Plan the Full Cost of Ducted Air Conditioning
A ducted quote should cover the equipment, air distribution, controls and installation at your property. Compare complete designs for the rooms you use, then check ongoing costs and written terms. Published package prices only apply to the job described.
Compare the design
Check models, ducts, outlets, zones and controls together.
Confirm the site
Access, placement and electrical work belong in the proposal.
Check ongoing costs
Use model-specific energy information and your actual tariff.
Before booking
Agree exclusions, timing, warranty and handover.
Design the System Around Your Home
Start with the rooms you want to use together, rather than choosing a package by bedroom count. Give each installer the same floor plan and explain where you need heating, cooling or both.
- Spaces: identify living areas, bedrooms and rooms that are only used occasionally.
- Building: describe insulation, glazing, shading, ceiling heights and any planned alterations.
- Site: show available indoor and outdoor positions, ceiling access and electrical supply.
The Energy Rating selection guide recommends professional advice on suitable capacity and placement. Ask the installer to explain the heating and cooling load assessment for your home. Floor area alone is not enough to choose capacity.
If you are also considering separate room units, our Split System vs Ducted guide compares the layouts and controls.
What a Ducted Installation Quote Should Include
Compare the complete installed proposal, including the system design and work at your property. Use this checklist to make differences between quotes easier to spot.
| Quote item | Details to compare | Ask before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Exact indoor and outdoor models, capacity and quantities. | Is supply included, and why does this combination suit the home? |
| Air distribution | Duct routes, insulation, supply outlets and return-air arrangement. | What is new, reused or excluded? |
| Zones and controls | Room groupings, controller, sensors and any optional app functions. | Which features work with the quoted equipment? |
| Access and placement | Indoor and outdoor positions, service access and drainage. | Has the actual site been inspected? |
| Electrical work | Supply assessment, connections and any circuit or switchboard work. | What is included and what requires a separate quote? |
| Replacement work | Old equipment removal, disposal and affected surface repairs. | Who carries out each part, and are there exclusions? |
| Handover | Testing, operating instructions, warranty and applicable compliance documents. | What will you receive when the job is complete? |
Ask for the total price, payment schedule and how variations will be agreed. A component allowance or low package headline is only useful when its scope is clear.
Two Published Ducted Installation Examples
These advertised offers were checked on 14 October 2026. They show how equipment, location and site assumptions affect a package. They are separate provider offers, not national averages, completed Wombat jobs or recommended system sizes.
| Advertised offer | Published price and scope | Limits to check |
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioning Online | AUD $10,429 supply and install: Daikin FDYAN125A-C2V, 12.5 kW, six outlets and two zones. | Single-storey dwelling in Sydney, Central Coast or Newcastle. Includes an outdoor slab or blocks, isolator and electrical circuit up to 15 m; terms apply. |
| WA Air Group | From AUD $9,900: 10 kW, four zones and a standard wired controller. | Perth entry offer for single storey, straightforward roof access and reuse of existing power. A new circuit is separately quoted; travel beyond 15 km from Perth CBD is extra. |
The WA offer does not identify the exact model or outlet count. The two packages have different scopes, so their prices are not a direct comparison or a basis for a national range. Confirm the current offer, duct design, equipment, removal, electrical work and access costs with the provider before using it in a budget.
Check Access, Duct Reuse and Installation Timing
Ask the installer to inspect the space for the indoor unit, ducts, return air and future servicing. Access, equipment placement, drainage and electrical work can change the job; a slab foundation alone does not establish whether roof ducting is possible.
The Mitsubishi Electric ducted range includes different indoor-unit designs for constrained spaces and renovations. Check the exact installation manual and service clearances. The height of a product alone does not establish whether it will fit your property.
If you already have ducts, ask whether their size, insulation, condition and layout suit the proposed system. YourHome duct guidance explains the importance of suitable ducts and return-air paths. Existing heating ducts should be assessed before anyone promises a reuse saving.
Agree the schedule for approvals, equipment availability, site work and commissioning separately. Confirm local council, strata and noise requirements for the proposed positions. Ask who coordinates any electrical or building work, and when the installer expects you to have a working system.
