A/01 · Split system air conditioning · Melbourne
Split system air conditioning in Melbourne, sized to the room and installed properly.
Premium split system air conditioning supplied and installed across Melbourne, from the Mornington Peninsula through Bayside to the inner east and north-east. Every air conditioner is sized to the room and fitted by our own licensed team, and every job starts with a free in-home assessment.
Licensed installers
ARC L062149 · VBA 50861
Brands we install
Daikin · Mitsubishi Electric · Fujitsu · Panasonic
5-year warranty
On most premium units
Free in-home assessment
Sized to the room, not the catalogue
Project: Hawthorn, 2025
Multi-head install across three bedrooms and a study, with line sets concealed inside the cavity.
A split system, in short
Two units, one job. Climate control for the rooms you actually use.
- →Indoor head · wall, ceiling cassette, or low-floor unit
- →Outdoor compressor · placed for airflow + acoustics
- →Refrigerant line · concealed where possible
- →Reverse cycle · cools and heats from one unit
What is a split system air conditioner?
How a split system air conditioner works: two units, one quiet room.
A split system is made up of two connected units: an outdoor compressor and an indoor head that sits on the wall, in the ceiling, or low to the floor. Refrigerant lines and a small communication cable run between them, so the system can cool a defined space, or heat it as well with a reverse cycle model without any of the ductwork that whole-of-home systems require.
For Melbourne homes, modern split systems offer three things that matter: precise temperature control of the rooms you actually use, quiet operation suited to bedrooms and living spaces, and energy efficiency that compares well with running a ducted system across a part-used home. Single split and multi-split air conditioners both run reverse cycle, so one installation covers summer and winter comfort.
If you’re weighing whole-of-home options instead, see our ducted refrigerated air conditioning page. We are a residential HVAC contractor, not a commercial one, and we supply and install rather than sell products off the shelf. If your home already has ducted heating, adding refrigerated cooling to the existing ducted heating is often a better solution than several splits, and the HVAC assessment covers both options. To start, call us or fill in the form on the booking page.
When a split system is the right choice
Split systems are not a compromise. They are the right answer for many homes.
For many of the homes we work on, a well-specified split system is better than ducting. For some homes, it’s the only sensible answer. These are the situations where we specify them most often.
01
Period homes
Toorak, Brighton, Hawthorn and Kew, where ceiling space will not take ductwork or heritage features rule out roof-cavity routing.
02
Extensions & renovations
Targeted cooling for a single zone without disrupting an existing system or rebuilding ductwork.
03
Bedrooms & studies
Where quiet operation and independent room-by-room control matter more than whole-of-home reach.
04
Architectural Peninsula builds
Mornington Peninsula homes where bulkheads or fully concealed cassettes preserve the design intent.
05
Secondary buildings
Pool houses, studios, granny flats and outbuildings, where running ducts back to a main system is not practical.
06
Replacing an old wall unit
Replacing an ageing wall unit with an efficient modern one, and tidying the installation while we are at it.
If you are not sure whether a split system or ducted air conditioning suits your home, that is exactly what our free in-home assessment is for. We would rather specify the right system than the easier sale.
Single-head & multi-head split systems
Single split or multi-split: one outdoor unit, one or many rooms.
A/01 · Single-head split
One head, one space
One outdoor unit paired with one indoor head, controlling a single space. Clean, efficient and easy to service. The default for a main bedroom, study or living room.
- Indoor heads1
- Outdoor units1
- Typical install1 day
- From$1,600 for one room
- Best forA single room: bedroom, study or living zone
A/01b · Multi-head split
Up to six rooms, one outdoor unit
One outdoor compressor paired with up to six indoor heads, each controlled independently and each heating or cooling a different room. Common where ducting is not viable but more than one zone needs climate control.
- Indoor heads2 to 6
- Outdoor units1 (shared)
- Typical install2 to 4 days
- From$4,990 for three rooms
- Best forPeriod homes · zoned new builds · facade preservation
Reverse cycle, by default
Reverse cycle: one air conditioner, heating and cooling.
Almost every split system we install today is a reverse cycle model, so one system cools in summer and heats in winter. In Melbourne you will use both, and reverse cycle is the standard. A reverse cycle split is a heat pump: it moves heat rather than generating it, which is why it is the most cost-effective way to heat a single room, and why the comfort it gives in winter is as even as the cooling in summer.
