Gas to electric heating upgrades in Traralgon
Replacing a gas heater with reverse cycle in Traralgon: room, multi-split and ducted options, who disconnects the gas, guide costs and the VEU discount.
Replacing a gas heater with reverse cycle in Traralgon usually means one of three set-ups: a single split system for the main living area, a multi-split with heads in two or more rooms, or a ducted reverse cycle system for the whole house. A gasfitter disconnects and makes safe the old gas appliance, a refrigerant technician installs the new system, and an electrician connects it to the switchboard. Local businesses that do this work can quote it through this site; the business you choose carries out the job, and the Victorian Energy Upgrades discount, if it applies, comes off their quote.
Why are Latrobe Valley households switching from gas?
People give a few reasons. Some have an old gas wall furnace or room heater that is due for replacement anyway. Some want cooling as well as heating, and a reverse cycle unit does both. Others are trying to drop their gas connection once every gas appliance in the house has been replaced.
Owner-occupiers do not have to make the change. In an existing home you may keep a gas heater or cooktop for as long as it lasts, and have it serviced and fixed as usual; switching is a choice for owners. You can read this on the Energy Victoria existing residential buildings page. Rental homes have their own rules from 2027, and the guide do I have to replace my gas heater sets out what applies to owners, landlords and renters.
Hot water is a separate matter. Victorian homes that already exist lose the option of a new gas water heater on 1 March 2027; when an old gas unit fails after that date, its replacement must be electric. Hot water systems are outside what this site covers.
Which reverse cycle option replaces which gas heater?
The right replacement depends on what you have now and how much of the house you want to heat.
| What you have now | Common replacement | Melbourne guide range |
|---|---|---|
| One gas wall furnace or room heater in the lounge | A single split system sized for the living area, often around 5 kW | $1,900 to $3,675 |
| A gas room heater plus cold bedrooms with no heating | A multi-split, one outdoor unit and a head in each room | $4,200 to $7,900 for two heads |
| A gas ducted heater in the roof or under the floor | A ducted reverse cycle system | $8,400 to $14,700 for a basic system |
These figures are Melbourne metro guide ranges that include GST. A Latrobe Valley installer may quote above or below them, and the final price depends on the size of the system, pipe and cable runs, the switchboard and what has to be removed. Getting a gas to electric switch quoted on site is the only way to pin it down.
Each option has its own page. A single room unit is covered on split system installation, heads in several rooms on multi-split systems, and a whole-house replacement for a ducted gas unit on ducted reverse cycle air conditioning.
Who does each part of the job?
A gas to electric switch crosses three licensed trades. One business may hold all three or bring in others, so ask who will do which part.
- Gas disconnection. Disconnecting the old heater and capping the gas line is gasfitting work. It is done by a gasfitter registered or licensed with the Building and Plumbing Commission. If the old unit is a ducted heater, the flue and sometimes the return air box come out as well.
- Reverse cycle installation. Installing and commissioning the new system needs a refrigerant handling licence from the Australian Refrigeration Council, because the work carries a risk of refrigerant emission.
- Electrical connection. Wiring the system to the switchboard, and any new circuit it needs, is work for a licensed electrician. Older switchboards sometimes need upgrading before a large system can go on, and the electrician will tell you if yours does.
The about page lists the public registers where you can check each licence before work starts.
What gets removed and what stays?
Ask the installer to list exactly what will be taken out and what will be left. Common items:
- Wall furnace or room heater. The heater is removed, the gas line capped, and the flue or wall opening sealed. Ask how the wall will be patched and who repaints.
- Ducted gas heater. The furnace comes out. Ductwork may or may not be reused for the new ducted system; that question is covered on the ducted heating ductwork page.
- Other gas appliances. If the cooktop or hot water still runs on gas, the gas meter and supply stay. If the heater is your last gas appliance, ask your energy retailer what is involved in closing the gas account.
How does the Victorian Energy Upgrades discount work on a switch?
The discount is applied to the quote by an accredited provider, or by an installer working with one, so there is no claim to make afterwards. Taking out a ducted gas unit attracts the biggest household discount, and smaller amounts apply when a room heater makes way for a split. Contact the provider before you buy anything: Energy Victoria says retrospective discounts are typically not possible. Eligibility, categories and the steps are set out in the Victorian Energy Upgrades heating discounts guide.
What should a good quote for a gas to electric upgrade show?
The Energy Victoria buyers guide suggests a quote should list the system, its heating and cooling capacity, outdoor noise level, efficiency, installation costs, any discount, warranty and servicing. For a switching job, also check the quote covers:
- Disconnection and capping of the gas appliance by a registered or licensed gasfitter
- Removal and disposal of the old heater and flue
- Making good the wall, floor or ceiling where the heater was
- Any switchboard work and who does it
- Where the outdoor unit will sit and how far the pipes run
- Whether the heating output suits your coldest rooms on a frosty morning
A careful installer visits before quoting, measures the rooms, looks at the insulation and windows, and asks which rooms you use most in winter. They will not quote a whole-house system from a phone call, and they will not leave a gas line uncapped.
Is reverse cycle warm enough for a Traralgon winter?
The coldest reading on record at the Latrobe Valley Airport station is minus 4.8 C, and its Bureau of Meteorology July average low sits at 3.7 C. Reverse cycle units heat by moving heat from outside air, and output drops as the outdoor temperature falls. A system sized properly for the room, with a good heating rating, handles this climate; an undersized one struggles on the coldest mornings. Ask the installer what heating capacity they are allowing for each room and why.
Next step: describe your current heater
When you send a gas to electric heating enquiry, include:
- The type of gas heater you have now (wall furnace, room heater, ducted) and roughly how old it is
- Which rooms you want to heat and cool, with rough sizes
- Which other appliances in the house use gas, such as hot water or the cooktop
- Photos of the heater, its flue, the meter box and the switchboard
- Your suburb, and whether you own the home or rent it
The business that takes the enquiry can then work out which option suits and come out to measure up.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I keep my gas cooktop and hot water if I replace my gas heater with reverse cycle?
Yes. Changing the heater does not force you to change other gas appliances in an existing home. Your gas connection and meter stay for the cooktop and hot water. Hot water is the exception to watch: once 1 March 2027 passes, a worn out gas water heater in an existing home has to give way to an electric one, so budget for that.
- Can I get the VEU discount after the reverse cycle system is already installed?
Plan on no. The discount is built into an accredited provider's quote before the work, and Energy Victoria warns that claiming it after the event is rarely possible. Mention the discount when you first ask for prices.
- What happens to the hole in the wall where the gas wall furnace was?
When a wall furnace comes out, there is usually an opening for the heater and its flue. Some installers patch and seal it as part of the job, others leave it for a plasterer or carpenter. Ask the quote to state who seals the flue opening, who patches the wall and whether painting is included.
- Can renters switch from a gas heater to reverse cycle?
A renter needs the rental provider's approval for heating and cooling work, and Energy Victoria notes this for the VEU discount too. Rental homes also have new minimum standards for heating from 1 March 2027. Speak to the landlord or agent before asking for quotes.
- How long does a gas to reverse cycle changeover take?
It depends on the system. A single split replacing a wall furnace is often done in a day. A ducted system replacing a gas ducted heater can take longer, especially if ducts or the switchboard need work. Ask the installer how many days to allow and whether the house will be without heating at any point.