Evaporative Cooling vs Refrigerated: Which Suits Bendigo?

Central Victoria's summers are hot and mostly dry, which is exactly the climate evaporative cooling was made for. That said, refrigerated cooling has come a long way and suits plenty of Bendigo homes better. Here's how the two compare in plain terms.

How each one works

Evaporative cooling draws hot outside air through wet filter pads and pushes the cooled air through your home. Windows and doors need to be open a little so the air can escape. Refrigerated cooling – split systems and ducted reverse-cycle – recirculates the air inside your home and removes both heat and moisture, with the house sealed up.

Running costs

Evaporative is the cheaper of the two to run. It's essentially a big fan and a water pump, so power use is low, though it does use water on hot days. Refrigerated costs more per hour but modern inverter units are far more efficient than older systems, and if you're only cooling the rooms you're using, the gap narrows.

Where evaporative wins

On a dry 38-degree Bendigo day, evaporative cooling does a genuinely good job for very little money. It brings in constant fresh air, which suits people with allergies or anyone who doesn't like the closed-up feeling of refrigerated air. It's also usually cheaper to install if you already have roof access and suitable ducting.

Where refrigerated wins

Humid days are the weak point of evaporative cooling – when there's moisture in the air already, it simply can't cool as well, and we get a run of those days each summer. Refrigerated cooling doesn't care about humidity, it can hold a set temperature, and it works with the house closed up, which matters for security, noise and smoke from summer fires. If you choose reverse-cycle, you also get heating from the same system.

What about upfront cost?

Evaporative is generally the cheaper installation for a whole house. A ducted refrigerated system costs more but replaces two systems in one. Splits sit in the middle and can be added one at a time as the budget allows.

Our usual advice

If you want low running costs, fresh air and you're comfortable with windows cracked open, evaporative is hard to beat in Bendigo. If you want a set temperature no matter the weather, a closed-up house, or heating and cooling from one unit, go refrigerated. Some homes we do a mix – evaporative through the house and a split in the main bedroom for sticky nights.

Need a hand?

We're a local Bendigo team and we're happy to take a look. Give us a call on (03) 5444 4677 for honest advice and a free quote.