Reverse cycle or gas ducted heating for a Warragul home
Old gas ducted heater in Warragul? Victoria's 2025 rules let owner-occupiers keep gas or switch to reverse cycle; compare price, cooling, servicing and power.
Under rules announced in June 2025, owners of an older Warragul gas ducted system can replace it with gas, switch to ducted reverse cycle, or heat the main rooms with splits. Gas ducted usually costs least to install and only heats. Reverse cycle costs more, also cools and can earn a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount when replacing gas.
Do owner-occupiers have to give up gas heating?
No. When the Victorian Government announced its gas changes on 24 June 2025, the Premier’s statement said there are no changes to heating for owner occupiers. AusNet’s summary of the new rules says households can keep using existing gas appliances in good working order, keep repairing them, and replace heaters with gas models if they choose.
The rules that do change apply to rental homes, new homes and gas hot water at the end of its life. Those are set out in the 2027 gas heater rules guide. For an owner living in the house, this is a choice about comfort, cost and what suits the building, not a legal deadline.
What are the three realistic options?
- Like-for-like gas ducted. A new central gas heater connected to the existing ducts, or to new ducts if the old ones have failed. It heats the whole house and does nothing in summer.
- Ducted reverse cycle. An indoor unit in the roof space, an outdoor unit beside the house and ducts to each room. It heats and cools the whole house and runs on electricity alone.
- Splits or a multi-split. Wall-mounted units in the rooms you use most. A multi-split runs two or more indoor heads from one outdoor unit; separate splits each have their own.
How do the options compare side by side?
| Gas ducted heating | Ducted reverse cycle | Multi-split (2 heads) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published installed range | $4,000 to $11,550 | $10,500 to $17,500 | $4,200 to $7,900 |
| Range basis | Melbourne metro guide | Gippsland row, 3 bedroom house | Melbourne metro guide |
| Cools in summer | No | Yes | Yes, in the rooms with a head |
| Needs a gas supply | Mains gas or LPG | No | No |
| Heats the whole house | Yes, through ducts | Yes, through ducts, with zoning as an option | Only the rooms fitted |
| Who services it | Licensed gasfitter (Type A appliance servicing) | ARC-licensed refrigeration technician | ARC-licensed refrigeration technician |
| Servicing advice | At least every two years, with a carbon monoxide test | Filter cleaning and periodic professional service | Filter cleaning and periodic professional service |
| Electrical load | Low, fan and controls only | High, may need a switchboard upgrade or three phase | Moderate to high, needs a dedicated circuit |
| VEU discount | Not eligible | Eligible when replacing gas, via an accredited provider | Eligible when replacing gas, via an accredited provider |
The price rows come from What’s The Damage (Melbourne metro, GST included, verified October 2026) and The Quote Yard (Gippsland row, standard installation without electrical upgrades). The full set of ranges, with extras, is on the Warragul heating and cooling cost page.
Running costs are deliberately missing from the table. No current primary source comparing gas and reverse cycle running costs for this area was found, so any figure would be a guess.
When does keeping gas ducted make sense?
Replacing like with like is often the cheapest path when the ducts are sound. What’s The Damage notes that if the ductwork is in good order, replacing only the heater unit usually costs less than a new system. Keeping gas can also suit you when:
- the switchboard is old and a reverse cycle system would trigger an upgrade or three phase work
- the household mainly wants winter heat and does not use cooling much
- you are planning to sell soon and want the lowest outlay that leaves working heating
The trade-off is that summer cooling stays a separate question, and gas heaters need regular safety servicing. Energy Safe Victoria recommends that every gas heater, central units included, is serviced at least every two years by a qualified gasfitter who also tests for carbon monoxide leakage. The gas ducted heating service page covers that work and like-for-like replacement.
When does ducted reverse cycle make more sense?
