Heating and cooling in the Northern TerritoryDarwin humidity, Alice Springs frosts, national licences.

Two climates in one Territory

Darwin sits in climate zone 1, the high humidity summer zone. At Darwin Airport, the mean daily minimum is 25.4 degrees in November and still 19.3 degrees in July, and afternoon humidity averages 71% in January. That's cooling and moisture control for most of the year, with heating barely in the picture.

Alice Springs is zone 3. Alice Springs Airport has a January mean daily maximum of 37.1 degrees and 21% afternoon humidity, but the town also averages 12.4 nights below freezing a year. A home there can need real heating as well as cooling.

CHOICE says evaporative coolers work best in hot, dry climates with low humidity, and aren't recommended for humid or wet ones. That suits Alice Springs far better than Darwin. Our evaporative or refrigerated guide goes further.

Cyclones, salt air and outdoor units

The NT Government warns that corrosive environments attack metal fixings, cyclone fixings included, especially close to the coast, and recommends a yearly visual check for corroded or loose brackets and bolts. It also says flying debris can be a significant factor in a cyclone.

Add the outdoor unit's brackets to that yearly look, from the ground. If they're rusting or loose, a coastal installer can advise on fixings and placement. Our coastal homes guide covers salt and warranties.

If you sign at the visit

Asking someone to quote doesn't make their visit invited under the Australian Consumer Law, which applies in the NT as everywhere. A deal struck at that visit can be an unsolicited consumer agreement with a 10 business day cooling-off, and the business can't take payment or start work during it. If you change your mind, our cooling-off guide walks through cancelling.