What shapes a Cranbourne job
The original Cranbourne
This page is the suburb itself, not Cranbourne North, East, South or West. Its census count went from 1204 in 1961 to 14,005 in 1986 and 24,752 in 1996, before the newer suburbs were carved off around it.
Cool, damp winters
Bureau of Meteorology figures for Cranbourne Botanic Gardens (1990 to 2020) give a July mean maximum of 13.4 degrees and a July mean minimum of 6.2. That's months of steady heating rather than a few freezing weeks.
Hot spells still arrive
February averages a 25.8 degree maximum at the same station, and its record high is 46.0. The City of Casey warns that heatwaves can cause power outages.
A third of homes are rented
At the 2021 Census, 80.0% of Cranbourne's occupied homes were separate houses, 16.1% townhouses or similar and 3.7% flats. 33.8% were rented.
Why the ducts matter so much here
A gas ducted system put in during the 1980s or 1990s boom has ducts that may be 30 years old or more. The ACT Government guide says old gas ducts can't be reused for ducted reverse cycle, because they're too narrow and may have age-related issues. So the state of the ducts often decides the job.
If they're sound, a new gas heater on the same ducts is the smaller change. If they're crushed, torn or poorly insulated, you're paying for new ducts either way, and ducted reverse cycle adds cooling for the hot spells. Ask for ducting insulated to at least R1.5, which the ACT guide says suppliers may not include unless you mention it.
See ducted heating replacement and ducts and vents for more on each path.
Renting in Cranbourne
Every Victorian rental must already have a fixed heater in good working order in the main living area. From 1 March 2027, if that heater dies for good, the replacement has to be efficient and electric, such as a split with a heating rating of 2 stars or more. Our rental heating guide has the detail.
Licence-checked installers near Cranbourne who handle this kind of work will see your job. Only the one who takes it gets your contact details, and if no one near Cranbourne takes it inside 48 hours, installers elsewhere in Victoria may see it too.
What we'd do
Our take for Cranbourne
In a 1980s or 1990s Cranbourne house, we'd have someone look at the ducts before choosing a system. Sound ducts make a like-for-like gas heater the simple swap. Tired ducts push the decision toward ducted reverse cycle, since you'd be replacing them anyway and you'd gain cooling. Do it in autumn, not in a July breakdown.
