Air conditioning installation in Melbourne

The honest answer is that it depends on the system and the house, and any installer quoting a flat price sight-unseen is guessing. The main cost drivers are capacity, the length and difficulty of the pipe run, whether the switchboard needs upgrading, access to the outdoor unit location, and make-good. A straightforward back-to-back split system is the least expensive scenario; a ceiling cassette or several units across two storeys sits at the other end. If an old unit is coming out, removal and refrigerant recovery are included. We assess on site for free and give you a fixed written price.

A single split system is typically four to six hours. Several split systems in the one home are usually one to two days. A ceiling cassette is usually a full day, depending on ceiling access and the drain run. A like-for-like new for old replacement is often quicker than a fresh install. If your job needs a switchboard upgrade or an additional circuit, allow extra time for the electrical work. We put a realistic duration on the quote.

Not separately — we handle it. Air conditioning installation involves both refrigerant work, which requires an Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) licence, and electrical work, which must be carried out by a registered electrical contractor and certified. Our team covers both, so you get one quote, one crew and one point of accountability. You will receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety on completion.

Somewhere with good airflow, out of full afternoon western sun if possible, on a solid mounting, and far enough from bedroom windows and boundaries to keep noise reasonable for you and your neighbours. Victorian residential noise expectations mean placement genuinely matters — a condenser directly under a neighbour's bedroom window is a complaint waiting to happen. We work out the best location during the site assessment and show you exactly where it will sit before you sign.

Often yes, but check two things first. Owners corporation rules commonly restrict where outdoor units can be mounted, what they can look like from the street, and what noise limits apply. Some buildings require an application before any work. Second, balcony and courtyard space is usually tight, so we plan outdoor unit positions carefully and can wall-mount condensers on brackets to save floor space. We are happy to help you prepare the owners corporation application.

Sometimes. Older Melbourne homes with ceramic fuses, no residual current device, or a board that is already full will usually need work before a new dedicated circuit can be added. This is a safety requirement, not an upsell — a new air conditioner must be on a correctly protected circuit. We check the switchboard at the site assessment and include any required work in the fixed quote so it is not a surprise on the day.

Yes. We de-gas the old unit using licensed refrigerant recovery equipment — venting refrigerant to atmosphere is illegal in Australia and environmentally serious — then remove the indoor and outdoor units, make good the wall penetration, and take the old equipment and all new packaging away with us. Removal is itemised on the quote.

Yes, and it is often the smartest time to do it. Winter and the shoulder seasons are our quieter months, which usually means shorter lead times and more flexibility on install dates than you will get in a January heatwave when everyone is calling at once. A reverse cycle system heats as well as it cools, so you get the benefit immediately rather than waiting for summer.