When it comes to heating & cooling your home, you have plenty of options. Some of the most common options include:
- Evaporative Cooler;
- Window air conditioner;
- Split System air conditioning;
- Central ducted air conditioning.
As home HVAC technology continues to advance, homeowners are being given even more options to choose from when it come to cooling their homes.
These days, many homeowners are trying to decide between a split air conditioning system or a ducted air conditioner. Before you can decide which one is right for you, it is important to understand the differences.
Split Air Conditioning
A split air conditioning system or better known as a ‘highwall’ has an internal wall mounted component and an external component. The two pieces are connected by electrical cables and two small pipes that carry refrigerant.
The external component, known as the ‘condensor’, consists of the compressor and all of the pieces need to create the refrigeration effect for cooling (and heating in Winter). The internal component, known as a ‘fancoil’, distributes the cool or warm air throughout the room it is fitted.
Ducted Air Conditioning
A ducted air conditioning system has its internal unit (fancoil) installed within the roof space of the home. A series of ducts run from the air conditioning unit to each of the rooms in the home, allowing you to cool or heat each room using individual controls, or ‘zoning’.
Benefits of Split Air Conditioning
The primary benefits of split air conditioning are:
- Low initial purchase & installation costs, compared to ducted or multi-system installations;
- It is energy/cost-efficient because it only heats or cools one room;
- It can be installed in almost any room in the home, which makes it a great way to condition rooms where window air conditioners cannot be used.
Benefits Of Ducted Air Conditioning
A ducted air conditioning system offers several benefits that include:
- The ability to cool or heat the entire house, this can be more efficient than running two or more highwalls;
- A control system that allows you to set conditioned zones and control the temperature in each zone;
- The cost-effective ability to turn off the system in rooms where it is not needed.
Why Would I Need A Split Air Conditioner?
Many people like to save money on their air conditioning running costs by not cooling & heating every room in the house, but it can sometimes be a challenge when important rooms such as a bedroom, baby’s nursery, or study cannot have window air conditioners.
A split air conditioning system is an ideal and cost-effective way to cool a single room in your home and avoid having to spend extra money cooling all of the other rooms as well.
Why Would I Need A Ducted Air Conditioning System?
Ducted air conditioning systems give you complete control over cooling the entire house. If you have several key rooms in your home that need to be cooled during the warmer months of the year, then using a series of window air conditioners is inefficient and loud.
Split air conditioning systems are designed for one room at a time, which makes operating them in several rooms a huge logistical nightmare not to mention initial outlay and ongoing running costs.
A ducted air conditioning system gives you the option of cooling the entire house, or just select rooms or zones.
The control system is extremely versatile and gives you all of the control you need to maintain comfort and keep your energy costs down.
How Do I Choose?
When choosing between a ducted air conditioner system and a split air conditioning system, you really should think ahead.
If you can satisfy all of your cooling and heating needs with one or two split air conditioners in select rooms, then that is a great way to go. But if you are considering the option of conditioning every room in the house and having long term flexibility, then a ducted air conditioning system is the solution for you.
Cooling & heating your home is not a luxury. It is an essential part of keeping your home comfortable and habitable for your entire family.
When you are considering which kind of air conditioning system to install, think about what your long-term conditioning needs will be and with the assistance of an Air Conditioning Association Dealer will help you to make the right decision.
