Ductless Air Conditioning vs Central AC – Which is better for Residential Installation!

With their own set of pros and cons, both ductless and centralized air conditioning systems are becoming a popular choice today, especially among homeowners. However, which one of these is more effective and efficient, and would be a better option for installation in a residential area is a question that many of us ponder upon. Read the post below to know more!

Owing to the current market trends, both centralized and ductless air conditioning systems are leaving behind their counterparts with huge margins, not only in terms of their efficiency and effectiveness, but their energy unit consumption, better productivity output, and even durability factor as well.

While the two together are giving a hard time to other types of cooling systems on the market, they are competing with each other as well. Market trends and current scenarios prove that more and more homeowners are opting for ductless air conditioners over centralized ones. Let’s find out why!

Ductless Air Conditioning vs Central AC

Before weighting the advantages and disadvantages of these two types of air conditioners, let’s begin by understanding their basics.

A central air conditioning system typically features two units – an inner unit that comes attached to a furnace, whose blower pushes the cooled air through the ducts. These ducts stretch all across around the apartment. The outer unit, however, entails a compressor and a condenser. Centralized cooling units ask for a proper ducting system for proper transmission of air throughout the space.

Ductless systems, on the other hand, also feature an inner and outer unit, but their structuring is quite different. The outdoor units are typically affixed to the outer walls of the house. If need be, there can be more than one outdoor unit as well. Similarly, depending upon the number of rooms in an apartment, more than one air handling unit may be installed in the indoors. These units can be either attached high on the walls, on ceilings or even on the floors. With a multi-split system, one can set different temperature zones in different rooms.

Some common yet most important factors to consider when looking at the benefits of ductless system over centralized units are as follows:-

• Flexibility – Unlike most centralized cooling systems, ductless units can be installed in a variety of places. Such a feature promises super comfort and also results in usage of less electricity units.
• Heating and Cooling – Centralized air conditioners can only be used for cooling a place. To make them an all-year-round unit, one needs to install an additional heating pump. In the case of ductless system, it can perform both the tasks. They feature reversible heat pumps which can easily move warm air throughout the apartment.
• Zoned Comfort – In the case of central air conditioners, setting the temperature means adjusting the temperature of the entire home. Multi-split ductless air conditioning systems, on the other hand, give you the leverage of setting different temperatures in different rooms. This smartly results in less usage of energy.
• Less energy Loss – This makes for one of the biggest disadvantages of centralized cooling systems. Cooled air that travels through the ducts, some of it gets lost in the transit. This results in the loss of up to 30% of the energy. A ductless system, here, saves this loss and promotes more judicious use of energy.

While these points may serve handy in deciding whether or not to opt for one of these above defined cooling systems for your residential space, keep in mind that installation cost too is a major factor that must define your final decision.