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    • Licensed electrical contractor (REC 38187)
    • Lifetime workmanship guarantee
    • Upfront pricing: you get the price before we start
    • 5.0 from 21 Google reviews
    • Family-run, 19 years in the industry
    • Free, no-obligation quotes
    • Based in Altona Meadows, serving Melbourne's west
    • One local team for electrical, heating and cooling
    • Open Mon–Sat, 7am–5:30pm

    Hobsons Bay · In our service area

    Electrician & air conditioning in Altona3018 · Electrical, heating and cooling

    Electrical repairs, safer power and year-round comfort for homes and properties in Altona. Talk to one team about the fault you need fixed or the upgrade you are planning.

    REC 38187Scope explained before work
    Total Comfort technician beside the service vehicle
    The Total Comfort team. Based in Altona Meadows.

    The local picture

    Work that fits your property

    Altona sits on the bay, and its streets show post-war Melbourne in layers: 1950s and 1960s weatherboards and cream brick houses near the beach, many of them now replaced by townhouses. That makes for very different jobs on neighbouring blocks. An original house might still have a fuse board, ageing cable in the roof and a gas space heater in the lounge, while the townhouses next door need wiring and air conditioning planned from scratch. Close to the water, salt air also shapes what we fit outside, from air-conditioning units to garden lights and weatherproof power points.

    Every installation is different. We start with the symptoms, existing equipment and access, then explain the work needed and the options available.

    Local council
    Hobsons Bay City Council
    Property settings
    Post war weatherboards, Cream brick houses, Townhouses
    Booking
    Published service area. Contact us for available appointments.
    Hours
    Mon–Sat, 7am–5:30pm

    Homes in Altona

    1950s and 1960s weatherboards

    Many of these houses have been part-rewired over the years, which is what makes them tricky: a newer kitchen or extension circuit sitting beside original cabling in the roof and walls. Early rubber-insulated cable goes brittle with age and can crumble when disturbed, so we look before we move anything. Weatherboards on stumps do have one advantage. The underfloor space makes it easier to run new cable and the pipework for a split system without opening walls.

    Cream brick houses

    Cream brick homes of the late 1950s and 1960s are solid, but their switchboards often sit on old backing boards with ceramic fuses. WorkSafe Victoria lists switchboards and their backing boards, and ceramic fuses, among typical uses of asbestos, particularly in buildings constructed or renovated before the late 1980s. We treat old boards that way: no drilling or cutting until the material is known, and where a board has deteriorated, a licensed asbestos removalist may be needed.

    Townhouses on redeveloped blocks

    Where an original house has come down, two or three townhouses usually go up in its place, wired new from the switchboard out. The work is in the planning: enough capacity for cooking, hot water, heating and cooling on one board, outdoor units that fit narrow side setbacks without blocking access, and cable routes agreed before plaster goes on. Getting the electrical and air-conditioning rough-in done by one team avoids clashes in the ceiling.

    Heating and cooling in Altona

    In unrenovated Altona homes the lounge often still has a gas space heater, sometimes an older open-flued type, which Energy Safe Victoria says can spill carbon monoxide more easily than other heaters. Renovating or draught-sealing around one can change the ventilation it relies on. Reverse-cycle splits are the usual replacement, covering heating and cooling in one unit. Near the beach, we choose outdoor units with corrosion protection and set them out of the worst of the bay wind where the layout allows.

    Common jobs in Altona

    Explore the work, what a visit involves and the questions to ask before booking.

    Local notes

    Post-war character streets

    Altona is part of Hobsons Bay City, whose planning scheme names the post-war industrial and residential expansion that transformed Altona and Laverton as a key heritage theme. Schedule 2 to the Neighbourhood Residential Zone covers Special Character Areas in Altona, aiming to preserve intact post-war brick and weatherboard homes with garden settings, generous setbacks and low front fences. In those streets we keep outdoor units and conduit off the street-facing walls wherever the layout allows.

    A bayside suburb

    Hobsons Bay has more than 20 kilometres of bay frontage, and many of Altona's houses sit near the beach. Salt-laden air is hard on anything metal left outside: condenser coils, unit casings, light fittings, weatherproof outlets and the screws holding them on. For homes close to the water we favour fittings and units built for coastal conditions, stainless or coated fixings, and servicing that includes rinsing outdoor coils.

