If you are looking to install a new air conditioning system in your home, you might be wondering what type you are going to choose. There are many different options to choose from. Two of these air conditioning systems are ductless and central air conditioning.
A ductless air conditioning system is also known as mini split air conditioning system. It uses a slim cable between the condenser and a box on the wall. With this, vents are not needed on the floor and no ductwork is involved. On the other hand, a central air conditioning system, the cool air is distributed to the entire house through the air handler on the furnace into a ductwork.
Both types of air conditioning system provide a number of different advantages, but it would still depend on what your needs are. If you do not know how to begin, here are 3 tips to choosing between a ductless and a central air conditioning system.
- Determine if you have an existing ductwork.
If you are installing an air conditioning system in a new house that has no ductwork, then it would be more economical to install a ductless system. All you will need is a 3-inch hole in the wall to run the cable through. This is also a good option if you live in a property where there is not enough space in the walls or ceilings to build a duct system. However, if your house already has a pre-installed duct system, it is more cost effective to choose a central air conditioning system since all you need to do is just hook up your new unit to the existing ventilation.
- Determine which air conditioning system works best with the size of your home.
If you are installing an air conditioning system in a large property, chances are, a ductless system does not have enough power to provide cool air. Properties or homes that are larger than 2000 – 2500 square feet work better and more efficient with a central air system in the long run. If you are considering adding more rooms in the future, you might want to choose a ductless system. However, one thing to consider would still be to determine if the unit you are going to purchase works best with the size of your room. This is done by checking its BTU rating. Measure the dimensions of your room by multiplying the length by the width to get the square footage. After that, match it with the BTU rating of the air conditioning unit. As per rules, each square foot is equivalent to 20 BTU. If you want to check different units with their BTU rating before purchasing, you can go check on sites such as Air Conditioning Online.
- Ask yourself if you are sensitive to noise.
This may be an insignificant tip, but in the long run, it is important to know this beforehand. Most central systems are louder, and it can potentially affect your sleep at night. As a general rule, a ductless system emits lesser noise.