Air Conditioning Installation Wavell Heights
So many Wavell Heights post-war homes are being extended, raised or opened up. If yours is one of them, the best time to plan air con is before the walls and ceilings close in.
Reviewed by Lee Gundenswager (Lead Electrician, Connex Lic #92217) and Darren Standring (Owner). Last updated 2026-10-28.
Planning air con into a Wavell Heights renovation
Adding air con during a renovation is cheaper, tidier and gives you far more choice than retrofitting it afterwards.
Wavell Heights was once known as West Nundah. In 1941 the council asked for it to be renamed after Field Marshal Lord Wavell, and the suburb filled out in the post-war push into northern Brisbane. Wavell Heights State School opened in 1948 and Wavell State High School in 1959, and primary enrolments passed 900 in the 1950s and 60s. It is still a family suburb, with around one in five residents under 15 in 2011.
The result is street after street of post-war homes that are now being renovated: back extensions, new kitchens, raised and built-in lower levels. Each of those projects is a chance to rough in air con while the framing is exposed. Pipework and drains can be hidden inside walls, a ducted system can go in before the new ceiling, and the switchboard can be sized for everything at once.
The suburb is almost entirely residential, and several early farmhouses and residences sit on the Brisbane Heritage Register, along with Anzac Cottage on Rode Road. If your home is one of those, or sits in a character area, tell us early so the outdoor equipment can be placed sensitively.
Connex Electrical is based in Mango Hill and works through the inner northside, including Wavell Heights, Nundah, Kedron and Chermside. Also see EV charger installation in Wavell Heights and Electrician Wavell Heights.
What we can rough in during a build
Refrigerant pipes, power cable and the condensate drain can all be installed in open walls and ceilings, then capped until the room is finished. On fit-off day the indoor and outdoor units go on and the system is commissioned.
It works for splits, multi-head and ducted, and it means no visible pipe covers inside the new rooms.
Working alongside your builder
We coordinate with your builder on timing: rough-in before plasterboard, fit-off after painting. Give us the plans early and we will mark unit positions, ceiling access for ducted and where the condenser pad goes.
Owner-builders are welcome too. We will tell you exactly which stage we need to be booked in at.
Sizing the board for the new house
An extension usually adds lights, power and appliances as well as air con. A post-war board may not have room. Upgrading the switchboard during the renovation, at $1,320 to $3,850 incl. GST, avoids doing it twice.
Air conditioning services for Wavell Heights homes
Whether the house is mid-renovation or finished years ago.
Renovation rough-in
Concealed pipe, cable and drain runs installed while walls and ceilings are open, ready for fit-off.
Ducted for raised homes
Raise-and-build projects often suit zoned ducted between floors. Quoted after a free assessment.
Retrofit splits
Not renovating? Standard back-to-back splits installed from $1,120 incl. GST if you supply the unit.
Service and care
Builder's dust is hard on new units. A post-renovation clean keeps them running well.
Also on offer in Wavell Heights
- Air con for kids' bedrooms and play rooms
- Relocating old units out of the way of an extension
- Rough-in only, with fit-off at a later date
- Condenser pads and wall brackets
- Dedicated circuits with RCBO protection
- Switchboard upgrades during renovations
- Discreet installs on heritage-listed homes
Air conditioning costs in Wavell Heights
Set prices for standard installs, and written quotes for renovation work.
Retrofitting a single split on a back-to-back wall in an existing room is from $1,120 incl. GST with your unit, or from $1,650 incl. GST with a TCL 2.5 kW split supplied. Renovation rough-in, ducted and multi-head jobs depend on the plans, so we quote them after a free assessment or a look at your drawings. Additional costs may apply for non-standard installs.
Building a budget? Our Brisbane installation cost guide helps you plan.
| Common Wavell Heights AC jobs | Price (incl. GST) |
|---|---|
| Split system, installation only (back-to-back) | From $1,120 |
| TCL 2.5 kW split, supply and install | From $1,650 |
| Renovation rough-in and fit-off | Free assessment |
| Zoned ducted system | Free assessment |
| RCBO for new circuit | $180 to $400 |
| Switchboard upgrade | $1,320 to $3,850 |
Confirmed in writing before work starts. See all prices.
How we fit in with your renovation
Review the plans
We go through your drawings or the site with you and mark where every unit, pipe and drain will go.
Rough-in stage
Pipes, cables and drains are run and pressure checked while the frame is open.
Fit-off stage
After painting, indoor and outdoor units go on, then the system is vacuumed, charged and tested.
Paperwork
You receive a certificate of compliance for your records and your builder's handover file.
Renovating in Wavell Heights?
Call us before the plasterboard goes up and we will plan air con into the build.
Why Wavell Heights renovators work with Connex
Two stages, one contractor
We handle rough-in, fit-off, wiring and refrigerant work without passing you between trades.
Easy for builders
Clear timing, tidy work and no surprises at handover.
Fully licensed
Electrical Contractor Licence #92217 and ARC licence #AU42842.
Experienced team
Owner Darren Standring has been a qualified electrician since 1997, with Lee Gundenswager leading installs.
GST-inclusive quotes
Written prices with GST included and no callout fee on booked work.
Well reviewed
A 5.0 rating on Google and 5,000+ customers since 2014.
Wavell Heights air con FAQs
When should air con be planned in a renovation?
At the design stage, or at the latest before the walls are lined. That lets us hide pipes and drains inside the frame and confirm ceiling space for ducted. Retrofitting later is possible but usually means visible covers or longer runs.
Is ducted a good idea for a raised and built-in home?
Often, yes. With a new lower level there is a chance to run ductwork in the new ceiling and zone each floor. We look at roof and ceiling space before recommending it.
Can you install the pipework now and the units later?
Yes. Many people rough in during the build and add the indoor and outdoor units when the budget allows. The pipes are capped and labelled so fit-off is simple.
My existing split is where the extension is going. What happens?
We can recover the refrigerant, remove the unit before demolition and reinstall it or a new one in a better spot once the extension is up. Reusing a unit depends on its age and condition.
What size air con suits a child's bedroom?
A 2.5 kW split is usually plenty for a standard bedroom. Our sizing guide explains when to go bigger.
Do you also do the rest of the electrical work for a renovation?
Yes. Lighting, power, smoke alarms and switchboards are core electrical work for us. See our Wavell Heights electrician page.
More northside suburbs we service
We install air conditioning around Wavell Heights and beyond.
Build air con into your Wavell Heights home
Call 0474 207 609 or send us your plans for a free quote. We will work around your builder and confirm every price in writing, GST included.
Electrical Licence #92217 · ARC #AU42842 · $20M Public Liability · ABN 37 665 474 537
