer lead times depending on availability, and in peak season — the approach of Melbourne's summer and Perth's extended warm season — demand for popular residential equipment can extend procurement timelines beyond normal levels. We advise customers on current lead times during the quoting process and work to manage procurement proactively to minimise delays to the overall project schedule.
A typical single split system residential installation — one indoor unit, one outdoor unit, standard installation conditions — can usually be completed in four to six hours by a two-person team. The work includes mounting the indoor unit bracket, positioning and securing the outdoor unit, drilling penetrations through the building envelope for refrigerant lines and electrical cables, running and connecting refrigerant lines and electrical wiring, pressure testing and evacuating the refrigerant circuit, commissioning the system, and briefing the homeowner on operation and maintenance. A neat, professional finish including line concealment and weatherproofing of all external penetrations is included in this timeframe.
Multi-Head, Ducted, and Commercial Timelines
Multi-head split systems and larger single-head systems with more complex line routing require correspondingly longer installation periods — typically six to ten hours for a two or three indoor unit multi-head installation in standard conditions, with additional time for installations involving longer line runs, difficult routing through ceiling spaces, or complex electrical requirements.
Residential ducted system installations are multi-day projects whose duration depends on the size of the home, the complexity of the duct design, the accessibility of roof and ceiling spaces, and the scope of associated electrical and plastering work. A mid-sized residential ducted installation in a single-storey home might be completed in two to three days by a full installation team. A larger two-storey home with zoning and complex duct routing could require four to five days or more. We provide detailed project timelines as part of our ducted installation proposals, with clear milestones for each stage of the work.
Commercial installation timelines vary enormously depending on project scale, building complexity, and the coordination requirements with other trades and building stakeholders. We provide project-specific timelines for all commercial work as part of our tender or proposal documentation, and we manage actively against those timelines throughout project execution.
7. Why Local Experience Matters
Climate Knowledge and Local Building Stock
The climatic differences between Melbourne and Perth are not just interesting geography — they have real and significant implications for how air conditioning systems should be selected, sized, positioned, and configured to perform optimally in each city. Melbourne's climate is characterised by volatility — rapid temperature changes, cool and sometimes cold winters, increasingly intense summer heat events, and persistent wind that affects both outdoor unit performance and building envelope thermal dynamics. Perth's climate is characterised by intensity and duration — sustained summer heat that runs from October through March, strong afternoon sea breezes that create specific ventilation and cooling opportunities, and a Mediterranean pattern of mild winters that still require heating for genuine comfort.
These climatic differences inform every aspect of how we approach installations in each city. The capacity buffer we recommend for peak summer performance in Perth is different from what Melbourne's conditions require. The importance of outdoor unit shading is greater in Perth's relentless summer sun than in Melbourne's more variable exposure. The performance characteristics of different refrigerants at low ambient temperatures matter more in Melbourne's winter than in Perth's milder conditions. These nuances are only understood through genuine local experience — not from reading a specification sheet or following a generic installation manual.
Knowledge of local building stock is another dimension of local expertise that translates directly into better installation outcomes. Melbourne's residential building stock includes a high proportion of older Victorian and Edwardian homes with specific structural characteristics, ceiling space constraints, and heritage considerations that affect installation approaches. Perth's housing includes a substantial proportion of brick construction with tiled roofs and specific ceiling space configurations that experienced local installers navigate instinctively. Understanding the typical construction characteristics of the homes and buildings you work in every day makes a measurable difference to the quality and efficiency of every installation.
Regulatory Knowledge, Supplier Relationships, and Long-Term Accountability
Familiarity with local council regulations, permit requirements, and the specific expectations of the distribution network operators and electrical safety regulators in Victoria and Western Australia is practical knowledge that protects customers from compliance surprises and project delays. The regulatory environment for air conditioning installation has specific requirements in each state that differ in meaningful ways, and navigating those requirements without local regulatory knowledge creates risk that local experience eliminates.
Supplier and trade relationships built through years of working in each city's market give local installers advantages in procurement, technical support, and project coordination that new entrants or interstate operators cannot quickly replicate. Our relationships with equipment distributors in Melbourne and Perth give us access to stock, technical support, and commercial arrangements that translate into better availability, faster procurement, and more competitive pricing for our customers. Our networks of complementary trade contractors in each city — electricians, refrigeration mechanics, builders, plasterers — mean that the multi-trade coordination requirements of larger projects are managed through established, trusted working relationships rather than assembled from scratch for each project.
Long-term accountability is perhaps the most important practical benefit of working with a locally established, experienced installation business. Air conditioning systems require servicing and maintenance across their operational lives, and the questions, issues, and service requirements that arise over years of ownership are best handled by the team that installed the system, knows its configuration, and has a continuing stake in the customer relationship. A business with deep local roots and a reputation built over years in the Melbourne and Perth markets has every incentive to stand behind its work for the long term — because in local markets, reputation is everything and every completed installation is a reference for the next.