What matters for ducted in Toowoomba
A house city
At the 2021 Census, 82.7% of occupied homes in the Toowoomba Regional council area were separate houses. That's the kind of home ducted is designed for.
Heating sets the size
With a July average low of 6.6 degrees at the airport and frosts that are more frequent in the western suburbs, the heat load for winter decides the capacity. Climate zone 5's design aim, the Queensland Government says, is keeping the home warm.
Ducts leak heat
The ACT Government says ducted systems can be slightly less efficient than splits because of heat lost through the ducting. Its guide recommends at least R1.5 insulation on the ducts, which matters most when they carry warm air on a frosty night.
Old gas ducts won't do
Moving from gas ducted heating to ducted reverse cycle? The ACT Government's guide says the old gas ducts can't be re-used, because they're too narrow for reverse cycle and may have age-related problems.
Replacing gas ducted heating, or adding cooling to it
If you're replacing the gas heater with ducted reverse cycle, plan on new ducting throughout, and on a licensed gasfitter to disconnect the old heater. In Queensland that needs a gas work licence that covers removal, not just a servicing licence.
If the gas heater is in good shape and you only want summer cooling, add-on cooling may suit a mild Toowoomba summer. Rinnai says its add-on system works with a compatible ducted gas heater and in most cases uses the existing ducts, but that not every heater can support it, depending on its age, model, capacity and condition.
Keeping the gas heater means keeping up its servicing. Energy Safe Victoria says any gas heater, central heating units included, can spill carbon monoxide, and recommends a service at least once every two years by a qualified gasfitter.
Zoning for winter
The ACT Government says heating only the areas of your home that are in use can be better for energy efficiency. Zone the living areas for the day and the bedrooms for the night. ActronAir notes the system can only be in heating or cooling at one time, with up to a 4 degree difference between zones. Our page on zoning and controllers covers the detail.
What a Toowoomba ducted quote should show
- The heating capacity and input power in kW, worked out room by room.
- The zones, and a temperature sensor for each one you'll use often.
- The duct insulation rating, and how the ceiling insulation will be restored.
- If gas ducted heating is going: new ducting, and who disconnects the heater under which licence.
- Whether a 3-phase power upgrade is needed for a large system.
- The ARC licence held: a system of 18kW or more needs RAC01.
- The QBCC licence number and the RTA number.
What we'd do
Our take
We'd size a Toowoomba ducted system for the coldest mornings, insist on R1.5 or better on the ducts, and zone living areas apart from bedrooms. If the gas heater is old, we'd get a quote for the full switch to reverse cycle with new ducts. If it's sound and cooling is all you're after, we'd have a ducted specialist check whether add-on cooling suits it first. Either way, it's a job for someone who works in Toowoomba roof spaces every week.
