What's different about Altona
Colder nights than the city
On Bureau of Meteorology figures, Laverton averages a July minimum of 5.0 degrees and a July maximum of 13.7. Olympic Park, in the inner city, averages 7.3 and 14.1. In Altona, the heating load usually decides the size of the system, not the summer peak.
Brick veneer and timber, mostly post-war
eMelbourne says Altona grew fastest between the 1950s and 1980s, and that its homes are mostly brick veneer and timber detached houses. At the 2021 Census, 61.1% of occupied dwellings were separate houses and 30.1% were townhouses or semi-detached.
Open water and onshore wind
BlueScope's salt guide puts Port Phillip from Altona to Portsea in its exposed class: open salt water with onshore winds, but no breaking surf. It's a guide only, but near the water it's reason enough to ask about corrosion protection.
Not much shade
Hobsons Bay had just 6 per cent tree canopy in 2018, against 15.3 per cent across Greater Melbourne, and the council says it's among the lowest in Victoria. A west-facing room here can have nothing between it and the afternoon sun.
Industry next door
Post-war zoning gave about a third of Altona to industry. Daikin's warranty card names both industrial pollution and sea air as corrosive settings, where extra corrosion protection is the owner's job.
The jobs that come up most in Altona
Replacing old heating. If the heater is as old as the house, it's worth planning its replacement. If yours is gas ducted, our ducted heating in Melbourne page compares a new gas heater with ducted reverse cycle.
A reverse cycle split for the living room. In a single-storey house, a split on a side or back wall heats through July and cools on the hot north-westerly days ahead of a cold front. See split system installation in Melbourne.
Placing the outdoor unit near the beach. Mitsubishi Electric's manual counts salty seaside air as a place to avoid. Near the water, that means a wall sheltered from the bay, and a coil with anti-corrosion treatment where the brand offers one. Our coastal homes guide goes further.
Renting out a home in Altona?
31.0% of Altona's occupied homes were rented in 2021. From 1 March 2027, if the main living area heater in a Victorian rental fails for good, the replacement must be efficient and electric. An efficient reverse cycle unit that meets the required ratings deals with the heating and cooling standards at once. Our rental heating guide has the detail.
What we'd do
If it were our place in Altona
We'd size for July, not January, and ask for a heat load on the house before choosing a unit. Within sight of the water, we'd put the outdoor unit on the wall most sheltered from the bay, pick a model with coastal protection, and read what its warranty says about salt before signing.
