Air Conditioning Installation Geelong
Split system, multi-head and ducted air conditioning installed in homes across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast, by CabledIN
CabledIN Electrical Solutions is a licensed electrician based in North Geelong that installs and replaces reverse-cycle split systems, multi-head split systems and ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning in homes. We work across greater Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast, Golden Plains and Werribee.
One licensed team does the whole job: the indoor and outdoor units, the refrigerant pipework, a dedicated circuit at your switchboard and an outdoor isolator, then commissioning, a Certificate of Electrical Safety and a plumbing Certificate of Compliance.
A single split system is usually installed in one visit. Multi-head and ducted systems take longer. We confirm the size, the unit positions and the time on site, and we price the job once we have seen it.
- What we install
- Wall-mounted split systems, multi-head split systems and ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning
- Installs and replacements
- New systems, and replacements for old or failed units
- Electrical work
- Its own circuit and safety switch at the switchboard, plus an outdoor isolator
- Paperwork
- Certificate of Electrical Safety and a plumbing Certificate of Compliance
- Who does it
- Licensed electricians (REC 30925), with plumbing and refrigerant licences for the install
Reverse-cycle split system, multi-head or ducted: which suits your home?
The right type depends on how many rooms you want to heat and cool. All three are refrigerated, reverse-cycle air conditioning: one system that heats in winter and cools in summer. A reverse-cycle split system has an indoor unit on the wall and an outdoor unit outside, and it heats by moving heat in from the outside air rather than making it.
| Type | What it suits | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Wall-mounted reverse-cycle split system | One room or an open-plan living area | One indoor unit on the wall and one outdoor unit outside. The most common install and the quickest to fit. |
| Multi-head split system | Two or more rooms, or a home with little outdoor space | Several indoor units run from one outdoor unit, so there is only one unit outside. Each room has its own remote and temperature. |
| Ducted reverse-cycle | Heating and cooling the whole home | A hidden indoor unit, usually in the roof space, feeds a vent in each room through ducts. Zones let you run only the rooms you are using. |
Energy Rating says reverse-cycle air conditioners are generally the most energy-efficient combined heating and cooling system you can buy. If you are replacing an old gas heater, a reverse-cycle system does both jobs, and it may qualify for a discount (see below).
Choosing the right size and position
An air conditioner that is too small runs flat out and still struggles on a hot afternoon. One that is too large switches on and off constantly and wastes power. We size the system for the room, not just the floor area:
- Room size and ceiling height. Open-plan areas and raked ceilings need more capacity than the floor area suggests.
- Sun and insulation. West-facing glass and a poorly insulated roof add a lot of heat in summer.
- Winter heating. In Geelong a reverse-cycle system often does most of its work as a heater, so we size it for cold mornings as well as hot days.
As a rough guide, a small bedroom often suits about 2.5 kW, a typical living room about 5 kW, and a large open-plan area 7 kW or more. Most of our recent installs have been 5 kW and 7 kW units. We confirm the size on site before you go ahead.
Position matters too. The indoor unit goes high on a wall where it can reach the whole room without blowing straight onto a bed or the couch. The outdoor unit needs a solid base or wall brackets, room for air to flow around it, and a spot where its noise will not bother you or your neighbours.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
How we install a split system
A split system is an electrical job and a refrigeration job in one. Both halves matter: a neat indoor unit on badly prepared pipework, or on an overloaded circuit, will not last.
- Mark the positions with you. We agree where the indoor and outdoor units go and how the pipework will run between them.
- Mount the indoor unit. The mounting plate is fixed to the wall and levelled, so the unit sits straight and the condensation drains the right way.
- Run the pipework and cable. The insulated copper refrigerant lines, the drain and the interconnecting cable go through the wall to the outdoor unit, with a pipe cover outside where they would otherwise be on show.
- Pressure test with nitrogen. The new pipework is filled with nitrogen under pressure and held there, to test every joint for leaks. If the pressure drops, we find the leak and fix it before going any further.
- Vacuum the pipework. Once it has passed the leak test, the nitrogen is let out. The pipework is then evacuated with a vacuum pump and held on a digital vacuum gauge before the refrigerant is released. That removes the air and moisture that would shorten the system's life.
- Wire it in. A dedicated circuit from the switchboard, protected by its own safety switch, and a weatherproof isolator beside the outdoor unit.
- Commission and hand over. We run the system in heating and cooling, check the airflow and the drain, and show you the remote and how to take out the filters.
- Certificates. You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety for the electrical work and a plumbing Certificate of Compliance for the air conditioning installation.
A dedicated circuit at your switchboard
Every air conditioner we install gets its own circuit. On a recent 5 kW install in Leopold that meant a new 16 amp RCBO (a circuit breaker and safety switch in one) labelled for the air conditioner, a weatherproof isolator outside, and new surge protection in the same switchboard. The circuit and the isolator are sized to the unit's rating.
Older homes may not have room on the switchboard for another circuit, or may still have ceramic fuses and no safety switches. We check the switchboard and the existing load before we price the job, and if it needs work we tell you then, not on the day. A switchboard upgrade can be done as part of the same job.
