Air Conditioning Richmond
Richmond is one of Melbourne’s most tightly held inner-city suburbs, known for its Victorian and Edwardian terraces, converted warehouses and a mix of residential and light commercial properties packed into a relatively small area. That heritage character is a big part of Richmond’s appeal, but it also creates specific challenges when it comes to installing modern air conditioning.
Older Homes and Heritage Considerations
A large proportion of Richmond’s housing stock dates from the 1880s through to the 1920s. These terraces and semi-detached homes were built without air conditioning in mind, and the architectural features that make them attractive, including high ceilings, ornate plasterwork, original cornices and narrow service lanes, need to be respected during any installation.
Heritage considerations vary depending on whether your property is individually listed or in a heritage overlay area. Most of Richmond falls within the City of Yarra’s heritage overlay zones, which means any work affecting the external appearance of the building may require a planning permit. This typically applies to outdoor unit placement on front facades or street-facing walls.
Our team can advise on compliant installation configurations that preserve the visual character of your property. For most terrace homes, the practical answer is to route refrigerant lines through roof cavities and position the outdoor unit at the rear of the property, out of sight from the street.
What System Suits a Richmond Terrace?
Victorian and Edwardian terraces typically have a long, narrow floor plan. The front of the house, usually facing south or north depending on the street, contains the main rooms, while the rear kitchen and extension area often face into a small courtyard.
For a typical Richmond terrace with three to four rooms across two levels, a multi-split system with heads in the main living area and two bedrooms is the most practical solution. This avoids the disruption of ducted installation, which would require significant roof cavity work in a terrace with limited roof space, and gives you independent temperature control in each room.
Single-room split system installations are also popular, particularly in the living and dining area, with residents choosing to manage bedroom comfort with ceiling fans and ventilation.
Converted Warehouses and Apartments
Cremorne, immediately adjacent to Richmond, is home to many converted commercial buildings now used as residential apartments. These spaces often have large open floor areas, high ceilings and industrial-style glazing that creates a significant cooling and heating load. A standard residential split system may not be adequate for the volume and the glass area involved.
For converted warehouse spaces, our team will calculate the room volume as well as the floor area, and factor in solar gain from exposed glass. A larger-capacity unit or a cassette-style system that distributes air more evenly across a large open plan can be the better choice.
Melbourne’s Winters in Richmond
Richmond’s inner-city location means Melbourne’s variable winters hit full force. The suburb’s density provides some urban heat island benefit, but overnight temperatures still drop to 5 or 6 degrees regularly in July. Reverse-cycle systems handle this well, but it is worth choosing a model with a good heating efficiency rating as well as a strong cooling COP. Our Running Cost Estimator helps you compare heating and cooling running costs across different models.
Get a Free Quote in Richmond
Contact us for a free quote covering Richmond and the surrounding inner east suburbs including South Yarra, Collingwood and Cremorne. Our licensed installers are experienced with heritage properties and will ensure your installation is both compliant and sympathetic to your home’s character.
Use our AC Size Calculator for a starting point, then call us to discuss your specific property requirements.