Air Conditioning Installation Melbourne
Split system and ducted reverse cycle, sized to run on the solar already on your roof.
Heating and cooling is the largest electricity load in most Victorian homes, and it peaks exactly when the sun is strongest. That overlap is why air conditioning and solar belong in the same conversation. Smart Solar Energy installs split system and ducted reverse cycle air conditioning across Melbourne and regional Victoria, sized against your home rather than a catalogue.
Split system or ducted?
The choice usually comes down to how many rooms need conditioning and whether you have roof space. Neither is automatically better, though putting the wrong one in an unsuitable home is an expensive mistake to undo.
- Lower upfront cost
- Heats and cools one area at a time
- Easy to add rooms later
- Installed in a day
- Suits homes without roof space
- Independent control per room
- Only one outdoor unit needed
- Good for units and townhouses
- Conditions the entire house
- Zones let you heat only what you use
- Discreet, only vents visible
- Needs roof or underfloor space
Cooling load peaks through the middle of the day, which is exactly when your panels generate most. Running the system during daylight uses power you'd otherwise export at a low feed-in rate, so the cooling costs a fraction of what it would at night.
See our solar systemsWhat size air conditioner do you need?
Capacity is measured in kilowatts and matched to room size, ceiling height, insulation and which way the windows face. Undersizing means the unit runs flat out and never quite gets there, while oversizing cycles on and off, wastes power and leaves the air clammy.
These are starting points. West-facing glass, high ceilings and poor insulation all push the required capacity up, which is why sizing happens on site rather than over the phone.
Brands we install
We install units with established Australian service networks, since a warranty claim on air conditioning tends to land in the middle of a heatwave when response time matters.
Strong performance across both split and ducted, with the widest service coverage in Australia.
Quiet operation and reliable efficiency ratings, particularly well regarded in bedrooms.
Competitive value across the range with solid warranty support and good cold-weather heating.
Other units are available depending on stock, budget and what suits your home.
Ask about a specific brandWhat affects installation cost
A 2.5 kW split in a bedroom costs a fraction of a zoned ducted system across a four bedroom home.
The further the indoor unit sits from the outdoor unit, the more refrigerant line and labour the job takes.
Larger systems often need a dedicated circuit, and older boards sometimes need upgrading first.
Brick veneer, double brick and weatherboard each take different work, and two-storey adds access requirements.
Tight roof cavities make ducted installs harder, and some homes need a bulkhead or an alternative layout.
More zones mean more dampers and a more capable controller, which adds to the ducted figure.
- Supply and installation of the unit
- Refrigeration pipework, drainage and electrical connection
- Wall or roof penetrations sealed and weatherproofed
- Removal and disposal of an old unit where required
- Commissioning, testing and controller setup
- Certificate of Electrical Safety on completion
Running air conditioning on solar
Cooling and solar generation peak at the same time of day, which makes them a natural pair. A system running through summer afternoons draws from the roof rather than the grid, and that changes the economics of both.
What happens after sunset
Evening use still draws from the grid unless you have storage. Where you run the system heavily at night, or through winter mornings before generation picks up, a battery covers that window instead. Worth modelling before deciding on capacity.
Our installation process
Room sizes, ceiling height, insulation, window orientation and switchboard capacity all get checked.
You get a capacity recommendation and a split versus ducted comparison based on how you actually use the home.
Unit, installation, pipework and any electrical work are priced together, with nothing added afterwards.
Most split systems go in within a day. Ducted installs take longer depending on the number of zones.
The system is tested, the controller is set up, and you receive your compliance paperwork.
Areas we service
Air conditioning installations run across Melbourne and regional Victoria, including Cranbourne, Clyde, Dandenong, Frankston, Pakenham, Berwick and surrounding suburbs. Not sure if you're in range? Ask us.
Frequently asked questions
Costs, sizing, split versus ducted, and running on solar.
How much does air conditioning installation cost?
A split system in an accessible room sits at the lower end, while a zoned ducted system across a whole home is several times that. Capacity, pipe run distance, wall type and whether the switchboard needs work all move the figure. We quote a fixed installed price after seeing the site, so nothing is added later.
Should I get split system or ducted?
Split systems suit homes where one or two areas need conditioning, and they're far cheaper to install. Ducted makes sense when you want the whole house covered and have the roof space for it. If you only heat the living area most days, several splits often cost less to run than a ducted system doing the same job.
What size air conditioner do I need?
Room size is the starting point, but ceiling height, insulation and window orientation matter just as much. A west-facing room with large windows needs noticeably more capacity than the same floor area facing south. Getting it wrong in either direction costs you, which is why sizing happens on site.
Can I run air conditioning on solar?
Yes, and the timing works in your favour. Cooling demand peaks through the middle of the day when generation is strongest, so the system draws from your roof rather than the grid. Evening and winter morning use still comes from the grid unless you have battery storage.
How long does installation take?
Most split system installs are completed in a day. Multi split takes longer depending on how many indoor units go in, and ducted systems generally run two to three days depending on zones and roof access.
Tell us which rooms you want covered and we'll size the system and send a fixed installed price.
Request a free quote
Frequently asked questions
Costs, sizing, split versus ducted, and running on solar.
Frequently asked questions
Costs, sizing, split versus ducted, and running on solar.
How much does air conditioning installation cost?
A split system in an accessible room sits at the lower end, while a zoned ducted system across a whole home is several times that. Capacity, pipe run distance, wall type and whether the switchboard needs work all move the figure. We quote a fixed installed price after seeing the site, so nothing is added later.
Should I get split system or ducted?
Split systems suit homes where one or two areas need conditioning, and they’re far cheaper to install. Ducted makes sense when you want the whole house covered and have the roof space for it. If you only heat the living area most days, several splits often cost less to run than a ducted system doing the same job.
What size air conditioner do I need?
Room size is the starting point, but ceiling height, insulation and window orientation matter just as much. A west-facing room with large windows needs noticeably more capacity than the same floor area facing south. Getting it wrong in either direction costs you, which is why sizing happens on site.
Can I run air conditioning on solar?
Yes, and the timing works in your favour. Cooling demand peaks through the middle of the day when generation is strongest, so the system draws from your roof rather than the grid. Evening and winter morning use still comes from the grid unless you have battery storage.
How long does installation take?
Most split system installs are completed in a day. Multi split takes longer depending on how many indoor units go in, and ducted systems generally run two to three days depending on zones and roof access.