An air conditioner is one of the biggest loads in most homes, alongside an oven and an electric hot water service. Its own circuit means a fault in the unit trips only the air conditioner, and the rest of the house stays on. More on safety switches and surge protection.
Replacing an old or failed reverse-cycle air conditioner
Many of our air conditioning jobs replace an old unit: one that has stopped heating, has become noisy or expensive to run, or has failed outright. On one Leopold job the old outdoor unit and its isolator had burnt out, and we installed a new 5.1 kW split system in its place. In another Leopold home an old unit was replaced with a new 5 kW reverse-cycle split system.
When we replace a unit we check the existing circuit and isolator rather than assume they are fit to reuse, and fit new ones where they are worn or not rated for the new unit. If the existing pipework does not suit the new system, we run new pipework.
If your air conditioner trips the safety switch, smells of burning or has scorch marks around the isolator, switch it off at the switchboard and leave it off. Those are signs of an electrical fault in the circuit or the isolator. Our 24/7 emergency electricians can make the circuit safe day or night, and if the unit has had its day, we can replace it with a new system.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) discounts
The Victorian Energy Upgrades program offers discounts on some efficient reverse-cycle air conditioners, including when one replaces an old gas or electric heater. Recent installs of ours in Lara and St Leonards included a VEU discount.
Whether your home qualifies depends on the unit, the heater it replaces and the program's rules at the time, so ask us when you book and we will check for you.
Recent air conditioning jobs around Geelong
Our job records show more than 10 completed split system installs and replacements, most often in Lara, Leopold, Clifton Springs, St Leonards and Teesdale. Recent jobs include:
- Bannockburn: a new 5 kW reverse-cycle split system replacing an older unit
- St Leonards: a 7 kW split system with a VEU discount
- Leopold: two replacement split systems, one after the old outdoor unit burnt out
- Geelong West: a 5 kW split system
- Lara: split systems, one replacing an old gas heater
We can supply the unit as part of the job, sized for the room on site.
Why choose CabledIN for your air conditioning
- Licensed Victorian Registered Electrical Contractor, REC 30925, and licensed for the plumbing and refrigerant work as well
- One team for the whole install: the units, the pipework, the circuit, the isolator and both certificates
- Split system air conditioning installation, multi-head split system installation and ducted air conditioning installation, for first installs and replacements
- More than 20 years in the trade, based in North Geelong
- Lifetime workmanship warranty
- 2,000+ five-star Google reviews
Call 1300 025 555 or send us your details online.
More from our air conditioning installs
Photos from our own split system jobs around Geelong and the Bellarine.
Frequently asked questions
How much does air conditioning installation cost in Geelong?
It depends on the type and size of the system, how far apart the indoor and outdoor units are, the wall construction, and whether the switchboard needs a new circuit or an upgrade. We price the job once we have seen your home, so the price covers the whole job.
How long does a split system installation take?
A single reverse-cycle split system is usually installed in one visit, including the dedicated circuit, the isolator and commissioning. Multi-head systems, ducted systems and installs that need switchboard work take longer. We confirm the time on site, before any work starts, so you know how long the power will be off.
What size air conditioner do I need?
As a rough guide, about 2.5 kW for a small bedroom, about 5 kW for a typical living room and 7 kW or more for a large open-plan area. Ceiling height, windows, insulation and winter heating all change the answer, so we confirm the size on site.
Should I choose a split system or ducted air conditioning?
A split system suits one room or one open living area and is the quickest and simplest to install. Ducted suits heating and cooling the whole home with hidden vents and zones, but it needs suitable roof space. A multi-head split system sits in between: several rooms from one outdoor unit.
What is a multi-head split system?
A multi-head split system is one outdoor unit that runs two or more indoor units, each in its own room with its own remote and temperature. It suits homes that want several rooms heated and cooled without a row of outdoor units on the wall, or that have little space outside.
Can you replace my old air conditioner?
Yes. Many of our air conditioning jobs replace an old unit that has stopped heating, become noisy or failed. We remove the old indoor and outdoor units, check the existing circuit and isolator, run new pipework where the old run does not suit, and install a new reverse-cycle split system. You receive both certificates, as with any new install.
What is a reverse-cycle split system?
A reverse-cycle split system is an air conditioner in two parts: an indoor unit on the wall and an outdoor unit outside, joined by refrigerant pipework. It cools in summer and heats in winter by moving heat rather than making it. Energy Rating says reverse-cycle air conditioners are generally the most energy-efficient combined heating and cooling system you can buy.
Can I get a VEU discount on a new air conditioner?
Possibly. The Victorian Energy Upgrades program offers discounts on some efficient reverse-cycle air conditioners, including when one replaces an old gas or electric heater. Ask us when you book and we will check whether your home qualifies.
What certificates do I get after an air conditioner installation?
Two. A Certificate of Electrical Safety for the electrical work, and a plumbing Certificate of Compliance for the air conditioning installation itself. Keep both with your home's records, since a buyer, an insurer or the manufacturer may ask for them.
Do you need a licence to install a split system in Victoria?
Yes. The electrical connection must be done by a licensed electrician. In Victoria, installing the system itself is plumbing work, done by a licensed plumber who is also licensed to handle refrigerant. Our team holds all three licences, and you receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety for the electrical work and a plumbing Certificate of Compliance for the installation.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.