Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning Melbourne — Complete Guide
Whole-home heating and cooling from one efficient electric system. How it works, what it costs to install and run, zoning, sizing, the rebates, and how it compares to gas, split and evaporative.
10 min read FreshDuct Melbourne Melbourne, Victoria
Ducted reverse cycle air conditioning has become the system of choice for Melbourne homes that want one efficient, whole-home solution for both heating and cooling. A single electric heat pump warms the home through winter and cools it through summer, distributing conditioned air to every room through ceiling ducts — with zoning to control where the air goes and keep running costs down. With Victorian rebates now making the switch from gas ducted heating highly attractive, it is one of the most asked-about systems in Melbourne. This guide covers how it works, what it costs to install and run, sizing and zoning, the rebates, and how it stacks up against gas, split and evaporative systems.
COP 3–5Units of heating or cooling delivered per unit of electricity
$9k–$18kTypical installed cost in Melbourne, by home size and zones
Whole-HomeHeats and cools every room from one zoned ducted system
What Is Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning?
Ducted reverse cycle is a refrigerated heating and cooling system that serves the whole home from one unit, through ductwork in the roof. It uses an electric heat pump — the same technology as a split system, but scaled to condition the entire house. An outdoor unit sits outside, connected by refrigerant pipes to a hidden indoor fan coil (typically in the roof space), which pushes heated or cooled air through supply ducts to outlets in each room. A return air grille draws air back to be reconditioned, and a zone controller directs the air to the rooms in use.
The “reverse cycle” part means it works in both directions: in summer it extracts heat from inside the home and rejects it outside (cooling), and in winter it reverses to extract heat from the outdoor air and deliver it inside (heating). Because a heat pump moves heat rather than generating it by burning fuel or using a resistive element, it is remarkably efficient — the foundation of why it is so popular as Melbourne electrifies.
Figure: A whole-home ducted reverse-cycle system — one outdoor heat pump feeds a hidden roof unit and ducts to every zone.
Why Melbourne Homes Are Choosing It
Several things have pushed ducted reverse cycle to the front of the queue for Melbourne homeowners. It delivers genuine whole-home comfort — even temperatures across every room, summer and winter, from one system. It is efficient, with a coefficient of performance (COP) typically between 3 and 5, meaning it delivers three to five units of heating or cooling for every unit of electricity. And with Victoria’s push to electrify homes, generous rebates are available for replacing gas ducted heating with ducted reverse cycle — reducing the upfront cost substantially while removing the gas supply charge from the bills entirely.
For homes that already have ducted gas heating, the appeal is even stronger: the existing ductwork can often be reused, lowering the cost of switching. The result is a single, modern, all-electric system that heats, cools, and runs efficiently — which is exactly what a growing number of Melbourne households are after. The topics below cover every part of the decision and the system in depth.
Considering the Switch from Gas?Victorian Energy Upgrades rebates for replacing gas ducted heating with ducted reverse cycle can reduce the net cost by thousands. See our gas-to-reverse-cycle rebate guide.
Browse All Ducted Reverse Cycle Topics
Our Melbourne guide covers how the system works, what it costs, zoning, sizing, comparisons, service and upgrades. Choose a topic below.
How does ducted reverse cycle air conditioning work?
Ducted reverse cycle uses an electric heat pump to both heat and cool a whole home through one set of ceiling ducts. An outdoor unit and a hidden indoor fan coil (usually in the roof) move heat using a refrigeration cycle — in summer they pull heat out of your home, and in winter they reverse and pull heat from the outside air into your home. The conditioned air is distributed through supply ducts to outlets in each room, with zoning controlling which rooms are served. Because it moves heat rather than burning fuel, it is highly efficient, typically delivering 3 to 5 units of heat or cooling per unit of electricity (COP). See our how it works guide.
How much does ducted reverse cycle cost to install in Melbourne?
Installing a ducted reverse cycle system in a Melbourne home typically costs $9,000 to $18,000, depending on the home size, the number of zones, the system capacity (kW) and whether existing ductwork can be reused. A small home sits at the lower end and a large multi-zone home at the higher end. If you are replacing a gas ducted heater and the existing ducts are in good condition, the cost can be lower because the ductwork is reused. Victorian rebates for replacing gas ducted heating can reduce the net cost significantly. See our installation cost guide and rebate guide.
Is ducted reverse cycle cheaper to run than gas ducted heating?
For a well-zoned, modern ducted reverse cycle system, running costs are comparable to or lower than gas ducted heating in Melbourne, and the gap widens as the system is more efficient and better zoned. Because a heat pump delivers 3 to 5 units of heat per unit of electricity, and zoning means you only condition the rooms in use, a reverse cycle system can be very economical. Gas ducted heating also carries a daily gas supply charge that electrification removes. The exact comparison depends on your tariff, usage and how well the system is zoned. See our reverse cycle vs gas ducted guide.
Can I add ducted reverse cycle cooling to my existing ducted heating?
Often, yes — if your existing ducted gas heating has ductwork in good condition, it can be reused to add refrigerated cooling, either through an add-on cooling module or by replacing the whole system with ducted reverse cycle that both heats and cools. Reusing the existing ducts keeps the cost down compared with a brand-new installation. A technician assesses the ductwork condition, the capacity required and the best approach. See our adding cooling to existing ducts guide.
What size ducted air conditioner do I need?
Ducted reverse cycle systems are sized in kilowatts (kW) of heating and cooling capacity, matched to your home’s floor area, ceiling height, window area and orientation, insulation, and how the home is zoned. A medium Melbourne home commonly needs a system in the range of 10 to 16kW, but the right figure depends on the specific home and how many zones run at once. Correct sizing matters — an undersized system struggles on extreme days, while an oversized one cycles inefficiently. See our sizing guide.
Ducted Reverse Cycle Melbourne — Supply, Install & Service
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