Air Conditioning in Portarlington
North facing on Port Phillip, with a high proportion of retirees and a big summer influx. Sheltered from the southerly, fully exposed to the northerly.
- Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer
- Heat pump hot water changeovers
- Bellarine service run
- Free site visits
Facing the wrong way for a hot day
Portarlington sits on the northern shore of the Bellarine, 28 kilometres from Geelong, looking out across Port Phillip. It was surveyed around 1850, worked as a grain port through the 1860s and became a seaside resort by the early 1900s. About 3,200 people live here permanently, with a high proportion of retirees and a large seasonal holiday influx on top.
The orientation matters. Facing north across the bay means the town is sheltered from the southerly weather that batters the ocean side of the peninsula, but it is fully open to the hot northerly, which arrives across the water with nothing to slow it. Houses here take more afternoon sun than their equivalents at Ocean Grove.
Older fibro and brick holiday stock
A lot of the town is modest mid century housing, extended over the years. Small roof cavities and switchboards that often need attention.
Sea change rebuilds
Substantial newer homes built for retirement or lifestyle, generally north facing to take the bay view, with the glazing that implies.
A high proportion of retirees
Running cost and quiet operation weigh more here than raw capacity or features.
Mild salt, strong sun
Port Phillip is sheltered water so the salt loading is lower than the ocean side, but the northerly aspect means real afternoon heat.
What Portarlington households ring us about
An older population in older housing produces a fairly consistent set of calls.
Old electric hot water systems
Common in the older stock and expensive to run. A heat pump changeover is usually the biggest single saving available in these houses.
North facing living rooms that overheat
The view is north and so is the afternoon sun. Rooms designed around the outlook take a heavy load in summer.
Ageing systems in older houses
Replacements where the electrical work is as much of the job as the equipment. We assess the switchboard first.
Holiday properties that sit idle
Houses used only over summer, where the system fails on the first weekend of the season.
Access for older residents
Equipment sited and controls chosen so they can actually be reached and operated, not mounted where a ladder is needed to change a filter.
How we work out what a Portarlington house needs
Running cost comes up in most conversations here, and it deserves to.
1. Look at the northern glazing
Rooms oriented to the bay take the afternoon sun. It is the dominant load and it gets measured rather than estimated.
2. Check the hot water system first
In an older Portarlington house this is often the biggest opportunity, and it is easy to overlook while talking about heating.
3. Assess the switchboard
Older stock frequently needs electrical work. We price it into the quote rather than raising it on the day.
4. Talk about running cost, not just price
For a retired household on a fixed income the monthly cost decides whether a system actually gets used.
Matching the problem to the work
What we would normally recommend in Portarlington.
Older house, main living area to fix
A split system or a two head multi, sized for the northern glazing rather than the floor area.
Sea change rebuild
Zoned ducted reverse cycle where the roof space allows, sized for the glass rather than the plan.
Old electric storage hot water
A heat pump replacement. It is normally the largest reduction in an electricity bill available in a house of this type.
Holiday property
Robust splits with simple controls and a service every spring, so it works on the weekend you actually need it.
On the Bellarine and wondering if we come out?
Portarlington is on our regular run and site visits are free. There is no travel charge.
Comparing quotes in Portarlington
The two things most often left out of quotes here are the electrical scope and the running cost.
Is switchboard work included?
In the older housing stock it is regularly needed. A quote that excludes it will raise it on install day.
What will it cost to run?
For a household on a fixed income this matters more than the installed price. Ask for the comparison.
Was the northern aspect considered?
A room facing the bay takes more afternoon sun than a room facing away from it. Sizing should reflect that.
Is the hot water worth looking at too?
If your hot water is old electric, it may be the larger saving. A good quote will raise it even if you did not ask.
Replacing old electric or gas hot water with a heat pump, or inefficient heating with reverse cycle, may attract a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount. Eligibility depends on the equipment, the property and current program rules, which we check for your address.
Portarlington questions
Most relevant services here: heat pump hot water. split system installation. VEU rebate applications.
Nearby: Drysdale, Ocean Grove, Leopold.
Do you actually come out to Portarlington?
Yes, on our regular Bellarine run. Portarlington, Indented Head and St Leonards are all inside our normal service area and inside our Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer territory for the Bellarine. Site visits are free and we do not add a travel charge for the peninsula.
Is salt a problem on the bay side?
Less than on the ocean side. Port Phillip is sheltered water, so the salt loading in Portarlington is milder than at Ocean Grove or Barwon Heads. For a property right on the foreshore a coastal coil is still worth discussing, but we would not specify it automatically the way we do at Thirteenth Beach.
What is the cheapest way to cut our energy bill?
In most older Portarlington houses it is the hot water rather than the heating. Old electric storage systems are the single most expensive appliance in the house, and a heat pump replacement typically cuts that cost to a fraction. Where it replaces qualifying equipment a Victorian Energy Upgrades discount may also apply, which we check for your property.
Why does my north facing living room get so hot?
Because the view and the afternoon sun are in the same direction. North facing glass takes sun for most of the day, and across the water there is nothing to shade it. Sizing for that room specifically, and adding external shading where you can, both do more than extra capacity elsewhere in the house.
Can you work around a property we only use in summer?
Yes. Tell us when the house is empty and we will schedule then. For holiday properties we recommend booking the service in spring rather than waiting for the first hot weekend, when everyone on the peninsula is ringing at once.
Is there much difference between Portarlington and Indented Head or St Leonards?
Not from our point of view. All three sit on the same northern shore, share the same aspect across Port Phillip and have broadly similar housing stock, so the recommendations are much the same. All three are on our regular Bellarine run with no travel charge, and we quote them the same way.
Get a quote in Portarlington
Tell us the age of the house and what heating and hot water you have now. That decides most of the recommendation.
If running cost is your main concern, say so and we will give you a comparison rather than only a price.
Site visits in Portarlington are free and there is no travel charge for the Bellarine.
Phone (03) 5214 8711
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. Weekends by appointment.
Air Conditioning Geelong
Unit 2, 112 Balliang Street
South Geelong VIC 3220