Ducted reverse cycle air conditioning in Epping
Ducted reverse cycle air conditioning for Epping homes: zoning, roof space checks, replacing gas ducted heating, licences and published Melbourne prices.
With ducted reverse cycle, one outdoor unit and a fan coil tucked in the roof space push heated or cooled air through ducts to ceiling vents in every room of the house. A published Melbourne cost table lists a basic ducted system at $8,400 to $14,700 supplied and installed, and a premium or zoned system at $12,600 to $23,100. The spread is wide because house size, storeys, roof access, zoning and whether old ductwork can be reused all change the labour.
How does ducted reverse cycle differ from gas ducted heating?
Gas ducted heating burns gas in a furnace and pushes warm air through the ducts. It cannot cool. A ducted reverse cycle system uses a refrigerant circuit and a compressor to move heat in either direction, so it heats in July and cools in January through the same vents. Many households that already have gas ducted heating are now weighing up a swap, partly because the Victorian Energy Upgrades heating and cooling page lists its largest household discounts for removing a ducted gas heater and fitting an efficient ducted reverse cycle unit. The full discount process is covered on our reverse cycle upgrades page.
Ducted, multi-split or several splits
| Option | What it is | Published Melbourne range | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ducted, basic | One indoor unit in the roof, vents to each room | $8,400 to $14,700 | Single storey homes with good roof access |
| Ducted, zoned or premium | Motorised zones and better controls | $12,600 to $23,100 | Larger homes, two storeys, families who heat bedrooms at night only |
| Multi-split, 4 heads | One outdoor unit, four wall heads | $7,350 to $12,600 | Homes with no usable roof space, or townhouses |
| Multi-split, 2 heads | One outdoor unit, two wall heads | $4,200 to $7,900 | Two rooms that need conditioning, such as lounge and main bedroom |
Ranges are from the What’s The Damage Melbourne air conditioning table, GST included, last verified October 2026. For single rooms, see split system installation.
Why zoning matters in a Melbourne house
Zoning lets the system send air only to the rooms in use. Living areas during the day and bedrooms at night is the usual split. Without zones, the unit has to be sized and run for the whole floor area every time it starts. Ask any quote to show how many zones there are and which rooms sit in each one.
What a provider needs to see before quoting
A ducted quote from photos alone is a guess. Expect a site visit that covers:
- Roof space. Is there enough height and a safe path for the fan coil, which is heavy and bulky? Are there trusses, solar inverter cabling or old insulation in the way?
- Ceiling vents and return air. Where the return air grille goes affects noise and airflow. Hallways are common, but not always best.
- Existing ducts. Old heating or evaporative ducts are sometimes reusable. The cost guide above notes that evaporative ducts are often larger than refrigerated ducts, so reuse is not always possible.
- Outdoor unit location. Ducted outdoor units are larger than split system condensers. Side setbacks on narrow lots can be tight, and the unit needs space for airflow and service access.
- Switchboard capacity. A large ducted unit may need a dedicated circuit, and an older switchboard may need work before it can take one.
- Insulation. The state government’s sizing guide points out that insulation, draughts and window glazing all change how much heating and cooling a home needs.
Who is allowed to install it
Under the Plumbing Regulations 2018, the BPC’s definition of refrigerated air-conditioning work covers the compressor, condensing unit, fan coil unit, refrigerant pipework, controls, any ductwork needed for the system, and any roof sheeting or flashing that the work requires. That is the class a ducted installer should hold, together with an ARCtick refrigerant handling licence. Registered practitioners in that class work to AS/NZS 5149 for refrigerating systems and heat pumps, along with manufacturer instructions.
Wiring in the outdoor unit and fan coil is a separate job. A licensed electrician does it and then completes a Certificate of Electrical Safety, as the Electricity Safety Act 1998 requires. If the job involves removing a gas ducted heater, disconnecting and capping the gas supply is gasfitting work, which the BPC also licenses.
On a job of this size you should expect a plumbing compliance certificate, an electrical certificate and, if a gas appliance comes out, paperwork for the gasfitting work. Ask who will issue each one before you sign.
What the installation involves
- Removal of any old furnace or evaporative unit, with the roof penetration patched or flashed.
- Setting the indoor fan coil on supports in the roof space, with a safe tray or drain arrangement for condensate.
- Running refrigerant pipework and control cable to the outdoor unit, then pressure testing with nitrogen and evacuating the lines.
- Installing flexible ductwork, ceiling outlets and the return air grille.
- Electrical connection and certificate.
- Commissioning: charging, checking airflow at each outlet and setting up the zone controller.
Ask the installer how many days the job will take and whether the power or water will be off at any point. Two storey homes and tight roof spaces add time.
What a careful provider will refuse
- Reusing old ductwork that is crushed, split or sized for a different system just to save a line on the quote.
- Leaving a gas heater “disconnected” in place without proper capping and paperwork.
- Sizing the unit from the floor area alone without asking about insulation, ceiling height and orientation.
- Mounting the outdoor unit hard against a neighbour’s bedroom wall. The EPA residential noise rules set times when a cooling air conditioner must not be heard inside a neighbour’s habitable room.
Ducted systems around Epping and the north
Owners of new homes in Wollert often weigh up ducted against a few splits soon after handover, and the answer usually turns on roof access and how many rooms the family actually uses. In established Mill Park, where much of the housing went up from the 1970s and 1980s, the question is more often what to do with an older heating system that is near the end of its life. Our cost guide for Epping breaks down which items move a ducted quote up or down.
What to do next
Note your floor area, the number of storeys, what heating or cooling the house has now, and which rooms you want zoned together. Then request a ducted system quote. An independent installer reviews the enquiry, arranges a site visit if they take it on, and sets the price and contract terms with you directly.
Frequently asked questions
- Can ducted reverse cycle use my existing gas heating ducts?
Sometimes. It depends on duct size, condition and layout. Ducts that are crushed, split or the wrong size should be replaced. Evaporative cooler ducts are often too large to reuse for a refrigerated system.
- How many zones should a ducted system have?
Most homes use at least two: living areas and bedrooms. Larger or two storey homes often add a separate upstairs zone. The right number depends on how the household uses the house during the day and at night.
- Is ducted more expensive to run than split systems?
Not necessarily. A zoned ducted system running only the zones in use can be efficient, while an unzoned system conditioning the whole house every time will use more. Compare the energy rating labels and how you plan to use the system.
- What happens to my old gas ducted heater?
It is removed or decommissioned, and a gasfitter disconnects and caps the gas supply. If you want a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount for replacing it, an accredited provider must be involved before work starts.
- Do I need roof space for ducted air conditioning?
Yes. The indoor fan coil and most of the ductwork sit in the roof space, so there must be enough height and safe access. Homes without usable roof space often suit a multi-split system instead.