Ringwood at a glance
Built in waves
Ringwood grew strongly from 1924, when the railway was electrified. Development boomed after the war, and the City of Ringwood was declared in 1960.
Getting taller near the lake
A nine-storey housing development near Ringwood Lake was approved in 2009, and by 2021, 13.0% of Ringwood's 7,609 occupied homes were flats or apartments. A further 10.8% were semi-detached or townhouses.
Lots of renters
39.3% of homes were rented in 2021, 31.6% were owned with a mortgage and 26.2% were owned outright.
Gas ducted is common
In the Victorian Government's 2021 survey of home owners in gas areas, 54% had gas ducted heating, and 44% had a system that only heats. Check what's in your roof or under your floor before you ask for quotes.
Old gas ducted heater: add cooling, or switch to reverse cycle?
| Keep gas, add cooling | Switch to ducted reverse cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Your existing ducts | Rinnai says add-on cooling uses the existing ductwork and vents in most cases | The ACT Government guide says gas ducts can't be reused: they're too narrow and may have age-related issues |
| Your current heater | Has to be compatible. Rinnai says not every ducted heater can take add-on cooling | Comes out, so its age stops mattering |
| If you rent the house out | A working gas heater can stay after 1 March 2027. If it fails for good, the replacement must be electric | Covers both rental standards if it meets the ratings: a heating HSPF of 3.2 or above and a TCSPF of 3.8 or above |
Flats and townhouses near the centre
In a newer apartment, a reverse cycle split is the practical choice, and owners corporation rules can decide where the outdoor unit goes. In a townhouse, check whether there's roof space before anyone quotes for ducted. See split system installation in Melbourne.
What we'd do
If it were our Ringwood house
If the gas ducted heater runs well, we'd have a gasfitter service it and ask whether it can take add-on cooling. If it's failing or the house needs proper cooling too, we'd get one quote for each path in autumn, with ducts inspected, and decide before the first cold snap forces a rushed choice.
Post your job with your 3134 postcode and we'll pass it to licence-checked local installers who do that kind of work. Only the installer who takes it sees your contact details. If no one near Ringwood has taken it within 48 hours, installers elsewhere in Victoria may see it too.
