A ducted air conditioning system involves a central unit which is linked to a system of ducts and vents around the entire building to circulate cooled or heated air uniformly across a number of rooms.
Why might you want one?
Considerations
A split system air conditioner is made up of an indoor unit that is attached to the wall and an outdoor compressor unit that is linked together with refrigerant piping to cool down individual rooms.
Why might you want one?
Considerations
Which is better: Ducted Systems or Split Systems to Run Costs?
This is a loaded question to some extent because what is right in one household may not be right in another.
Split systems are still more popular in the residential use in the Indian market. The ducted systems are normally used in large houses, offices and commercial premises whereby centralised cooling is desirable.
This is the reason why split systems still dominate the market as they are cheaper to instal, they are easier to maintain and they are also more efficient in terms of energy consumption when cooling individual zones as opposed to cooling whole buildings.
What is a Ducted Air Conditioning System?
A ducted air conditioning system is a conventional centralised cooling system in which one outdoor cooling unit is linked to an indoor cooling unit installed in the ceiling or roof cavity, which circulates air using insulated ducts.
The following is a brief summary of the strengths and weaknesses.
Types of Ducted Systems
Ducted air conditioning systems are of two fundamental types.
- Non-Inverter Ducted System: operates a single-speed compressor that operates at full load irrespective of cooling load, thus consuming more energy.
- Inverter Ducted System: is a variable-speed based inverter that can change the compressor output depending on the cooling needs, which is more energy-efficient and less expensive to operate.
Zoned Ducted Systems
Non-Inverter ducted system cools the whole house at a time. However, with zoning technology, ducted systems can in fact be far more efficient- you are able to cool only certain areas when required.
This is a decent choice when you want to cover the entire house, but you want to save on energy by only cooling certain areas.
Running Cost Breakdown
The ducted systems in India normally use 5-15 kW per hour based on the size and efficiency rating. The average cost of electricity is 6-8 per unit, and a ducted system can be used to run 8 hours per day, which would cost 2400-9600 per month in the peak summer season.
What is a Split System Air conditioner?
Split system air conditioners, also known as mini-splits or room air conditioners, are individual wall-mounted units that are linked to outdoor compressors in order to cool individual rooms or zones.
Such units typically have a rating of 1-2 tonnes and consume 1-3 kW per hour.
Energy ratings are important in calculating the running costs. A 5-star rated split AC uses significantly less power as compared to a 3-star rated model. In other instances, the electricity bills of a unit with a lower rate may be almost twice as high as those of efficient models.
There are three options of split systems that you can purchase.
Window AC: This setup is installed in one box in a window with both the cooling and exhaust installed in the same box. It is also a great choice when you do not need advanced cooling but at the cost of a split installation. The window units are easy to instal or one can hire a professional to instal them in the best position.
Wall-Mounted Split: Split systems have two parts, an indoor and an outdoor unit, which are one inside and one outside in total to provide enhanced cooling efficacy. This setup is less noisy and more attractive, and all you need to do is to put the indoor unit on your wall.
We have explained how to Use Air Conditioner at Night in India
Which is Right for You?
You have got this far, how do you know what system fits you? Which system should you use the ducted system or the split system? It might be a matter of what you are seeking.
To get the most bang out of your buck.
I would choose a 5-star inverter split system or multi-split. Both these alternatives would need a separate unit in each room, but beyond this cost, they would offer reduced running costs and remain an excellent cooling option.
For whole-home cooling
Zoning Ducted systems have the ability to provide greater value in certain situations where multiple rooms are being cooled at the same time and in conjunction with inverter technology.
In case you want to have centralised control, then you might consider using a zoned inverter ducted system. You may have to spend a lot more on installation because ducted systems involve a lot of ducting and professional installation.
For energy efficiency
I would suggest either of the 3 split system designs. Even though a zoned ducted system can definitely assist in minimising wastage, single splits enable you to cool only rooms in use so it is difficult to beat. Splits are efficient as they offer specific cooling, and they use low power when strategically utilised.
We have cover Power consumption difference of 1.5 ton inverter ac 3 star and 4 star and 5 star
Running Cost Comparison
| Factor | Ducted System | Split System |
| Average Power Consumption | 5-15 kW/hour | 1-3 kW/hour per unit |
| Monthly Cost (8 hrs/day) | ₹2,400-₹9,600 | ₹480-₹1,440 per unit |
| Efficiency Rating Impact | Moderate | Significant |
| Zone Control Savings | 20-30% with zoning | 100% (natural zone control) |
FAQ
The cost of running ducted AC is more expensive than running non-ducted AC depending on a few factors. Ducted systems are more expensive to operate in general, however, in cooling down an entire large house, they may prove cheaper than operating several split units at the same time. Split systems cost nearly always less to run in smaller houses or in rooms of choice.
