What usually comes up, by village age
| Villages | What usually comes up | |
|---|---|---|
| Started in the 1990s | Woodlake (1995), The Bridges (1997), Coolamon (1999) | Original evaporative coolers and heaters: service, repair or replace, and often a switch to reverse cycle |
| Started in the 2000s | Charlotte's Vineyard (2003), Malvern Springs (2006) | A first big repair or a pads-and-parts job on an evaporative unit, or adding a split to a hot room |
| Started in the 2010s | Lexia (2011), Annie's Landing (2013) | Getting the builder's system serviced, checking warranty conditions, zoning that doesn't seem to work |
Ellenbrook facts that matter here
Inland heat
Bureau of Meteorology averages show January maximums rising away from the coast: 29.8 degrees at Swanbourne against 33.6 at RAAF Base Pearce. Ellenbrook is inland in the north-east, so size cooling for long, hot afternoons.
Houses, mostly
89.3% of Ellenbrook's 8,056 occupied homes were separate houses at the 2021 Census and 9.0% townhouses or semis. Single-storey houses with roof space suit ducted systems and roof-mounted evaporative coolers.
Owners and renters
58.2% of homes were owned with a mortgage and 24.6% rented. Tenants need the owner's written OK before anything new is fitted.
Sandy, low country
Ellenbrook sits on Bassendean sands, mostly 40 to 50 metres above sea level, with a 590-hectare wetland and lake system in the north. In a sandy yard, ask for the outdoor unit to sit on a firm, level base.
Evaporative or reverse cycle in Ellenbrook?
Perth's dry summers suit evaporative, and plenty of Ellenbrook roofs carry one. Seeley says it needs windows or doors open while it runs, and it only cools. Reverse cycle cools with the house closed up and heats in winter. Many homes end up with both: the cooler for the house, and a split in the main bedroom.
Read evaporative cooling in Perth or reverse cycle in Perth for the detail.
What we'd do
Where we'd start
In a 1990s village, we'd have the existing cooler or heater serviced and assessed first, then decide on repair or a change of system. In a newer home, we'd check the builder's warranty conditions and book a service before summer. Whatever the age, we'd size cooling for Ellenbrook's inland afternoons and use someone who specialises in that system.
