If you’re building a house, or considering adding air conditioning to your pad during a renovation, one of the questions you’ll face is what type of air conditioning unit to choose.

There are two main types: split systems and ducted air conditioning. Your choice might depend on your lifestyle, your budget or even your design.

We’ve come up with pros and cons of both types so you can make an informed decision.

Split system air conditioning

Split system air conditioning is when a section of the unit is outside of the house, normally attached to the exterior wall. The remaining part of the unit is found inside, often mounted to an interior wall.

Split system advantages

Split system air conditioning units are often cheaper than alternative units and can be installed room by room over an extended period of time. This is helpful if you’re on a budget and just want to cool your bedroom or living room to start with.

If you live in an apartment or two storey home, sometimes a split system air conditioning unit is your only option because ducted air conditioning may not be able to be installed over different levels without major renovations.

A split system is normally operated with a remote control and is often cheaper to both install and run than a ducted unit.

Split system disadvantages

The biggest disadvantage with a split system unit is that it can look ugly in your home and they’re often difficult to disguise. If you want to hide the unit, you might have to spend money on purchasing plants or screens to improve the look of the units.

Another disadvantage is that a split system’s use is only limited to the area it’s installed in. This can be a problem if it means putting the air conditioning on full strength to cool as much of the home as possible, as it often results in consuming more power and increasing your electricity bill.

Ducted systems air conditioning

Ducted air conditioning units are normally completely concealed in your roof cavity, and are hidden from view. Cool air is pushed in to different rooms throughout the home and the only item visible is the air conditioning vent.

Ducted system advantages

The main advantages of ducted systems are that they cool the entire property at once and allow you to maintain a consistent temperature throughout your home. Often you can also zone the conditioning, meaning in the rooms that are not being used, you can turn off the air conditioning altogether. Another benefit of ducted systems is that they are often quieter and more efficient than split system units.

Ducted system disadvantages

It is difficult to install ducted systems in some homes where there isn’t enough space in the ceiling cavity for the units. Also, sometimes you might end up paying to cool many rooms when it’s not necessary. Often there isn’t a remote control to help manage the system, instead you will need to walk to a wall unit to adjust the controls.

If you are still struggling to decide on which air conditioning unit is right for you, don’t hesitate to contact our Brisbane air conditioner service by calling FIXZIT on 1300 726 806.

If you are still struggling to decide on which air conditioning unit is right for you, don’t hesitate to contact our Brisbane air conditioner service by calling FIXZIT on 1300 726 806.