One room, one indoor unit. Fast install, real comfort.
A split system has two parts — a wall-mounted indoor unit and an outdoor condenser — connected by refrigerant lines through a small wall penetration. It's the most affordable and quickest way to add reverse cycle heating and cooling to a single room.
Installed split system
A wall-mounted split sits high on the wall — visible but unobtrusive, doing its job without dominating the room. The fastest path from "we need AC in here" to "it's done."
Three levels of visibility — split is the most affordable
Air conditioning has three main visibility tiers in a residential setting. Split is the entry point — lowest cost, easiest install, but the indoor unit always shows on the wall.
Wall split
Indoor unit mounts directly on the wall. Lowest cost, easiest install, but always visible. Best for single rooms where wall presence isn't an issue.
Bulkhead
Unit hides in a plasterboard soffit, usually above a hallway. Only the slot diffuser shows. Cheaper than full ducted, much more discreet than a split.
Fully ducted
Equipment lives in the ceiling cavity, vents flush with the ceiling. Whole-home coverage, highest install cost, requires accessible ceiling space.
Not every split looks the same — three formats to choose from
The classic high-wall split is the format most people picture. But "split system" technically covers a few different layouts, each suited to a slightly different scenario.
High-wall split
One indoor unit, one outdoor unit. Mounted high on the wall to optimise airflow and stay out of the way.
- Single-room targeted
- Quickest install (usually one day)
- Lowest install cost
- Wi-Fi and smartphone control options
- 5–7 year warranty depending on brand
Multi-split
One outdoor unit running multiple indoor units across different rooms — each with its own temperature control.
- 2–5 indoor units from one outdoor compressor
- Each room controlled independently
- Reduces outdoor equipment footprint
- Good for homes where ducted isn't practical
- Higher install cost than single split, lower than ducted
Cassette split
The indoor unit installs flush into the ceiling cavity instead of on a wall. Air disperses one-way or four-way from a square or round grille.
- No wall presence — only the ceiling grille shows
- Better airflow distribution in open-plan spaces
- Common in offices and retail; some residential
- Needs accessible ceiling cavity
It's the right answer when any of these apply
Splits aren't the right answer for every home — but in these situations, they almost always are.
Just one room needs treating
A bedroom, study, home office, or a single living area. Whole-home ducted is overkill for a one-room problem — a split is the right-sized solution.
You need it done fast
Most split installs are completed in a single day. No ceiling work, no plasterboard, no architectural coordination — just refrigerant lines through a small wall penetration.
Budget matters
Splits are the lowest-cost reverse cycle option. If you're balancing comfort against budget — or testing AC in one room before committing to whole-home — start here.
Retrofitting an existing home
Splits work in homes that weren't designed for AC. No ceiling cavity required, no major construction — just a clear wall and an outdoor location for the condenser.
What you need to know before booking the install
Splits are the easiest AC system to install — but a good split install still depends on a few decisions made up front. Getting these right means the system runs efficiently, looks neat, and lasts the warranty period without issue.
If a split isn't the right answer for your home, we'll tell you that on the assessment — not after a deposit's down.
Get a Free AssessmentWhat to weigh up
Split system questions answered
Does a split actually heat as well as cool?
Yes — every split we install is reverse cycle, meaning it both heats and cools using the same equipment. Heating performance is genuinely good down to about 2°C outside; below that, performance does taper. For most Melbourne homes, a reverse cycle split is a credible primary heating source for a room, not just a cooling system that happens to have a heat mode.
How much does a split system cost to install?
It depends on the room size, brand, and the outdoor unit location — but splits are the most affordable AC system to install across the board. We'll give you a fixed quote after a site assessment. No surprises, no "extras" added later.
How long does the install take?
Most single splits are installed in one day — typically 4–6 hours of work, including running refrigerant lines through the wall, mounting the indoor unit, siting the outdoor condenser, electrical connection, commissioning and testing. Multi-splits and cassettes take longer depending on how many indoor units are involved.
How noisy are they?
Modern indoor units run at 20–30 dB — quieter than a whisper, often unnoticeable once you're used to it. The outdoor unit is louder (40–55 dB), which is why siting matters — we'll place it away from bedroom windows and consider boundary distances to neighbours.
What size unit does my room need?
Capacity is rated in kW. As a rule of thumb, small bedrooms need 2.0–2.5 kW, medium living rooms 3.5–5.0 kW, and large open-plan spaces 6.0–8.0 kW. We do a proper room assessment during the quote that factors in window orientation, insulation, ceiling height and how the space is used — undersized units run constantly, oversized units cycle inefficiently.
Can I put one in any room?
Almost always, yes. You need: a clear wall area for the indoor unit (typically at least 300mm of clearance above for ceiling-mounted operation), a sensible outdoor location for the condenser (with airflow and within roughly 15m of the indoor unit), and access to a power circuit. We'll work around the rare cases where layout is tricky — for example, where there's no good outdoor site, a different format may be a better fit.
What about maintenance?
Splits are low-maintenance. Filters need cleaning every few months — a 5-minute job you can do yourself. We recommend an annual professional service to check refrigerant charge, clean the coil, and verify the condensate drain. Looked after, a good split runs efficiently for 10–15 years.
What brands do you install?
Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Samsung and Haier are our most common split brands. We recommend based on room conditions and budget — not based on whichever brand we have stock of. Every brand we install has full Australian warranty cover, typically 5 years standard with some extending to 7.
Is a multi-split better than multiple individual splits?
Usually, yes, if you need AC in 2 or more rooms. Multi-splits use a single outdoor compressor running 2–5 indoor units, which reduces outdoor clutter and is often cheaper than installing several standalone units. The trade-off: if the outdoor unit fails, everything stops. Standalone units fail independently. For 4+ rooms, a ducted system usually starts to win on cost-per-room.
One room. One day. Comfort sorted.
Book a free assessment and we'll size the right unit for your room, choose the best brand for your budget, and lock in an install date — most splits installed within two weeks.