Which is Better? Ducted VS Split System Air Conditioning

When you’re in the market for a decent air conditioning system for your place, the first question you’ll be faced with is a fundamental one: ducted or split system? All you really want is the most cost-effective solution that really does solve your problem - heating up in the frost of winter, and enjoying a cool & breezy home in Queensland’s hottest of months.

Ducted VS split system - How to choose?

First, let’s define our terms - starting with ducted air conditioning. In a nutshell, it’s a central unit whose air conditioned air then travels to all the corners of your home via a network of ducts. As for split systems, they are the incredibly popular and widespread modern air conditioning systems that consist of a sleek indoor unit mounted on the wall, powered by an external unit that conditions the air to the desired temperature.

If you’re no closer to knowing which type of air conditioner is best for your needs, lifestyle and home, let’s zoom in on the key differences between a typical split system vs ducted setup:

1. Installation

Ducted is certainly the costlier option, as installation requires a full network of ducts to be installed for the required rooms throughout your home. Split systems are usually installed room by room, although multi-split systems can connect multiple indoor units with a single outdoor unit - even though this option can end up costing the same or more than a fully ducted system.

2. Running costs

Because split systems are normally standalone outdoor/indoor setups, the running costs are generally lower compared to ducted - although multi-split setups can be quite energy hungry. Zoning features can bring down air conditioning costs for both split system and ducted, though, and it’s also true that ducted systems can be the very-affordable evaporative technology - even though it’s not really recommended for Queensland’s humidity.

3. Effectiveness

For a single room or a small space, a split system can be extremely fast & effective. You’ll need a more powerful system or a multi-split network for larger spaces, but it’s likely to only then go toe-to-toe with a fully ducted system that reaches every desired corner of your home. As for the ability to both heat and cool, both split system and ducted are normally reverse cycle in Queensland.

4. Noise

As time goes on, technology gets more sophisticated - and operating noises go down. Some split systems are incredibly quiet, but so are ducted systems because of the lack of indoor mechanical action.

5. Aesthetics

Sure, modern split systems look sleek, attractive and contemporary. However, a ducted system is normally the cleanest and most discrete option, as all you see in every room is the small duct.

6. Suitability

If you can’t get that whopping outdoor unit on the roof for whatever reason, you can forget about a ducted system. Installation can also be highly complex for multi-storey homes, so some people run a ducted system upstairs and one or two split systems downstairs. For split systems, you just need some wall space with the ability to connect it to the outdoor unit which is normally fitted at ground level.

7. Servicing

You’ll need to get either option serviced every year or so, although it’s true that your fully-ducted system should have a slightly longer overall life. Split system servicing is normally quite simple, involving regular filter checking and cleaning.

Ducted or split system - We can help!

Has that made your split system air conditioner vs ducted deliberations any easier? Whether you go for split system or ducted, the best setup for your requirements depends on a lot of factors - from budget to the size of air conditioner & type of home and your personal preferences. Your Electrical Expert have worked on, installed or replaced literally hundreds of both ducted and split system air conditioners all over Brisbane, the Gold Coast and beyond - and we’d love to help you out next! Get in touch today for fast advice and a fixed quote.