You have two options when it comes to air conditioning – a ducted air conditioning system or a split system. Each one has its pros and cons. The right system for you depends on your specific needs.
Read on to find out the difference between ducted aircon vs split system air conditioning, how each system works and which is the best option for you.
What is ducted air conditioning?
A ducted air conditioning system has a central area where air is treated and then pumped through a system of ducts that connect different rooms.
How a ducted air conditioner works
The system takes warm outside air and uses a refrigerant to cool it. It enables you to have a consistent temperature throughout your entire home or business premises.
If you want to heat your home or business premises in winter as well as cool it in summer, you can choose a reverse ducted air conditioning system. These systems use a reverse refrigeration cycle to warm the air in the cooler months.
The pros and cons of ducted air conditioners:
Pros
- Ducted air conditioning systems are more suitable than split systems when you have multiple rooms or large areas that need air conditioning.
- They are less noisy than split systems.
- Ducted systems are more energy efficient than split systems.
- They are more visually appealing than split systems as the ducted system unit and its ducts are usually out of sight in the ceiling. Split systems on the other hand have a unit outside the home as well as an indoor unit that is often wall or floor mounted (or multiple units that are).
Cons
- A ducted system has higher installation costs than a split system.
- Ducted systems are less suited than split systems when you have only a single room or a small area that needs air conditioning.
What is split system air conditioning?
Split system air conditioners differ from ducted systems in that they have individual units placed in each room, rather than having one central unit. Each unit operates independently from the other so you can have different temperatures in different rooms.
How a split system air conditioner works
Unlike a ducted system, a split system air conditioner has separate units. One outside the room being air conditioned and the other inside it. One outdoor unit can be connected to two or more indoor units if necessary. The indoor units can be wall hung, floor mounted or placed under the ceiling.
Like ducted systems, split systems can also have reverse cycle capabilities to enable you to heat your home in winter.
The pros and cons of split system air conditioners:
Pros
- A split air conditioning system has lower installation costs than a ducted system.
- Split systems are better suited than ducted systems when you have only a single room or a small area needs air conditioning.
Cons
- Split systems are less suitable than ducted systems when you have multiple rooms or large areas that need air conditioning.
- They are more noisy than ducted systems.
- Split systems are less energy efficient than ducted systems.
- They are less visually appealing than ducted systems. Split systems have a unit outside the home as well as an indoor unit that is often wall or floor mounted (or multiple units that are). Ducted systems on the other hand usually have the single unit and its ducts located in the ceiling.
How we can help
At Airforce Air Conditioning & Solar, we provide air conditioning installation and maintenance services for homeowners, builders and commercial businesses throughout Perth and Bunbury.
Contact our Perth or Bunbury offices today to discuss your needs. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have about ducted or split air conditioning systems.
