Can I replace my gas ducted heating with electric?
Yes, and if your heater sits outside the house or under the floor it is far simpler than most people expect. Rather than tearing out your ducts and starting again, we swap the gas unit for an all-electric reverse cycle unit that connects straight into the ductwork and vents you already have. Same vents, same layout, just electric instead of gas, and it cools as well.
Can I add cooling to my existing ducted heating?
This is the part most people do not realise. Your gas ducted heating only heats. When we replace the unit with a Dominator, the same ducts and vents now deliver cooling in summer as well. You are not just replacing a heater, you are turning a winter-only system into whole-home heating and cooling.
What is the electric alternative to a gas ducted heater?
A reverse cycle system. Normally that means a full ducted reverse cycle retrofit with new ducts throughout, which is expensive and messy. The Braemar Dominator Series is the shortcut, an all-electric reverse cycle unit built to drop into the same position as a ducted gas heater and reuse your existing ductwork.
Do I have to replace all my ducts to go electric?
No. That is the whole point of this system and the reason it costs a fraction of a full retrofit. Your existing ducts and ceiling vents stay exactly where they are. We upsize the return air, run a new return air duct and supply duct, and replace the first fitting. No ceiling holes, no plasterer, no painter.
Is it worth getting off gas?
That depends on your situation, and we will give you an honest answer rather than a sales pitch. What we can say is that you remove the gas supply charge for heating, you gain cooling you did not have, you can run it off solar, and the Victorian Energy Upgrades program currently takes around $4,500 off the cost because the government wants these swaps to happen.
How disruptive is the installation?
Very little. Because the unit goes outside or under the floor and we reuse your ductwork, our team is not working through your ceilings or living areas. Most jobs are finished in a day and you are heating and cooling that evening.
How much does it cost to replace an external gas ducted heater with a Braemar Dominator?
Fully installed from $8,790 plus GST. That is what you pay out of pocket, after the $4,500 Victorian Energy Upgrades rebate has already come off. It includes the upsized return air, a new return air duct, a new supply duct and a new first fitting, so there are no surprise extras once we start.
Do I need new ductwork through the whole house?
No, and that is the main reason this system is so much cheaper than a full ducted reverse cycle retrofit. The Dominator connects into your existing ducts and ceiling vents. We upsize the return air, run a new return air duct and supply duct and replace the first fitting, but the rest of your ductwork stays where it is. No ceiling damage and no repainting.
Will it fit under my house?
You need about 500mm of clearance under the floor for an underfloor install. If your existing gas heater sits outside the house instead, that works too, we simply swap it in the same spot. If you are not sure, send us a photo and we will tell you straight away.
Does it work in the cold? We get frosts here.
Yes. It is rated to keep heating in ambient temperatures down to -15 degrees, and it delivers 17kW of heating with a heating range up to 21kW. It uses a micro-channel heat exchanger designed specifically to maximise heating capacity, which is the part that matters in a Macedon Ranges winter.
Can I keep my evaporative cooling?
Yes, and we would encourage it. The Dominator was designed to sit alongside an existing evaporative cooler, so you keep hyper-efficient evap cooling through summer, get proper warmth in winter, and have refrigerated cooling available for the handful of humid days when evaporative cooling is less effective.
Which gas heaters can it replace?
It is a direct replacement for any brand of ducted gas heater. Braemar confirm it replaces Brivis, Bonaire, Rinnai, Braemar, Lennox, Stadt, Celair and Eco Pacific units.
How long does the installation take?
Most jobs are done in a day. Because we are reusing your existing ductwork and vents, there is no ceiling work, no repainting and no need to bring in multiple trades across several days.
What warranty does it come with?
A 5 year comprehensive manufacturer's warranty from Seeley International, backed by a national service network. Braemar has been an Australian brand since 1938 and Seeley is Australia's largest air conditioning manufacturer, designing and building here in Australia.
What about my switchboard?
The system runs on standard single phase power and draws 32 amps. We check your switchboard as part of quoting, so if anything does need attention you know about it before you commit, not halfway through the job.
Is the rebate hard to claim?
You do not claim anything. The discount is applied to your quote up front by an accredited provider, which is why the price you see is already the discounted one. We handle the certificates and the paperwork.
