Split system air conditioners are excellent choices for small houses and single rooms. They are heating and cooling solutions that provide substantial comfort for a single room or living space and are also economical. But what about the rest of your house? While the air conditioner can only cool or heat the room in which it is installed, the climate in the other rooms will remain unchanged. This is where the ducted air conditioners come into play. Ducted air conditioning systems are the ultimate form of climate control. Ducted air conditioners can evenly heat or cool each room of the house.

In this article, we will answer questions such as “What is ducted air conditioning?” and “How to choose air conditioning?“, while also giving information about ducted air conditioning products of various brands.

What Is Ducted Air Conditioning?

Ducted air conditioning is commonly used in large buildings such as plazas, schools, or hospitals. Ducted air conditioning systems work through a series of ducts connected to an indoor unit mounted on the roof or beneath the floor. Ducts from the air conditioning unit to each room enable for cooling or heating of each space using independent controls or ‘HVAC zoning‘. Ducted air conditioners also allow to set different temperatures in separate rooms or to turn off the air conditioning in unoccupied areas. Some ducted systems include reverse-cycle units that may both cool and heat the house.

Benefits of Switching to Ducted Air Conditioning

Ducted air conditioners are relatively expensive compared to split air conditioners. However, in the long term, they show that they are worth their price in terms of both cost and comfort. The following are the benefits of ducted air conditioning systems:

  • The ducted air conditioning systems extend the desired airflow beyond the confines of a single living space. For example, a ducted air conditioner with a power output of 12.5 kW can provide cooling for 8 zones or rooms at the same time. That is why, instead of installing a split system on the warmest days of the year, installing a ducted air conditioning system as the first choice saves energy, therefore money.
  • HVAC Zoning is an optional ducted air conditioning system feature that ensures that each room has a different ideal ambient temperature and circulation. The temperature of each room can be adjusted individually to save energy, or in some areas, the air conditioning can be completely turned off via the thermostat. For example, in summer, sun-drenched rooms can only be cooled when the sunlight is very intense. The HVAC zoning system generally saves about 5% of the energy used for heating and cooling.
  • Despite the greatest efforts of designers, split systems still take up a lot of space on the wall and look ugly to the eye. With ducted air conditioners, the whole system remains hidden on the roof, walls, and even beneath the floor. The only thing visible indoors is a stylish vent that can be colored and shaped to match your décor.

How to Choose Air Conditioning?

The selection of ducted air conditioning appears simple at first glance but quickly becomes complicated due to differences in model, brand, and variety. The size of the house, the number of rooms, the humidity level, and the front in which it is located are various factors that affect the air conditioning model. The steps listed below can assist you with the air conditioning selection process.

Step 1: Determine What Size Of Air Conditioning You Need

There are almost a dozen factors to find the perfect ducted air conditioning unit which can have a significant impact on comfort and bills. The size of the house is the most important consideration in determining the ideal unit size. However, in addition to size, the following factors should be considered:

  • Age of house
  • The material used to construct the house 
  • Airflow
  • Number and size of windows
  • Amount, type, and age of insulation
  • How much sunshine the house receives and from which front it receives it

Step 2: Choose an Energy Efficiency Rating

Energy-efficient devices are more expensive, but at the end of the day, an efficient cooling system reduces monthly energy bills. When it comes to budget, it is very important to understand how energy efficiency is measured to find the correct balance. We recommend you see our ‘What Is The Energy Efficiency Rating?’ article for more information on energy efficiency rating.

Step 3: Choose a Provider

In this step, the brand of the air conditioner, whose capacity and energy efficiency level have already been determined, should be chosen. Mitsubishi ducted air conditioner, Daikin ducted air conditioner, and Samsung ducted air conditioner models are the first ones that come to mind when it comes to air conditioning.

Step 4: Choose the Central Air Conditioning You Want

The final step is to decide between the air conditioning models available on the market of the brand of your choice. Prices and energy efficiency are the most notable differences between air conditioning models.

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Ducted Air Conditioning Brands and Models

Daikin Ducted Air Conditioner

Daikin is a Japanese company that has been operating for 97 years and has become a world giant in heating, cooling, and air conditioning. The brand has stood out from its competitors via the development of innovative and durable air conditioning models. Daikin offers a range of four reverse-cycle ducted air conditioners:

  • Premium Inverter Ducted Air Conditioner: Designed with R22 boost feature and suitable for all homes from small to large.
  • Inverter Ducted Air Conditioner: With its compact design for houses of various sizes, it is an ideal model for installation where the roof and exterior space are limited.
  • Slim Ducted Air Conditioner: Ideal for narrow ceiling areas.
  • Air Conditioning with Partition System: Specially designed for those looking for a hidden installation, such as suspended or shallow ceilings.

Daikin ducted air conditioning range includes some features such as a night quiet mode, automatic airflow setting, automatic fan speed selection to match the set temperature, to reduce exterior noise levels while sleeping. It also has a weekly program timer, a shutdown timer, and quick cooling/heating modes that temporarily increase the power to reach the desired temperature.

Mitsubishi Ducted Air Conditioner

Mitsubishi Electric specializes in air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers. The products of Mitsubishi Electric, which has many models in the range of ducted air conditioning, are as follows:

  • 7.1 kW – 14 kW Ceiling Concealed Air Conditioner: Famous for its wide range of fan speeds, low profile, and lightweight design.
  • 10 kW – 14 kW Ducted Air Conditioner: Two-part structured models with single-phase and three-phase power options operate quietly and have high airflow due to high static pressure. 
  • 16 kW – 19 kW Ducted Air Conditioner: Produces high airflow due to high static pressure and is available in single-phase or three-phase electricity.
  • 22 kW Ducted Air Conditioner: With a three-phase power supply, it has the highest heating/cooling capacity and is excellent for large structures such as airports and hospitals.

Reverse-cycle ducted air conditioning models offer warm weather in winter and cool weather in summer. The series is ideal for multi-room applications and can feature zone selection if necessary. Air diffusers are available in various designs to suit home décor.

Samsung Ducted Air Conditioner

Samsung inverter reverse-cycle ducted air conditioner is designed to cool or heat every room in the house with a single system. Ducted systems also do not take up space in the house as they are installed in the roof or under the ground. The key components of the Samsung ducted system consist of the indoor unit, outdoor unit, and controller.

Samsung ducted system internal units contain up to 3 fans and are designed to handle duct lengths with static pressures up to 200 Pa and provide strong airflow at home. Samsung ducted air conditioning models are built to keep running even on the hottest or coldest days. Units can operate for cooling in the range of -15°C (5°F) to 50°C (122°F) and heating in the working range of -20°C (-4°F) to 24°C (75.2°F) outdoor temperature when needed.