Central Air vs. Ductless Systems: Which Is Right for You?

If you’re looking to add air conditioning to your home, either a central or a ductless system can be a good choice. Ductless is obviously the best way to go if you don’t have central heating due to the cost and complexity of trying to retrofit your house with ductwork. Even if you already have central AC and you just need to replace it, there are times when a ductless mini-split system may still be the better choice. In this article, we’ll look at how central and ductless systems compare in areas like cost, efficiency and cooling effectiveness to help make it easier for you to decide which system is right for your home.

Installation Cost

Installing a central AC system is almost always going to cost less, especially if you have a larger house. Both systems have a single outdoor unit. However, central systems have a single indoor air handler unit, whereas ductless systems have one individual air handler in each room. The fact that ductless systems have additional units is the main reason why they cost more. The installation costs for a ductless system are also typically higher, as you need to mount the air handler in each room and run the refrigerant lines from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit. This last factor also means the installation requires more materials, which further adds to the overall cost.

The reason that the cost to install ductless air conditioning in a larger house can be much higher is that there are limitations in terms of the maximum distance between the outdoor unit and each air handler and the total combined length of all the refrigerant lines. That means larger homes will typically require two or possibly even three separate ductless systems, which greatly increases the cost compared to only needing to install a single central system.

Energy Efficiency

Even in Wisconsin, where it rarely gets extremely hot during the summer, air conditioning can still be a fairly major expense. That’s why energy efficiency is one of the main things you should focus on when installing any type of AC system. When it comes to efficiency, ductless systems almost always outperform central AC systems. One reason is that it takes quite a bit of energy for a central AC system to circulate air throughout the whole house. Ductless air handlers draw less power, as they only need to cool and circulate the air in the room they’re in.

Another issue with central AC is that the cooled air typically gains some heat as it travels through the ducts, resulting in at least some energy waste. Issues like leaky or poorly designed ductwork can lead to a substantial reduction in efficiency and a major increase in energy waste.

Another reason ductless systems are more efficient and typically use less energy is that each air handler works independently, allowing you to adjust the temperature in each room. By setting the air handlers in bedrooms and other rooms you typically don’t use during the day to a higher temperature, you can minimize the amount of energy a ductless system uses.

The majority of ductless systems also have a VRF (variable-refrigerant flow) outdoor unit. This type of unit can continually adjust the compressor speed based on how many air handlers are running and how much total cooling is currently needed, which helps limit the amount of energy the compressor uses. You can also install a variable-speed central AC system, but most homeowners opt for a single-speed system due to how expensive variable-speed systems can be.

Cooling Effectiveness/Temperature Control

Central and ductless systems can potentially be just as effective at cooling a house. However, with central AC, you can end up with temperature variations in different parts of the house. Part of the reason is that not every room heats up or cools down at the same rate. That means some rooms may be hotter or colder than the part of the house where the thermostat is located. Rooms with large windows and/or skylights may not ever stay cool with central AC due to the amount of solar heat gain they receive.

With a ductless system, you’ll generally never need to worry about hot and/or cold spots. That’s because each air handler will run as often and as long as necessary to maintain whatever temperature it’s set to. Being able to control the temperature in each room also helps avoid any arguments over the thermostat. If someone likes it colder or hotter, they can just adjust the temperature for the room they’re in without affecting the other rooms.

Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is another area where ductless systems tend to outperform central AC systems. In Wisconsin and other places with milder summers, a new central AC system will usually last around 15 years. On the other hand, a ductless mini-split system will typically have a lifespan of around 20 years, or sometimes even longer. This is important to think about, as the longer lifespan of a ductless system can go a long way toward offsetting the higher installation cost. When you also factor in the higher efficiency and reduced energy consumption, a ductless system is usually the most cost-effective option overall.

Space Requirements/Aesthetics

Ductless systems technically take up less space overall, as the air handlers are much smaller than a central AC air handler. However, this is really only true for homes that don’t have a furnace. If you have a furnace, your heating and central AC share the same air handler.

The issue with ductless systems is that the wall-mounted air handlers are fairly bulky, and you need to make sure you have sufficient open space in each room for the air handler. You don’t want to have things like furniture or shelving too close to an air handler, as they will block off the airflow and make the air handler work much less effectively. Having a bulky air handler hanging on the wall can also take away from the aesthetics of the room, which may or may not be something you’re concerned with.

You sometimes have the option to build a box around an air handler to make it less distracting, but you need to be careful to do it in a way that doesn’t interfere with the airflow. There are also times when you may be able to recess the air handler in the ceiling so that all you see is a vent. While this is better in terms of aesthetics, the air handler will always cool more effectively when it’s about three-quarters of the way up on a wall than it will if it’s in the ceiling.

Trust Us for Help

Since 1956, Black-Haak has been providing top-notch comfort solutions in Greenville, WI, and throughout the Fox Valley. We’re a family-owned company that’s dedicated to helping homeowners and businesses with all of their cooling and heating needs. Whether you’re looking to install central AC or a ductless mini-split system, we have options that are sure to work for you and fit in your budget. We also have flexible financing and payment options available on approved credit. To get help finding the right AC system, contact us today.