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Reverse cycle air conditioners are an efficient way to heat and cool your home and can help reduce energy use and bills.

Choosing the right system for your home and having it installed and maintained correctly can improve comfort, reduce running costs and noise, and help your system perform well over its lifetime.

Steps to choosing the right air conditioner

Before choosing an air conditioner, think about your home and how you want to heat and cool it.

Consider:

  • your home’s energy efficiency, including draughts, insulation and single-glazed windows
  • which rooms or areas you want to heat and cool
  • whether you want separate zones
  • your preferred temperatures in summer and winter
  • features such as ventilation, air cleaning and smart controls
  • whether you want to use electricity from your solar panels if you have them.

Improving your home’s energy efficiency can reduce the amount of heating and cooling you need, which may lower the cost of your system and its ongoing running costs.

There are discounts available for Victorian Energy Upgrades products that help insulate your home, including:

To receive a VEU heating and cooling discount, your upgrade must be completed through an accredited provider or an installer working with one.

  • Find accredited providers in your area. Contact providers to discuss your heating and cooling needs and arrange quotes.
  • Get quotes. Make sure installers visit your home to check what size is right for your property. A system that is too large can use more energy and cost more to run. Ask for quotes that include the system’s heating and cooling capacity and outdoor noise levels. Accredited providers will include the VEU discount in the quote.
  • Compare your options. Check the recommended system, heating and cooling capacity, outdoor noise, energy efficiency, installation costs, warranty and servicing.
  • Confirm the work. Before proceeding, make sure you understand what is included, the total cost and whether there are any additional costs. Request a contract for the agreed work.

Tip: check that quotes include:

  • the recommended system and its heating and cooling capacity
  • outdoor noise information
  • energy efficiency
  • installation costs and what's included
  • the VEU discount
  • warranty and servicing arrangements
  • any additional costs.

Before work starts, make sure your contract clearly sets out the work, total cost and timeframe.

Important: contact an accredited provider before purchasing or installing an eligible product. Retrospective discounts are typically not possible.

Once your system is installed, ask your installer to show you:

  • how to use the system and its different modes
  • how to maintain it, including cleaning the filters
  • what warranties and servicing arrangements apply
  • what documents you need to keep.

For detailed guidance and practical information to help you make informed decisions when choosing and installing an air conditioner, view the Victorian Air Conditioning Residential Best Practice Guide on the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) website.

It has been developed for all Victorian air conditioning installations and is not specific to the VEU program. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has supported AIRAH to update the guide.

What to expect from the installation process

Before installation starts, check that your contract clearly sets out:

  • the work to be completed
  • the total cost
  • the expected timeframe
  • the installation quality standards.

If you're replacing an existing system and any equipment will be reused, ask your installer to confirm that it is suitable and meets current standards.

When the installation is complete, ask your installer to show you how to:

  • use the system and its different operating modes
  • maintain the system
  • arrange servicing, if needed
  • access warranty support.

Make sure you also receive any required documents for your new system.

Using and maintaining your air conditioner

Knowing how to use and maintain your air conditioner can help it operate efficiently over its lifetime.

  • Learn how to use the controls and different operating modes.
  • Take simple steps to reduce energy use and outdoor noise.
  • Follow the manufacturer's maintenance instructions.
  • Clean the air filters regularly, following the product manual.

More information

Page last updated: 29/10/26