Reverse cycle suits a household that wants one system for winter and summer. It also suits homes where the existing ducts are tired or undersized, since a ducted reverse cycle job replaces them anyway. Points in its favour:
- one system covers heating and cooling, so you are not maintaining a heater and a cooler
- no gas connection is needed for heating, which matters if you want to close the gas account entirely later
- the state program can take a discount off the price when it replaces gas heating, arranged through an accredited provider before the job starts
Points against: the up-front range is higher, the outdoor unit needs a sensible spot clear of bedrooms and the boundary, and the electrical supply has to carry the load. An older board may not have room or capacity for the extra circuit, and a large ducted unit can call for three phase supply, so a careful provider will look at the switchboard before quoting, not after.
When do splits or a multi-split work better?
If the household spends most of its time in the living area and one or two bedrooms, heating every room through ducts may be more system than you need. A multi-split puts heads only where they are used and keeps one outdoor unit, which helps on narrow side setbacks. Separate splits cost less per room and keep running if one fails. Either route leaves the old gas ducted heater to be removed, or kept for back-up while it still runs safely.
What should a provider check before recommending one?
A sound recommendation comes from looking at the house, not from a brochure. Expect the provider to:
- measure the rooms and ask about insulation, ceiling height and window size, because the program advice is to have the installer visit and size the system on site
- inspect the existing ducts in the roof space for damage, crushing or poor insulation
- look at the switchboard and the incoming supply
- find a position for an outdoor unit and check its noise level against nearby windows
- confirm whether you are on mains gas or bottled LPG, since that changes what removing gas involves
- state the heating and cooling capacity and the outdoor noise level on the quote
If you decide to switch, the gas line has to be disconnected and capped by a licensed gasfitter and the new circuit certified by a licensed electrician. The gas to electric heating upgrade page explains how those trades are sequenced.
You can compare a gas and a reverse cycle option on one enquiry and ask the provider to price both.
What about Warragul’s winters and the house itself?
West Gippsland winters are cold and damp, so heating output on the coldest mornings matters more here than summer cooling capacity. Ask each provider what heating output their reverse cycle proposal delivers and whether it suits a house of your size and insulation level. Older weatherboard houses with little ceiling insulation lose heat quickly whichever system you pick, so insulation and draught sealing can change the size of system you need. The provider who quotes is an independent local business, and it should explain its sizing in plain terms.
Next step: get both options priced
Send a gas versus reverse cycle enquiry with the age and brand of your current gas ducted heater (the label is usually on the unit in the roof, under the house or in a cupboard), whether the ducts have been replaced, the number of bedrooms, whether you are on mains gas or LPG, a photo of the switchboard, and a note of which rooms you most need warm. Ask for one price to replace the gas heater like for like and one for ducted reverse cycle so you can compare them on the same page.
Frequently asked questions
- Is reverse cycle warm enough for a Warragul winter?
A correctly sized system is designed to heat the house on cold mornings, but sizing is the key. Ask each provider to state the rated heating capacity on the quote and to explain how they sized it for your rooms, insulation and windows. An undersized unit will struggle in July whatever the brand.
- Can I keep my gas ducted heating and add cooling separately?
Yes. Some households keep a sound gas ducted heater and add a split in the living area, or keep an existing evaporative cooler. You end up maintaining two systems, and the gas heater still needs its two-yearly safety service, but it can cost less up front than replacing everything.
- Can a reverse cycle system use my old gas heating ducts?
Sometimes, if the ducts are the right size and in good condition, but many providers prefer new ducts sized for the reverse cycle unit. Old ducts may be crushed, poorly insulated or laid out for a different airflow. The provider should inspect them in the roof space before deciding.
- Do I lose anything by removing gas from the house?
If gas only runs the heater, you can ask your retailer about closing the gas account once the heater is gone. If gas also runs your cooktop or hot water, those stay connected unless you replace them too. Disconnecting and capping a gas line is work for a licensed gasfitter.
- Which option suits a house that will be sold soon?
It depends on what buyers in your part of Baw Baw expect and on your budget. Like-for-like gas replacement is usually the lowest outlay, while reverse cycle adds cooling. A local agent can tell you what buyers ask about, and a heating provider can price both options for comparison.