Ducted vs Split: Which is the right choice for me?

Australians are all familiar with soaring summer temperatures, and plenty of us beat the heat with help from an air conditioning system. They can be a great investment that makes spending time at home much more comfortable.

When it comes to choosing an air conditioner for your home, it often comes down one of two choices: ducted and split system air conditioners. Both types have upsides that can make one a better choice than the other. So, to give you a better understanding of your options, we should take a closer look at each type.

Split System Air Conditioners

As the name suggests, these air conditioners are split into two units. The external unit contains the condenser, and the internal unit contains the evaporator. Working together, they deliver cooled air into your home while extracting the warm air. If you have ever seen an air conditioning unit mounted on a friend’s wall, you have seen a split system in action.

Pros: The major advantage of split systems is their cost. Their smaller size and capacity make them cheaper to purchase and install. Split systems also offer flexibility, with simple installation requirements and the ability to add more units at any time.
Cons: Smaller sizes means a smaller capacity for cooling large spaces. Split systems move less air and transport less heat out the home, so cooling the whole house usually requires mounting multiple units both inside and out.

Ducted Air Conditioners

Ducted air conditioners also use two separate units – an external condenser and an internal fan coil unit. Unlike split systems, a ducted system conceals its fan coil in a central duct where it can deliver cool air to any room that is connected to the ducting. A ducted system can cool more area in less time, and rooms can be divided into zones so you can choose where you want to direct the air.

Pros: Ducted air conditioners undoubtedly offer a better product. Their large capacity and zone control make them much better at cooling large areas. And, with the ducts concealed in the roof, each room only needs a ceiling vent, rather than a large wall-mounted box.
Cons: The major downside to ducted systems is cost, both in purchase price and installation fees. Installing duct work is a major task that could take an experienced team several days or more, and not all ceiling cavities will be large enough to accommodate the ducting and fan coil unit without extensive modification. You can expect a significantly bigger bill from your installers.

In most cases the choice between the two systems comes down to budget and space limitations. Whichever you choose, it’s important to have your system installed by a licensed professional who will perform the work to a high standard. If you need advice on where to start, or you would like to book an air conditioning consultation, then contact our team at Dawson Electric. Our technicians can assess your home and supply and install the system that best suits your needs

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