Browse Forums Heating, Cooling & Insulation 1 Nov 27, 2017 9:35 pm Hi all A comment with a question. Meeting builders in Victoria and certainly get a mix of what ducted heating/cooling they put in. This is for a 50-60sq living area double storey house in Melbourne. Some strongly recommend reverse cycle inverter unit and others will put in gas + add on cooling. We have not met the heating/cooling specialists though. I can understand with gas prices increasing, and heat pumps becoming so efficient, that it makes sense to go electric. Especially with battery power storage / solar coming: its makes more sense. But what builders don't seem to fully take into account that these reverse cycles outdoor condensers are very loud. This can be a significant issue for neighbours, whose houses are in close proximity with urban melbourne. I have first hand experience, and heard of others the council come down harsh for these noise pollution matters and enforce these electric units cannot run until 7AM in the morning,and must be switched off at 10PM at night. Very distressing when in Melbourne, and you need heating for up to 4-5 months of the year! Silent modes on some of these units make less noise, but the heat output is poor. Im wondering what your thoughts are for gas vs RC? Gas + add on cooling looks interesting and a few companies have products for this. Im thinking that Gas+Addon cooling or Gas with a RC unit might be the way to go in Melb with this sized house. The initial expenditure is more, but you get the best of heating and silence with gas, and the cooling of a heat pump. If eventually the neighbours don't complain and battery storage becomes effective, than can switch to using the reverse cycle. Im not sure 'add on cooling' heat pumps can switch to a heat mode though if wanting to decomission the gas unit. I guess another problem apart from the upfront cost, is the duct work. There may not be enough wall space/roof space/underfloor space -esp concrete slab: to put separate ducts for a gas unit and reverse cycle inverter. Id appreciate your thoughts MB Re: Ducted: Gas Heating vs RC Aircon vs Gas+Addon Cooling 2Nov 28, 2017 7:31 pm In my lat new house built in 2005 I had gas with add on cooling. In my current retirement unit I had two reverse cycle split systems fitted earlier this year. In neither place has noise been an issue. The current (Daiken) units are so quiet I have had to walk over to them to know they are running. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Ducted: Gas Heating vs RC Aircon vs Gas+Addon Cooling 3Dec 04, 2017 10:01 pm Thanks bashworth. If I assume correctly, your retirement unit is smaller in size compared to a double storey; and therefore the smaller reverse cycle splits. These are incredibly quiet, and cant see any neighbours getting upset with this. But for a double storey house, needing ducted heating/cooling, the large 3 phase outdoor units are extremely load and not surprisingly, some neighbours will complain to council. The unit normally clips into a metal plate screwed to the wall, either plate is not flush, or unit not hooked in and could be hanging from the pipes partly, either might… 2 15900 retail its around double the price of a similar sized actron/dakin system from memory, They are excellent systems though. But with how builder gouge on AC/heating, you… 4 15837 Hi all, sorting out the ducted air con for a 350sqm double story house. Does this placement sound reasonable to you? Also, I plan to have 6 zones I think. Living room… 0 0 |