Cost of Ducted vs Split System Air Conditioning

What is ducted air conditioning?

Ducted air conditioning systems deliver cool or warm air to the entire home through a series of ducts. The ducts and the central unit they are connected to are installed in the roof space. The indoor unit is connected to an inconspicuous outdoor compressor unit.

Ducted systems can be evaporative or refrigerated. Evaporative ducted air conditioning systems rely on the natural phenomenon of evaporation to provide a cooling breeze throughout the home. They work best in hot, dry climates and can be fairly inexpensive to run.

Refrigerative ducted air conditioning systems rely on an electrically driven system to cool or heat the entire home. These systems allow for precise climate control and perform well in all weather conditions.

What is split system air conditioning?

Split air conditioners are refrigerative systems but unlike ducted air conditioning, they usually provide cool or warm air to one room. Split air conditioning systems have an indoor unit, which is usually installed on the wall, as well as an outdoor unit.

In multi-split systems, the outdoor unit is connected to two or more indoor units. While ducted air conditioning requires one controller for the whole home, each split system unit is controlled by its own remote.

Cost of ducted vs split air con

Ducted systems typically cost more than split air conditioners. Ducted systems require extensive installation throughout the roof space whereas split air conditioners are relatively compact and simple to install.

Of course, ducted systems have the capacity to cool and heat the entire home, while split systems typically cool and heat one room. You can install several split systems, but you should take into account the overall cost and compare that with a ducted system.

Ducted evaporative systems are by far the cheapest to run as they rely mostly on natural evaporation to cool your home. Both evaporative and refrigerated ducted systems can be used to create climate zones for more effective heating and cooling. On the other hand, if you want to heat or cool only one small room, split systems can be very cost effective.

Which system is right for me?

The right system for your needs depends on your budget, personal preferences and how often you use your air conditioner. For heating and cooling the entire home, ducted systems are usually the best option, but if you want to effectively heat and cool a single room, split systems are more cost effective.

For expert advice about choosing the right air conditioning for your needs, get in touch with the team at iBreeze. With decades of experience providing ducted and split system air conditioning in Mandurah and Perth, we can help you find the perfect solution for your home or commercial space. We look forward to hearing from you.