Hunters Hill is careful-work territory and we treat it that way. Some of the oldest homes in the country sit on this peninsula - sandstone, timber, slate roofs, conservation rules - and air conditioning them is a craft job, not a drill-and-go. We plan every penetration, hide every pipe run, and put outdoor units where neither you nor the neighbours look at them.
The stock runs from 1800s sandstone and Victorian timber through Federation brick to a layer of newer prestige builds along the water. Roof spaces are often tight or oddly framed, which rules out standard ducted in plenty of homes - that's where slim-duct systems, multi-heads and well-placed splits earn their keep.
After air conditioning in Hunters Hill? Jay's Air has been doing it since 1991. For the heritage homes, a discreet 2.5kW split runs $1,800 to $2,100, a multi-head covering three rooms $6,500 to $8,500, and a slim-duct or conventional ducted system $8,000 to $12,500 depending on the roof. Fault-finding is $250 plus GST, fix quoted first. 4.8 stars from 280+ reviews.
The question we get most here: can you air condition a heritage home without wrecking it? Yes - and the answer is planning. Slim-duct units fit roof spaces standard gear can't, multi-heads cool several rooms off one hidden outdoor unit, and high-mounted splits handle big rooms without touching original ceilings or mouldings.
A lot of Hunters Hill roofs can't take a full-size ducted unit - tight framing, slate above, no crane access. Slim-duct (bulkhead) systems run a low-profile unit in a hallway ceiling or cupboard with short duct runs to nearby rooms. You get the ducted look - just vents, no wall heads - in homes that were never built for it.
On the newer prestige builds it's conventional zoned ducted, 12.5 to 16kW depending on size, done tidy. Whatever the house, size it properly with the sizing calculator and check the pricing guide before anyone quotes you.
Hunters Hill sits on our lower North Shore run with Ryde, Balmain and North Sydney.
The ducted air conditioning Hunters Hill homes can take depends entirely on the roof, so we start every quote in the roof space, not at the brochure. Conventional zoned systems go into the newer builds and the Federation homes with generous framing. Slim-duct handles the tight ones. Mick has run our installs since 2009 and the heritage jobs are the ones he's fussiest about. Fixed quote, lifetime workmanship warranty.
Because careful matters here. Penetrations planned around heritage fabric, pipe runs concealed, outdoor units sited for silence and invisibility, and a tidy site every day we're on it.
Mick Daly runs the installs and has since 2009. Noah Hall handles the splits. Ben does quotes and diagnostics himself, and for air conditioning repairs Hunters Hill gets the same straight answer as everyone: what it is, what it costs, whether it's worth it.
Credentials: in business since 1991, 4.8 stars from 280+ reviews, NSW licence 273312C, ARCtick AU13058, $20M public liability. We install Panasonic, Daikin and Actron and repair every brand.
Hours are Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm, Saturdays by arrangement.
Give us a bell on (02) 9820 4500.
Jays Air Jobs Done in Hunters Hill
Three recent ones from the peninsula.
Yes, without wrecking it. Slim-duct systems suit tight rooflines, multi-heads cool several rooms off one hidden outdoor unit, and high-mounted splits avoid original ceilings entirely. Planning is the whole job.
A discreet split is $1,800 to $2,100, a three-room multi-head $6,500 to $8,500, and slim-duct or conventional ducted $8,000 to $12,500 depending on the roof. Fixed quote after we’ve actually looked at the roof space.
A low-profile ducted unit that fits in a bulkhead, hallway ceiling or cupboard where a standard unit won’t go. Short duct runs, ceiling vents, nothing on the walls – the ducted look in homes never built for ducted.
Jay’s Air. Family run since 1991, our own blokes not subbies, fixed pricing, 4.8 stars from 280+ reviews. Licence 273312C, ARCtick AU13058. (02) 9820 4500.
From a hidden multi-head behind a sandstone garden wall to a fully zoned system in a waterside build, we install, repair and service the lot across Hunters Hill and the peninsula.
High ceilings change the maths. The grand old rooms here hold more air than their floor area suggests, so size on volume, not square metres - it's the difference between a system that copes and one that loafs. The sizing calculator handles it in two minutes.
And insist on concealed pipe runs in writing. The difference between a craft install and a quick one is mostly visible copper, and on these houses it matters at sale time.