    Weather that turns quickly

    The Bureau of Meteorology describes Melbourne as sitting between the hot, dry interior to the north and the cold Southern Ocean to the south. Warm northerly winds arrive first, then a cold front can change conditions within minutes. A house here can need cooling at lunchtime and heating by evening, which is a strong argument for reverse-cycle equipment that does both well.

    Worth reading first

    From your enquiry to the finished job

    1. Step 1: Tell us about the property

      Share your Altona address, what is happening and the work you have in mind. Equipment models and clear photos can help.

    2. Step 2: Confirm access and scope

      We discuss availability, the checks required and who can approve the work. Any visit or travel arrangements are explained.

    3. Step 3: Understand the options

      The existing installation is assessed and the proposed work and price are explained before you decide.

    4. Step 4: Complete and hand over

      Agreed work is completed and checked, the area is tidied, and the relevant operating advice and documentation are provided.

    Electrical + heating + cooling

    Explore the full service range

    All services

    Every electrical, heating and cooling service, by category

    Repairs & faults

    Power off, breakers tripping, sparks or a burning smell. Found and fixed properly.

    Upgrades & safety

    Switchboards, safety switches, smoke alarms, rewiring and EV chargers.

    Lighting & power

    LEDs, garden lights, security cameras, power points, fans, ovens and cooktops.

    Air conditioning

    Split, ducted, multi-head and evaporative systems, supplied and installed.

    Heating & hot water

    Gas ducted heating, heat pumps, hot water, and bathroom and outdoor heaters.

    Service & repairs

    Servicing, breakdowns, leaks, zoning and ductwork on any system.

    Sources for the rules and local facts on this page

    12 sources, with the date each was checked
    1. 1..id (informed decisions), Hobsons Bay City Council community profile: Hobsons Bay City includes the suburbs of Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn (part), Laverton (part), Newport, Seabrook, Seaholme, Spotswood, South Kingsville, Williamstown and Williamstown North. Accessed 30 September 2026.
    2. 2.Victorian Government, Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme (PDF snapshot, last updated by VC292 on 11/09/2025): The heritage places of Hobsons Bay reflect the key themes that have shaped the development of the city since the establishment of Williamstown in the 1840s as the first port of Melbourne, through the development of… Accessed 30 September 2026.
    3. 3.Hobsons Bay City Council: Hobsons Bay has more than 20 kilometres of bay frontage, quality residential areas, a huge expanse of environmentally significant open space and a range of major industrial complexes, which contribute significantly to… Accessed 30 September 2026.
    4. 4.Bureau of Meteorology (article issued 3 August 2026): To the north lies Australia's hot, dry interior, while to the south stretches the cold Southern Ocean. ... Warm northerly winds arrive first, bringing higher temperatures and clear skies. Then, as a cold front moves in… Accessed 30 September 2026.
    5. 5.WorkSafe Victoria: A person who has management or control of a workplace, and employers or self-employed persons and employees should be aware of the typical uses and applications of ACMs, particularly in buildings constructed or… Accessed 30 September 2026.
    6. 6.WorkSafe Victoria: If the condition of electrical mounting boards has deteriorated or ACD is present an asbestos removal licence holder may be required to undertake asbestos removal work For example, if an ACM electrical mounting panel… Accessed 30 September 2026.
    7. 7.Energy Safe Victoria: Open-flued heaters can spill carbon monoxide more easily than other types of heaters, making them more dangerous. Accessed 30 September 2026.
    8. 8.Energy Safe Victoria: If you have renovated or weather-sealed your home and kept your open-flued gas heater, you may have inadvertently altered the ventilation your home needs to clear carbon monoxide from your gas heater. This might be… Accessed 30 September 2026.
    9. 9.BlueScope, Technical Bulletin TB-35 Australian salt marine classifications (March 2026, Revision 9): Exposed Port Phillip Bay (Altona to Portsea Beaches) Calm Port Phillip Bay (Williamstown), Yarra River (Docklands and Melbourne CBD), Maribyrnong River Accessed 30 September 2026.
    10. 10.Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (Victoria): from 1 January 2024, new homes requiring a planning permit are required to be all-electric Accessed 30 September 2026.
    11. 11.Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria): Victoria’s new Building and Plumbing Amendment Regulations 2025 have been finalised, advancing Victoria’s shift toward all-electric buildings. From 1 January 2027, all new homes and most new commercial buildings will be… Accessed 30 September 2026.
    12. 12.Energy Safe Victoria: Clause 2.6.3.2.5 of the Wiring Rules states: Additional protection by RCDs shall be provided in existing electrical installations where alterations or a switchboard replacement is completed. Accessed 30 September 2026.

