Inverter Efficiency & Running Costs
VRF is one of the most efficient ways to condition a larger building. The inverter compressors ramp output up and down to match the exact load across every connected zone, instead of switching hard on and off, which holds steady temperatures, runs quietly and cuts running costs compared with older constant-speed plant. Because output tracks demand, VRF is especially strong at part load, which is where buildings spend most of their time.
Heat recovery models add another layer of efficiency by reusing waste heat, warming some zones with the heat drawn out of others at the same time. Running fully electric also lets a building pair VRF with rooftop solar to lower running costs further.
Where VRF Makes Sense
VRF suits any building with a lot of independently controlled zones from a compact plant footprint: large multi-storey homes, apartment blocks, offices, retail, hospitality, medical suites and other commercial fit-outs. If a project has more rooms or more load than a single multi split can handle, VRF is usually the answer.
For smaller homes a reverse cycle multi split system is often the better value. We help you weigh up VRF against multi split and ducted at the quote, and we are happy to work with your builder, architect or engineer on the design.
How Far Does VRF Scale?
Depending on the outdoor capacity you install, a VRF system can run from a handful up to dozens of indoor units on the one refrigerant network, across several floors or tenancies. Long pipe runs and modular outdoor units give real flexibility on where the plant sits and how the building is zoned.
The plant is sized to the building's total and diversified load, so it is worth planning any future stages upfront. We work out the right outdoor capacity, indoor selection and control strategy for your building at the free quote.
Installation, Warranty & VEU Rebates in Victoria
A VRF system only performs as well as its design and install. Our licensed, ARCtick-certified technicians size the outdoor plant to the load, select and place each indoor unit, design and run the refrigerant pipework and controls, commission every zone and test the system in both heating and cooling before handover. VRF systems are backed by the manufacturer's warranty when installed correctly, and we stand behind every job with our own workmanship guarantee.
Eligible high-efficiency systems can also attract a discount under the Victorian Government's Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program, which includes commercial as well as residential activities. Eligibility is set per model and activity and the work has to be done by an accredited provider, which we are.
How the VEU Discount Works
An approved high-efficiency system generates energy-saving certificates based on the emissions it avoids over its lifetime. As an accredited installer, we convert those certificates into a discount that comes straight off your install price on the day, rather than something you claim back later.
Eligibility and the certificate value shift with the program settings and the activity, and commercial projects are assessed differently to homes, so we confirm your current eligibility and figure as part of the quote rather than quoting a number blind.
Areas We Serve Across Melbourne
BM Heating & Cooling designs and installs VRF systems right across Melbourne. From our base in the northern suburbs we regularly work through Preston, Reservoir, Coburg, Brunswick, Bundoora, Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Northcote and Thornbury, and out to Melton and the wider metro area. Wherever your project is in Melbourne, we can recommend the right VRF design for your building. See our full list of service areas or browse all multi split systems for smaller homes.
