Ductless vs Central Air Conditioning: Is One Better than the Other?

In most places, installing and setting heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is paramount in regulating the heat at home and providing the whole household with the utmost comfort. While your furnace or heater warms your home during winter, your AC unit cools your space during summer. 

When it comes to your cooling system, you have the option to choose between a ductless or a central air-conditioner. The question is: which is a better option? In this article, we'll cover the difference between the two and what crucial factors to consider when choosing one.

Ductless versus central AC system

Before we delve deeper, let's take a closer look at the main difference. Take note of the following: 

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  Ductless system: It is exactly what it sounds: a cooling system that doesn't have ducts at all. A mini-split system consists of two basic components: an outdoor compressor and an indoor air-handling unit, where a conduit links the two. 
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  Central system: It has a series of ducts where the air circulation gets treated at a central location and distributed to and from rooms by one or more fans. The vents and registers carry the cold air and spread it around your home.

Key factors to consider when choosing

Now, let's dig deeper into five crucial factors to consider when deciding to choose between a ductless or central AC unit.

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  Existing ductwork: It's simple as knowing if you have one or not as having ductwork can influence your purchase decision. If you already have one, then it's more cost-effective to opt for a central system. Otherwise, you may want to go for a ductless unit instead.
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  Home size: This is a crucial factor as it determines if your installed AC unit can accommodate your space and your household's cooling needs. Keep in mind that most ductless systems don't have enough power to cool a large area. Hence, the rule of thumb is to go for a central system if your house is about 2,500 square feet and up.
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  Cooling budget: As with any installation project, you always have to factor in your budget as you'll only pursue something you can afford. For the most part, a central system is more expensive than a ductless system. But even the prices of ductless units may vary from one model to another.
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  Energy efficiency: In general, the central system takes energy efficiency into utmost consideration. However, you have to ensure the ductwork's quality and proper installation to ensure that your AC system is as efficient as possible. With a ductless unit, there's less consideration in energy efficiency. But still, you have to consider the energy consumption for the model you've invested in.
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  Individual zoning control: A zoning system is an answer if you live in a certain location that's warmer than the rest. When it comes to this, you can either have a central or ductless system. Keep in mind, however, that a ductless system is a lot cheaper than a central unit.

Conclusion

At this point, we've covered the major difference between a ductless or central AC unit. The difference lies in the presence of ductwork in generating and circulating cold air. When choosing between the two, be sure to consider the following variables: your existing ductwork, home size, cooling budget, energy efficiency, and individual zoning control. All these will determine your AC selection and ultimate purchase decision!

Are you looking for air conditioning services? You've come to the right place. We’re a heating and air-conditioning company in Morris County, NJ that can handle your HVAC concerns. Whether a central system or sears ductless air conditioning installation, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!