    Your questions

    Booking work
    in Altona

    Local information and practical answers before you arrange a visit.

    Not automatically. We judge wiring on its condition, not the build year alone. We identify the cable types in the roof and under the floor, test the circuits we can reach and check how earlier renovations were connected. Rubber-insulated cable that crumbles when handled needs replacing, while later plastic-sheathed cable in good order can often stay. A partial rewire of the original sections plus a new switchboard is a common outcome in houses of this age.

    • Couldn't be happier with Total Comfort Electrical & Air. I had a few quotes for the same job, but found some were extremely overpriced and others were quite pushy without really explaining why the work needed to be done. Aaron was completely different. He took his time, explained the job in detail, gave me more than one option and made sure I actually understood what I was paying for. He was extremely easy to deal with, did a great job and left everything clean and tidy. His price was competitive and the quality of the work was fantastic. It's honestly great to find a reliable tradesman who you can trust. Would definitely recommend Aaron and Total Comfort Electrical & Air!
      James WalshGoogle review ·
    • Aaron was knowledgeable and gave his time and expertise / which was spot on. Also recommended another tradie who was needed for the job and was also excellent. Would highly recommend.
      Louise FoleyGoogle review ·
    • 10/10 experience with these guys. Aaron did a fantastic job with the electrical work at my property and even gave me some spare light bulbs. He's a true gentleman and absolutely fantastic with kids. My daughter was so impressed she now wants to be an electrician! 😂 Highly recommend Aaron and the team!
      Sven GoldringGoogle review ·
    • Aaron was exceptional, I couldn't recommend him highly enough! He recently did some work at our house and was knowledgeable, tidy and genuinely lovely to have around. Our three year old followed him around for practically the entire day, and he was so patient and kind, happily chatting with her while he worked. We're so happy with everything he did and wouldn't hesitate to use him again.
      Elli GoldringGoogle review ·
    • Fantastic job today. Aaron arrived on time (was accurate in how long it would take), very professional, explaining everything as he went. Gave me extra tips on what to do in the future with my appliances. Best of all, he did a really good job (and really nice bloke). Would highly recommend.
      Cath TullyGoogle review ·
    • Really experienced electrician who did a good quality job, would definitely use again
      Ross WilsonGoogle review ·
    • Aaron did a great job of replacing a faultilt installed aircon on a 3 story townhouse. This wasn't a straightforward install given the property & there were suspected old leaks and further tests had to be done. He has many years of experience and talks you through it, manages the process and manages the expectations, timing delivery etc of more complex issues. He's really knowledgeable at what he does, and I got a free consult generally on my home and what would increase efficiencies in my home across the board. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, for the attention to detail and care you put into the work.
      DeeGoogle review ·
    • Would absolutely recommend Aaron/Total Comfort- he helped me choose which was the best option for our needs, was really friendly, professional, punctual and left the bathroom spotless!
      Georgina HughesGoogle review ·
    • Aaron simply came to my rental to quote an exhaust fan. I was impressed by his explanations and honesty. He took the time to explain all facets of the task. I ended up asking him to install/service more than just an exhaust fan!
      David HenricusBathroom Exhaust Fans ·
    • Aaron assisted us to upgrade our mains and conduct some other electrical work in our 70's build house. He was very communicative, informing and provided us with different cost options before going ahead. Great service and professionalism!
      Dan BElectrical Mains Upgrades ·
    • Aaron was super professional, did a fantastic job fixing my switchboard which was left in a complete mess by the solar / battery installers. Also installed an EV Charger, ceiling fans and replaced a split system. He didn't rush any part of the electrical works and was completely thorough and asked where and how I wanted everything installed.
      Garrick WilsonEV Charger Installation ·
    • Super efficient service. Aaron explained everything and was able to carry out the work straightaway. Very happy with my new oven. Highly recommended.
      PatriciaOven & Cooktop Installation ·