Replacing a system that's done its time
If your heating or cooling has been in since the house was built, have it assessed before it fails on the hottest or coldest night. A noisy, weak or short-cycling system is worth a look; our repair or replace tool helps you weigh it up.
If you're swapping ducted gas heating for ducted reverse cycle, know this first: the ACT Government guide says the old gas ducts can't be reused, because they're too narrow for reverse cycle and may have age-related problems. That changes the scope of the job, so make sure every quote includes new ductwork. More on ducted in Sydney and gas to electric.
Menai's homes and setting
A suburb of the 1980s
Urban release in Menai started in the 1970s, and the suburb has been developed since the early 1980s, mostly as four-bedroom family houses with double garages.
Houses and townhouses
At the 2021 Census, 75.2% of homes were separate houses, 21.5% semis or townhouses and 3.1% flats. The average home had 3.6 bedrooms.
Mostly owned
47.6% of Menai homes were owned with a mortgage in 2021 and 36.0% outright. Only 14.7% were rented.
Bush close by
Menai, 29 km south of the CBD at about 116 m, has been affected by bushfires several times, including in 1994 and the 2017 to 2018 season.
Zone 5
The ABCB climate map puts the Sutherland Shire in zone 5, warm temperate. Summers are milder than in western Sydney, so there's no reason to oversize.
Still heating with gas?
Energy Safe Victoria and Better Health both say gas heaters should be serviced at least every two years by a licensed gasfitter. If you're replacing a gas heater, note that NSW's Energy Savings Scheme gives no discount for gas space heaters installed from 1 July 2026. The scheme's air conditioner discount is for high efficiency units, through installers partnered with an accredited certificate provider. See gas heater service in Sydney.
Before the installer comes
You can
- Find the model and age of your current system, from the label on the unit or your paperwork.
- List which rooms are too hot or too cold now.
- Keep leaves and debris away from the outdoor unit, as Daikin advises.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Checking the roof space and the state of the old ducts.
- Disconnecting the old system and recovering any refrigerant, which needs an ARC licence.
- Any switchboard or circuit work, which is for a licensed electrician.
What we'd do
Our view for Menai
In a four-bedroom Menai house with ducted gas heating that's near the end, we'd replace it with zoned ducted reverse cycle and new ducts, sized for zone 5 rather than oversized. In a townhouse, we'd look at one or two splits instead. We'd want a ducted specialist who does Shire replacements often. Licence-checked installers near Menai who do that work can see your job, and the one who takes it is the only one to get your details. If none near Menai takes it within 48 hours, installers elsewhere in New South Wales may see it as well.
