A well-functioning air conditioner is essential to keep you cool and comfortable during the warmer months. A majority of homeowners across Brisbane have a heating and cooling system in their home, ensuring comfortable indoor temperatures throughout the year.

If your home doesn’t have an air conditioning system yet, you’ll need some professional advice on how to choose one. Your options come down to a ducted or split system unit. But which one is the right air conditioning system for your home? We’ll compare the main types of air conditioners so you can choose the most efficient option.

What is Ducted Air Conditioning?

This system of air conditioning for your home works by cooling air and passing it through a system of ducts in the ceiling. This allows a single indoor and outdoor unit to cool all rooms in a property.

Let’s look at the pros and cons.

Pros of Ducted Systems

Cools your entire home
Newer models like Daikin ducted system offer zoning capabilities for greater efficiency
You generate a return on your investment.
Can heat and cool your property.

Cons of Ducted Systems

Requires adequate space for ducting
Higher upfront installation costs

What is a Split System Aircon?

In a split system, the outdoor unit is connected to an indoor unit, which transfers cool air to the room. With a multi-split system, you can connect multiple indoor units to one outdoor unit without needing ducts.

Pros of Split Systems

Lower upfront installation cost.
Great for apartments and single rooms.
Allows cooling and heating.

Cons of Split Systems

It’s less discreet because the indoor unit is fixed to an interior wall.
Makes more noise
You’ll need to set up additional outdoor units if you need to cool more rooms.

What is Better? Ducted Or Split System Air Conditioner?

Ducted and split systems work based on the same principle, which is a refrigerant cycle. In both types of air conditioning, heat from the air is absorbed and expelled outside, leaving the room cooler. However, they differ in terms of installation cost, efficiency, and performance. Let’s look at the difference to see which one you should choose:

Split System vs Ducted Air Conditioning Running Cost

You’re probably wondering which is cheaper to run: a ducted or split system? It depends on your usage patterns, the size of area being cooled, and your system’s energy rating.

A split system has lower running costs if you’re cooling a small area and use it less frequently. However, ducted systems are preferable for larger spaces where you’re cooling several rooms at once.

Ducted vs split system efficiency also varies because of zone control. You can choose which rooms are cooled and even program the system to adjust temperatures based on how hot it is outside. This helps keep your costs down.

Ducted Air Con vs Split System Installation

When deciding between a standard ducted system and split system, you need to consider installation costs. Ducted systems are often more expensive to install, because of the complex and invasive process involved.

The air conditioning service fits a a network of ducts into your ceiling to distribute cool air throughout the home. This means every ducted system design differs based the layout of your property. Expert services can install ducted air conditioning in as little as a day, and you can save costs by installing the system during renovations.

Meanwhile, getting a split system installed will cost less and take less time because it doesn’t require major modifications to your property. One limitation is that you need to position the outdoor unit close to the indoor unit.

Split System Air Conditioner vs Ducted Maintenance Needs

Though all air conditioning units need servicing, split systems are easier to maintain. You can remove, clean, and replace the filters without calling a professional. However, the coils, indoor, and outdoor unit also need to be inspected and cleaned, so you still need to call an expert.

Similarly, ducted systems also need yearly servicing by a licensed technician. Otherwise, ducts can suffer from blockages, cutting back on efficiency. Plus, you need a professional to inspect and service components in the roof space. Though you can expect to pay more for ducted system maintenance, these also last much longer, so regular servicing can save you money in the long run.

Ducted Aircon vs Split System Appearance

Both split systems and ducted air conditioners need large outdoor units, but a split aircon can affect your interior design.

This is because of the bulkier indoor unit, while ducted systems hide the central fan coil and ductwork within the roof space. The only thing you’ll see are outlets and control panels, and you can even choose from different air grilles.

You’ll also find that split systems make more noise, and if you install multiple units, you’ll have to deal with extra noise.

Split System vs Ducted Heating and Cooling Performance

When comparing the performance of a ducted vs split system air conditioner, remember that it depends on your usage and property.

Ducted reverse cycle systems are much more consistent when it comes to cooling and heating larger spaces. They’re custom designed to match your property’s layout, so bigger rooms will have more vents and vice versa. Modern ducted air conditioning systems also come with zoning control, so you can choose which areas get need to be cooled.

Meanwhile, split systems are generally better suited to cool or heat smaller spaces or single rooms. However, their energy efficiency can vary between models, so remember to check the energy rating before making a purchase. They also lack the capacity to heat or cool larger spaces, so you’ll need to buy multiple split systems for separate rooms.

Choosing Between Ducted Reverse Cycle and Split System

Though there’s no clear answer to the split vs ducted debate, ducted systems are definitely a more efficient and discreet choice for families. They’re also preferable when you want to cool several rooms in the home at once, without affecting your interior design.

On the other hand, split systems are well-suited to smaller spaces or when you’re only looking to cool a single room and want to keep upfront costs low. Regardless of which one you choose, remember to call in a professional to install it. At Temper Troops, we specialise in installing, servicing, and repairing split systems and ducted air conditioning units. Give us a call and we’ll help you choose the right system for your needs, recommend energy-efficient options, and provide timely installation.