Inverter-driven reverse cycle systems also run efficiently across a wide outdoor temperature range, so heating performance stays strong on cold Melbourne mornings.
19 to 22
dBA · low fan
Indoor head, quietest setting
2
Modes · one unit
Cool in summer, heat in winter
5
Year warranty
Standard on premium units
Brands we install
Split system brands we install in Melbourne.
We install premium split systems from manufacturers we trust to perform long-term. We do not push one brand on every job. The right unit depends on the room, the ceiling height, the acoustic priorities, and whether the head will be seen or concealed. Our installation team has fitted all of these brands in Melbourne homes, and the workmanship is the same whichever unit suits yours.
JP · Premium design ranges
Including the design-focused ranges, with quiet, considered indoor heads.
JP · Designer Series
Flat-fronted heads for interiors where the unit needs to disappear.
JP · Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy
Strong all-rounder with excellent low-ambient heating performance.
JP · Reliable workhorse
Dependable, well-priced, broad indoor-unit range across head styles.
JP · nanoe™ filtration
Panasonic
Excellent for bedrooms. Strong filtration and very quiet at low speed.
That’s a specification call, not a sales pitch. Tell us how you use each space and we will specify accordingly. No brand quotas, no preferred-partner deals.
How we install split systems
What does a professional split system installation include?
A great unit installed poorly is still a poor system. Here’s how a Smart Climate install actually runs, from first walkthrough to handover. The work is done under ARC refrigerant licence L062149 and VBA registration 50861, by the people who quoted it.
i.
Site visit & specification
We measure, ask about how you use each space, look at where the outdoor unit can sit without compromising the building or your neighbours, and propose a split system air conditioner sized correctly for the room. Years of experience installing split systems in Melbourne homes go into that recommendation, and you can book the assessment online or by phone.
ii.
Cable & pipe routing
Where possible, refrigerant lines and condensate drains are concealed inside walls, under eaves, or run discreetly along architectural lines. Visible line sets are run in matching trunking, not stuck on with cable clips.
iii.
Outdoor unit placement
We think about acoustics, drainage, servicing access, and how the unit reads from the garden and from neighbouring properties. Placement is a design decision, not an afterthought.
iv.
Clean handover
Site cleaned. Remote and app paired. You are shown how to run the system properly, not handed a manual and waved off. We also show you the simple maintenance that keeps the comfort and efficiency up, such as cleaning the filters each season. Beyond that, a heat pump needs very little looking after.
Recent work
Recent work.
Splits, ducted systems and the ductwork behind them, installed by our own team. The quality is in the details you do not usually see, the sheet metal and the line runs, and we provide the same finish on a single bedroom unit as on a whole-home system.
Reviews
What customers say.
Nine Google reviews so far, all five stars, from customers across the Peninsula, Bayside and the inner east. They mention expert advice, installers who turn up on time, and a clean site afterwards. Our job is to ensure the comfort you were promised, not just to offer a solution and leave. If you would like to talk it through, call or email and we will be in touch.
★★★★★
“Excellent advice and the perfect system”
Kris has advised and installed split systems in two of our homes over the past few years. He offered excellent advice and the perfect system for our needs. Installed quickly and set us up ready to go. Highly recommend to anyone on the peninsula or beyond!
★★★★★
“The work was impeccable”
Smart Climate were a pleasure to deal with. Chris was courteous and professional. The work was impeccable and all the friendly guys cleaned up after themselves. Top quality service.
★★★★★
“On time and on budget”
Thanks for replacing the old split with a reverse cycle. The ceiling linear and bar grilles are a huge improvement. On time and on budget.
★★★★★
“From the quote through to completion, very happy”
Thank you. From the quote and advice through to completion, very happy. Appreciate the advice and timely manner. Happily recommend to others.
★★★★★
“Communication made it an easy process”
The communication from Kris made this such an easy process, thanks so much. Recommending to all my friends.
★★★★★
“Neatly done and cleaned up”
They did a great job, showed up on time. Everything was neatly done and they cleaned up afterwards.
Compare options
Weighing whole-of-home? Start here.
Split system installation · Melbourne
Split system installation across Melbourne, from the Peninsula to the north-east.
