Struggling to decide what type of an air conditioning unit to install in your Australian home? You’ve narrowed your choices to split systems and ducted AC, but you can’t seem to make the final choice between those two? Not uncommon for homeowners to struggle when making these types of decisions. Yet, they ultimately all have to go for one or the other, and so do you.

Not quite ready to choose your air conditioning system just yet? That’s most probably because you don’t really understand the pros and cons of the ducted and the split system, and you don’t want to make a random decision. Choosing carefully, instead of randomly, is the way to go, as it will protect you from investing your money in a system that won’t be great for your home.

If you’re wondering which one of these two options is better, let me tell you right away that there is no definitive answer to that question. Why? Because the choice depends on the unique needs of your home, meaning that what might be good for me might not be that good for you and vice versa. Still, comparing these two on the different, yet important, aspects, will undeniably help you make your final choice and invest in the system that will be best for you.

Split System AC or Ducted: Pros & Cons

With one unit connected to the wall outside and the other fixed in your home, the split system is a rather common choice for homeowners in Australia. Those two units are connected by pipes, and the refrigerant gases actually pass through from that external unit to the indoor one. Cooling more than one room will require you to have multiple split units installed, because this type of a setup is suitable for one room alone.

The central unit of the ducted system is hidden away up in the roof. So, this is basically a centralized system that consists of sensors and air ducts for each room that is connected to the main unit in the roof. Therefore, it is suitable for cooling more rooms, if that’s something you’d prefer.

Here are some cool hacks if you still don’t have an AC: https://www.homestolove.com.au/how-to-keep-home-cool-without-air-conditioning-10712

Now that you understand how different these two systems are, let’s compare them in more details, so s to help you better understand their performance, the costs, the cost-efficiency, and the general suitability for your specific home. Those are the most significant factors to compare when trying to make a choice between these two. So, let us begin.

When it comes to performance, the ducted system is better for houses that have multiple rooms and floor levels. Designed to avoid excessive wear and tear, this system will be much more stable for such a household. Given the method of operation, the unit won’t be pushed to its limits even during those peak hours, when you need it to work the most so as to keep the temperature comfortable. Ensuring a steady performance, and a more balanced airflow and insulation, the ducted system is bound to be durable, due to not being overburdened at any point. Plus, it is quieter than other options.

On the other hand, the split system is better for spot cooling. Meaning it could be more practical for a smaller property. Easy to control and fast to cool, this type of a unit will basically do wonders for the temperature of the room it’s located in. Of course, the drawback lies in the fact that its cooling capacity is actually limited only to one room, unless you add more units to more rooms.

Comparing the costs of these two systems, you’ll realize that the ducted one will cost more upfront. Costing anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000, it can be quite a huge investments for homeowners. One of the reasons they decide to go against the ducted system, thus, is the upfront cost that is much higher than the cost of the split system. Being much more affordable, the split system is perfect for those homeowners that are on a budget. And, of course, any future repairs you may need will also be cheaper for this option than for the ducted one.

It’s not all about the upfront costs, though. You need to think in the long-run if you want to get the most cost-effective solution for your house. So, in terms of cost-efficiency, the ducted system takes the points. Especially nowadays, given that the new systems can divide the house into zones, making it much cheaper to run the units, not having to cool the entire home if you don’t need to do that at a specific moment.

Depending on the space you have at home, not both of these systems may be suitable for your property. While the split system requires you to have enough space on the ground level to be installed, the ducted one will require you to have enough roof space. Thus, this is a highly significant factor to consider as well when trying to decide which option to go for, as it could happen that your home will decide for you. Read more on the about the pros and cons of the ducted option.

Ducted Aircon

Been reading carefully? Then you already get that the ducted air conditioning is the perfect choice for people that have more rooms to cool, and that have more floors in their houses. That’s because the system has one unit you’ll install in your roof, and that one unit will be capable of cooling down the entire house.

Of course, it will initially cost more than the split system, but the upfront costs will pay off, because this will ultimately turn out to be the more cost-effective solution. In the long run, you’ll save more than you’ll spend, especially now that you have the option of dividing your home into zones. Thus, if you have a larger home and you have the budget, you should undeniably go for ducted aircon, as it appears to be the smarter solution.