Ducted vs. Ductless Air Conditioning Systems

Choosing the right air conditioning system can impact your comfort, air quality, and wallet. As such, it’s important to choose wisely. The most common air conditioning options include ducted and ductless systems. Ducted systems refer to central air conditioning units that deliver air equally to each room of your home by pumping it through a system of air ducts. Professionals will install ductless air conditioning systems, on the other hand, directly in the room they are cooling. They do not use ducts to transport temperature-controlled air to other areas of the home. If you’re trying to decide between ducted vs. ductless air conditioning systems, use this guide on the pros and cons of each type.

Ducted air conditioning systems

Pros

• Unobtrusive appearance: Professionals install ducted systems inside of a home’s walls so they remain hidden and don’t negatively impact the appearance of the room.
• Convenience: Central heating systems allow you to change the temperature of your entire home without having to individually adjust several systems.

Cons

• Expensive and inconvenient installation: Installing a ducted cooling system requires contractors to go inside of your home’s walls which is an invasive, time-consuming, and expensive procedure.
• Poor energy efficiency: A large percentage of air becomes lost as it moves through ductwork due to leaks which decrease the energy efficiency of your home.
• Reduced air quality: If you don’t change central air conditioning filters frequently, dust and other allergens can accumulate in the ductwork and decrease the air quality of the home.

Ductless air conditioning systems

Pros

• Easy installation: Unlike central air conditioning systems, ductless air conditioners are minimally intrusive and only require a small hole in the wall. As such, professionals can often install them in a single day rather than several weeks.
• Flexible positioning: Experts can install ductless cooling systems in a range of different positions to suit the unique layout of your home.
• Zone-specific temperature control: Mini ductless air conditioners give you the freedom to adjust the temperature of specific zones in your home rather than setting it all to the same temperature. This zone-specific control is especially helpful for homes where some rooms are naturally colder or hotter than others.
• Low noise levels: We often associate irritating noises, such as the sound of the power kicking on and off or air whistling through the walls, with ducted air conditioning systems. Ductless systems, however, operate so quietly that you may forget they are even there.
• Lower cost: The process of installing a ducted system isn’t just invasive and time-consuming, it is also expensive. In comparison, ductless air conditioning systems are much more cost-effective.

Cons

• Aesthetic appearance: Ductless air conditioning systems are typically more obtrusive than central temperature control systems, as they stick out from walls rather than residing inside of them. However, Pioneer Mini Split Store offers a range of sleekly-designed systems to mitigate their bulky appearance.
• Maintenance: It is important to remember to wash the filters on mini-split systems every month to avoid costly maintenance issues.

Pioneer Mini Split Store offers a variety of high-quality ducted and ductless air conditioning systems at the best possible price. To learn more about our temperature control solutions, contact us today.