We install split system air conditioning across premium Melbourne suburbs from our base in Tyabb 3913. If you are not sure whether we cover your area, give us a call. We usually do. See our pages on split system installation on the Mornington Peninsula, including split systems in Mount Martha, and air conditioning in Bayside Melbourne.
Mt Eliza · Mornington · Mt Martha · Portsea · Sorrento · Flinders
Brighton · Hampton · Sandringham · Beaumaris
Toorak · South Yarra · Armadale · Hawthorn · Kew · Malvern
North-East
Balwyn · Canterbury · Doncaster · Templestowe · Eaglemont
Split system FAQs
Questions we hear, answered honestly.
If your question isn’t here, call us on 1800 577 522. We would rather have a five-minute conversation than send you a brochure.
How much does a split system cost to install in Melbourne?
A single-room split system starts from $1,600. A three-room multi-head system starts from $4,990. These are indicative starting prices, and the firm figure comes from the assessment. What moves the number is the wall type, the length of the pipe run between the indoor and outdoor units, where the outdoor unit can sit, and whether you are replacing an existing unit or starting from nothing. If you are replacing an old system with an efficient reverse-cycle one, the Victorian Energy Upgrades rebate can reduce the cost. See all our starting prices.
What size split system do I need?
It depends on the floor area, ceiling height, insulation, window size and orientation of the room, and how many people use it. As a rough guide a bedroom usually needs about a 2.5 kW air conditioner and a main living area 5 to 7 kW, but we size from the room itself at the free in-home assessment rather than from a rule of thumb. An oversized unit short-cycles and an undersized one runs flat out. Neither is comfortable or efficient.
Should I choose a single split or a multi-split system?
A single split is one indoor head and one outdoor unit, the right answer for one room. A multi-split runs two to six indoor heads from one outdoor unit, which suits period homes and tight blocks where several rooms need conditioning but there is only room for one outdoor unit. A multi-split costs more than one single split and less than several, and starts from $4,990 for three rooms. See our split system prices.
What is a back-to-back installation?
The indoor head sits on an external wall with the outdoor unit directly behind it, so the pipe run is short and straight. It is the simplest installation and the one most starting prices assume. Longer pipe runs, two-storey homes and concealed line sets are more work, which is part of why two quotes for the same house can differ.
Can I buy my own air conditioner and pay for installation only?
We supply and install as a package, because the warranty, the sizing and the finished result all depend on the unit and the installation matching. If you only want a unit you have already bought fitted to the wall, a retailer’s installer is the better fit, and we will tell you that rather than take the job.
How quiet is a modern split system?
Modern premium split systems run at 19 to 22 dBA on the indoor unit’s lowest fan setting, quieter than a whispered conversation. For bedrooms we specify accordingly.
Can one split system heat and cool?
Yes. A reverse cycle split system handles both, and is the default specification for almost every Melbourne installation we do today.
Where does the outdoor unit go?
Ideally somewhere with good airflow, away from bedroom windows, and considered against the building’s facade and outdoor spaces. We’ll walk you through options at the consultation.
Can you install in a heritage or period home?
Yes. We routinely install in older homes across Toorak, Brighton and the inner east, including homes with heritage overlays. Placement and line concealment are handled accordingly.
How long does installation take?
A single-head split is typically a one-day install. Multi-head systems and concealed line runs take longer, and we give you an honest timeline with the quote.
Do I need permits or council approval?
Most installations don’t, but heritage-overlay homes and some apartments do. We’ll flag this before any work starts.
Are you licensed to install split system air conditioning?
Yes. Split system installation involves refrigerant handling and electrical work, both of which are regulated in Victoria. Kris holds Australian Refrigeration Council licence L062149 and Victorian Building Authority registration 50861. The numbers are on every page of this site, and you are welcome to check them before we start.
What’s the warranty on a split system?
Five years on most premium units, with extended manufacturer coverage available on selected ranges. Our installation work is covered separately.
Project: Mt Eliza, 2025
Multi-head reverse cycle install across primary living and bedrooms, with concealed line runs and designer indoor heads.
Talk to Smart Climate
If you know what you want, we’ll quote it. If you’re working it out, we’ll help you get there.
Start whichever way suits you. Replace a system you have already chosen, or have us work out what your home needs.
Or pick up the phone:☎ 1800 577 522