Air Conditioning
Ducted Reverse-Cycle Air Conditioning
Whole-home heating and cooling with only the grilles on show. Designed, supplied and installed.
Ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning heats or cools the whole house from one unit in the roof space, with zoning so you only condition the rooms you are using. Ducted is our specialty: from careful planning and duct design to installation, testing and balancing, for homes and businesses across Melbourne's south-east. We install Panasonic, Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin ducted systems with AirTouch or Panasonic zoning, and we process the Victorian Energy Upgrades rebate for you when you are replacing gas.
“Unique Technical Services Pty Ltd (Somnath and team), very professional, patient, and knowledgeable. Highly recommend and would use them again without a second thought. Very competitive rates too!!!”
Licensed & insured · ARC L162322 · Rebates handled · Since 2014
Where it works
- New builds and renovations
- Family homes with four or more rooms
- Replacing old ducted gas heating
- Offices, shops and commercial premises
What a proper design covers
- Heat-load calculation per room, not just floor area
- Zoning so bedrooms and living areas run on their own schedules
- Balanced airflow so every room reaches temperature together
- Filtered, humidity-controlled air for genuine comfort, not just cold draughts
- Grille and return-air placement that suits the room, not the installer
Included in every ducted installation
- Free on-site measure and written design
- Indoor unit hung level on all-thread rods in the roof space, with a safety drain tray underneath
- R1.5-rated insulated flexible ducting to every room, strapped and sealed
- Round ceiling diffusers as standard; linear slot or multi-directional outlets as an upgrade
- Zone controller, wall controller and optional smartphone control
- Commissioning, airflow balancing and a full walk-through
Standard installs
How we install a ducted system
Every ducted job we do follows the same standard, whether it is a new build or a gas-to-electric changeover. This is what goes into the roof space, and why it matters.
Why reverse-cycle
Heating and cooling from one system, without the gas bill
Reverse-cycle ducted air conditioning heats and cools, while ducted gas only heats. It is more energy efficient, safer, quieter and kinder to the environment than a gas furnace, and gas prices keep climbing.
- One system for winter and summer
- Lower running costs than gas heating, and no gas supply charge if you go all-electric
- Built-in air purification on many models (Panasonic nanoe X)
- Quieter operation, particularly on newer inverter models
- Smartphone control, zoning and inverter technology that older gas systems cannot offer
Round ceiling diffuser (standard) Roundjet diffuser (standard) Linear slot diffuser (upgrade) Multi-directional outlet (upgrade) Air grilles
Round diffusers as standard, slot and multi-directional outlets as upgrades
Round ceiling diffusers and roundjet diffusers are our standard outlet. They clip into a neatly cut ceiling hole and can be adjustable or fixed, giving balanced, even airflow through each room. If you want a more architectural finish, linear slot diffusers sit flush in walls or ceilings in lightweight aluminium, and multi-directional outlets (MDO) let you steer air in four directions for precise control in living areas and commercial spaces.
New R1.5 duct installed and strapped Old ducts removed New duct on site Ductwork
Old ducting out, R1.5 duct in
On a changeover we strip the old ducting out of the roof space and replace it with new R1.5-rated flexible duct, strapped properly to the roof timbers and sealed at every joint. Better insulated duct keeps the air at temperature between the unit and the grille, so the system works less and you pay less.
- Reduced energy consumption and lower running costs
- Complies with current building codes
- Faster heating and cooling
- Quieter operation
- Better temperature control room to room
Indoor unit installed on all-thread rods Indoor unit
Hung level on all-thread rods, sealed and accessible
The indoor unit is suspended from the roof structure on all-thread rods rather than sat on the ceiling. Mounted level, it drains condensate properly and moves air efficiently. Solid hangers stop vibration and noise, duct connections are sealed airtight so no conditioned air is lost, clearance is kept for servicing, and the electrical and refrigerant lines are run and protected correctly.
Main drain and safety drain tray Safety drain tray
A backup drain tray under every indoor unit
A safety drain tray sits under the indoor unit, separate from the main drain, with its own line to a safe drainage point. If the primary drain ever blocks, the tray catches the water instead of your ceiling. It is a small part of a well-designed system that protects against expensive water damage, and it should be checked at each service.
Panasonic condensing unit Side-of-house installation Condensing unit
Outdoor unit placed for airflow, access and quiet
Where the outdoor unit goes affects how well it runs and how long it lasts. We put it on a stable, level base with clear airflow around it, away from fences and shrubs, with room to service it, proper condensate drainage, and away from bedroom windows and living areas to keep noise down.
- Accessible for maintenance and repairs
- Unobstructed airflow on all sides
- Level slab or platform to prevent vibration
- Condensate drained away from the unit
- Sited away from windows and living spaces
AirTouch 5 Panasonic Conex controller Touchpad zone control Intelligent temperature sensor Zoning
Zoning and controllers: condition the rooms you use
Zoning divides the house into areas with independent control, so you can run the bedrooms at night and the living areas by day instead of the whole home at once. The zone controller opens and closes dampers in the ductwork and adjusts airflow and volume to each zone. We install simple touchpad zone switches through to AirTouch 5 with its app and intelligent temperature sensors, and Panasonic Conex controllers for Panasonic systems.
Old non-compliant switchboard with fuses Compliant switchboard Switchboard
Switchboard upgrades when the old board cannot cope
A ducted system draws real current, and an old fuse board is not built for it. Where the switchboard is outdated we arrange a compliant upgrade with modern circuit protection, which prevents electrical fires, shocks and equipment damage and brings the home up to current electrical standards.
Questions we get asked
- Can I zone a ducted system?
- Yes. Zoning lets you heat or cool selected areas, which lowers running costs. Most homes use two to four zones, for example living, bedrooms and a master suite. We install touchpad zone switches, AirTouch 5 with app control, and Panasonic Conex controllers.
- Do you need to see the house before quoting?
- For ducted systems, yes. The roof space, floor plan and outdoor unit position all affect the design, so we do a free site visit and give you a written quote.
- Do you replace the old ducting when you change over from gas?
- Yes, as standard. Old ducting comes out of the roof space and new R1.5-rated flexible duct goes in, strapped and sealed. Reusing tired, poorly insulated duct is the most common reason a new system underperforms.
- What is a safety drain tray and do I need one?
- It is a secondary tray under the indoor unit with its own drain line. If the main drain blocks, it stops water coming through your ceiling. We fit one on every ducted installation.
- Will I need a switchboard upgrade?
- Sometimes. Older boards with ceramic fuses often cannot safely take the extra circuit. We check the switchboard at the site visit and include a compliant upgrade in the quote if it is needed.
- Is there a rebate for replacing ducted gas heating?
- Replacing a ducted gas heater with an approved reverse-cycle system is one of the biggest Victorian Energy Upgrades discounts available. Note the co-payment rules change on 30 September 2026. See our rebates page.