Melbourne's dry summer heat suits evaporative cooling better than most Australian capitals, but that does not make it the right answer for every home.
Evaporative cooling draws fresh air through wet pads and pushes it through the house with windows cracked open. It is cheap to run, brings in filtered outside air, and handles a 38-degree dry day comfortably. It struggles on humid, muggy nights.
Refrigerated cooling — split systems or ducted reverse cycle — works in any weather, dehumidifies, and can heat in winter from the same equipment. It costs more to install and more per hour to run, but delivers consistent temperature control.
Our rule of thumb: if you already have ducted gas heating and a large open plan home, add-on refrigerated ducted is a strong upgrade. If you want the lowest running cost and don't mind opening windows, evaporative still wins.
