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System comparison · split, multi-head, ducted, gas & evap.

Five options for climate-controlling an Australian home — and one is almost always right for your situation. Pick the systems you’re considering and see them side-by-side on install cost, running cost, zone control, lifespan and what they’re best for.

Pick 2-5 systems to compare. Currently comparing 3.

	Wall Split System One indoor, one outdoor	Ducted Reverse-Cycle Whole-home ducted cooling + heating	Gas Ducted Heater Winter-only whole-home heating
Cools?	Yes	Yes	No
Heats?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Install from	$1,800	$9,500	$4,500
Install to	$3,500	$18,000	$8,500
Running cost	$180-$600 / yr per room	$800-$2,500 / yr	$800-$2,000 per winter
Zone control	Per-unit (that room only)	Yes — Zonemate 4-8 zones	Basic (open/close dampers)
Lifespan	12-15 years	15-20 years	15-20 years
Best for	Bedroom, granny flat, living zone up to ~40 m²	Whole-home solution for 3+ bed family homes with attic space	Cold hills postcodes on mains gas that don't want reverse-cycle
Best in	Every suburb we install in	Officer, Berwick, Clyde, Cranbourne — new-build estates	Emerald, Gembrook, Cockatoo, Beaconsfield Upper
Brands we install	Mitsubishi Electric, Kaden	Mitsubishi PEAD-M, Kaden ducted, Zonemate zoning	Brivis Wombat + Buffalo, Kaden gas ducted
Pros	Cheapest install of any reverse-cycle system Simple, reliable, easy to service Doesn't need roof access	Seamless — no visible indoor units One system handles cooling AND heating for the whole home Property-value uplift on any home with ceiling space to duct it	Fast heat-up — big room reaches temp in ~15 minutes Same-footprint retrofit into most 90s-onwards homes with an existing Brivis / Braemar Doesn't need refrigerant handling licence to service
Cons	One room only — three bedrooms = three units + three outdoor condensers Aesthetically visible indoors	Highest install cost of any option Requires ceiling / roof cavity — retrofit into a single-storey slab-on-ground is expensive Zoning tuning is important — a badly-balanced 4-zone system is worse than three splits	Heating only — need separate cooling for summer Running cost rising as gas tariffs rise Not eligible for VEU rebate (the scheme incentivises moving OFF gas)
	See our range →	See our range →	See our range →

Rule-of-thumb picks

One or two bedrooms: Wall splits are the cheapest and most flexible.
3-4 rooms, no ceiling space: Multi-head split with 4 heads.
3+ bed family home, has attic: Ducted reverse-cycle with 4-6 Zonemate zones.
Hills postcode, mains gas on street: Gas ducted heater + a couple of splits for summer.
Cranbourne / Clyde new-build on the flat: Ducted RC OR evap + gas ducted combo.
Rental / short-term: Wall split in the main room — smallest capex.

Still not sure which suits you?

Send us the room count, orientation and budget — we’ll quote three real options from three different system types.

Get honest system advice →or call (03) 5947 8000