Compare Zones, Outlets and Controls
An outlet delivers air into a room; a zone groups areas for control. More outlets do not automatically mean more independently controlled zones. Ask for the room groupings and outlet positions on the proposed plan.
| Design detail | What it means | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Supply outlets and return air | Air delivery and the path back to the system. | Locations, counts and how rooms connect to the return-air path. |
| Controlled zones | Areas managed together by the zoning design. | Which rooms run together and which combinations are permitted. |
| Controller and sensors | The controls supported by the quoted system. | Included sensors, temperature control, app functions and compatibility. |
Daikin explains zoning through motor-controlled dampers in the ducts. The controls and capabilities depend on the proposed equipment, rather than a universal basic, motorised or smart package.
Ask the installer to explain minimum-airflow requirements and any spill-zone arrangement at handover. For example, AirTouch describes a spill zone that may open automatically when too many zones are closed. Follow the commissioned system's instructions; do not assume every zone except one small room can safely be closed.
Zoning may help you condition the areas you use, but this guide does not promise a saving percentage or payback period. The climate zones on an energy label are a separate concept from room zoning.
Compare Running Costs for the Proposed System
Ask for performance information for the exact indoor and outdoor model combination, then discuss your climate, rooms used, operating hours and electricity plan. Heating or cooling output in kW is different from electricity input; multiplying advertised cooling capacity by hours will not give a sound bill estimate.
The Energy Rating guide says ducted systems may display a voluntary Zoned Energy Rating Label. Where a label is available, compare similarly sized systems for your climate and keep heating and cooling energy figures separate. Ask for documented performance information when a label is absent.
The label method uses standardised annual energy estimates. Multiplying the relevant kWh figure by your variable tariff gives a comparison, not a prediction of your household's bill. Actual operation can differ and your account can include other charges.
A calculation example, not a typical bill
Assume an average electricity draw of 2 kW for 4 hours at a variable tariff of AUD $0.30 per kWh. The arithmetic is 2 x 4 x 0.30 = AUD $2.40 for that period. All three inputs are illustrative, not measurements of a ducted model or a national electricity rate. The average draw can change during operation.
A summer-only scenario is not a full-year heating and cooling cost. Compare the same usage assumptions across proposals and avoid adding separate percentage savings as though they are guaranteed.
Compare Models, Warranty and Service Support
Compare the quoted model, design, controls, noise information and local service support. A brand tier alone does not tell you which system will suit your home, how long it will last or what it will cost to maintain.
Read equipment and installation warranties separately. Check cover for parts, labour, call-outs, access and any maintenance duties, and ask who handles a claim. The ACCC warranty guide explains that warranties are additional to consumer guarantees. Warranty length is different from expected service life.
Keep the quote, model details, invoice, handover instructions and written terms. YourHome maintenance guidance recommends servicing according to the manufacturer's instructions, including filter care. Ask for a local service quote instead of assuming one annual budget or fixed replacement age.
For an existing system, compare an itemised repair assessment with a complete replacement proposal. Consider the actual fault, parts availability and changes to the design; avoid choosing on a promised resale premium or a generic lifespan.
Agree the Work Before You Book
Use these checks to turn a proposal into a clear plan for the job:
- Record the rooms, load assessment and exact model combination.
- Confirm duct routes, outlets, return air, zones and permitted operating combinations.
- Resolve access, placement, approvals, noise and electrical work.
- Agree the total scope, exclusions, payment schedule and variation process.
- Get the expected schedule, warranty and handover arrangements in writing.
- Check the licences and insurance relevant to the work.
Use the ARC technician lookup to check the current refrigerant licence and its type; check other required trade licences separately. The Wombat checks supplier ABNs. Homeowners should check the credentials and cover relevant to their project.
Sources and Checks
These consumer, manufacturer and provider pages were checked on 14 October 2026. Advertised prices are examples of the stated jobs. Confirm current offers and the requirements for your property and equipment before booking.
- Energy Rating system selection and voluntary ducted labels
- Zoned Energy Rating Label method
- YourHome duct design and maintenance
- Mitsubishi Electric ducted product and design information
- Daikin zoning explanation
- AirTouch spill-zone operation
- ACCC warranties and consumer guarantees
- ARC technician licence check
- Air Conditioning Online advertised package
- WA Air Group advertised entry system
