Heating and cooling in CanberraPlan for July first, January second.

The jobs that come up most in Canberra, and why

Moving off gas heating. With no new connections and a phase-out date set, replacing an ageing gas ducted heater with ducted reverse cycle or a few splits is the job the ACT's gas rules point towards. The ACT Government's buyers guide says old gas ducts are too narrow to reuse for reverse cycle, so the quote should include new ducting.

Heating for apartments and townhouses. With more than a third of ACT homes in medium or high density, single split systems do a lot of the work here. Neighbours are closer, and the noise limits are tighter in multi-unit developments.

Keeping gas heaters safe. Homes still on gas need their heaters checked by a licensed gasfitter. Our page on gas heater servicing in Canberra covers the carbon monoxide side.

Summer cooling, the smaller job. Canberra's long-term averages are 30 days a year at 30 degrees or more and only 4 at 35 or more, though 2006 had 13. Afternoon humidity at the airport averages 37% in January, dry enough that evaporative cooling still suits some homes.

What to look for in a Canberra system

Judge reverse cycle on its heating. The ACT Government's buyers guide suggests an 'H2' coefficient of performance rating for Canberra winters, and says good systems keep working at minus 10 degrees. Ask for the heating capacity at 2 degrees, the colder of the label's two heating test points.

Match the system to the house. The same guide points homes under 180 sqm, or homes that only need some rooms done, towards splits, and bigger homes towards ducted or multi-head. Any ducting should carry at least R1.5 insulation.

Think about next door. ACT residential limits are 45 dB(A) from 7am to 10pm and 35 dB(A) overnight, Monday to Saturday, and a home in a multi-unit development must come in 5 dB(A) under its zone's limit. Where the outdoor unit sits decides most of that.

Loans and rebates in the ACT

The ACT's Sustainable Household Scheme offers low-interest loans through Brighte for upgrades including electric heating and cooling. Applicants must meet the scheme and lending criteria and attend a one-hour workshop.

Concession card holders who own and live in their home may also qualify for a Home Energy Support rebate on reverse cycle heating and cooling. Don't accept a quote until the ACT Government has pre-approved the application. Our ACT scheme guide has the details.

Who can do the work in the ACT

Anyone handling refrigerant needs an Australian Refrigeration Council licence, and the ACT adds its own: electricians, plumbers, gasfitters and gas appliance workers all need a licence. Access Canberra's public registers show whether a licence is current, expired, suspended or cancelled, and list any disciplinary action under the 'Details' tab.

When you send us a job, licence-checked Canberra installers who specialise in that work see it, if we have them near you, and only the one who takes it gets your contact details. If no one in Canberra takes it within 48 hours, installers elsewhere in the ACT may see it too, though your details still go only to the one who takes it.