Live comfortably in Australia’s harsh climate

For most Aussie homes, heating and cooling are the biggest contributors to your energy bill. Our diverse climate requires most homes to have heating or cooling available at some point in the year. Several factors contribute to how much heating and cooling is needed, including the size, orientation, and configuration of your home. Let’s dive into the most efficient way to heat and cool your home while also keeping your energy bills low and protecting the planet.

What is a reverse-cycle air conditioner?

Sounds fancy - but simply, a reverse-cycle air conditioner does two things: it heats and it cools. It achieves this by moving existing heat from one place to another. It's significantly more efficient than traditional heating and cooling methods, which use an energy source such as gas or electricity to create heat. If you're not familiar with heat pumps, you already have at least one in your home: your refrigerator. It uses a refrigerant cycle to move or ‘pump’ heat from one place to another. Common reverse-cycle air conditioners are either mounted on your wall or ducted throughout the home.

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Buying the right air conditioner

When you want to install or replace air conditioning units in your home, it is crucial to pick the right size. Having a bigger unit in a room is less of a problem because you can run it at a lower capacity. Ensuring the unit is big enough for your living space is essential to enjoy the room at the temperature you like.


Our free home assessment can help you pick the right size. You can use the guide below to determine the right size for your home.

2.5kW System

Suitable for a small bedroom or study area (up to 20㎡)

3.5 kW System

Suitable for a moderate bedroom with an ensuite (21㎡ to 40㎡)

7.2 kW System

Suitable for a moderate living room or kitchen area (41㎡ to 60㎡)

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Save even more with government rebates

The NSW and Victorian governments have rebates for replacing your air conditioner and the amount depends on the type of system you are replacing. Complete our home scan to see how much the government will pay for replacing your system.

Better for your health and your home

Using gas inside your home, whether for heating or cooking, comes with health risks and can cause respiratory problems. Replacing gas heating systems is safer, healthier, and better for your back pocket.
A reverse-cycle air conditioner is a great choice for cooling and heating the air that you breathe as it functions as a heat pump and is efficient and safe. This means they are cheaper to run, safer, and more reliable than systems that rely on gas or electricity. Read here to see how they work, the costs and benefits of replacing your old system, and how you can access government rebates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to questions about heating and cooling your home.

Reverse-cycle systems can both heat and cool using the same equipment, and like heat pumps, they move heat rather than generate it. This results in efficiency ratings of 300-600% compared to traditional systems.
It depends, ducted air-conditioning can achieve this when properly sized and installed with appropriate ducting or multiple indoor units. Zone control allows you to heat or cool specific areas as needed, further improving efficiency. If using a split-system, multiple units can be required depending on the size of your home.
For optimal efficiency, set cooling to 24-26°C in summer and heating to 18-20°C in winter. Each degree closer to outside temperature can save 5-10% on operating costs.
An oversized system will cycle on and off too frequently, reducing efficiency and comfort while increasing wear. An undersized system will run continuously without reaching desired temperatures. 28Watt can help with sizing calculations that consider home size, insulation, climate, and usage patterns.
Regular maintenance can prevent efficiency losses of 5-15% annually. Key maintenance tasks include cleaning or replacing filters every 6 months, keeping outdoor units clear of debris, checking refrigerant levels annually, and ensuring ductwork remains sealed and insulated.

Upgrade your home today!

Discover how 28Watt can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

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