Central AC Vs. Ductless

Central air conditioners (ACs) and ductless ACs both cool air, but vary in method and design.

Air conditioners (ACs), a common mechanism found in modern homes and commercial buildings, cool and dehumidify air. Central ACs and ductless air conditioners both perform this task, but vary in design.

Ducts

Central air conditioning systems refer to interior units that use ducts, or a series of tubes or conduits composed of flexible plastic, fiberglass, sheet metal or tin, to distribute cooled air to various rooms in a building. Ductless air conditioner systems, also known as mini-split systems, consist of one ductless indoor and one ductless outdoor unit connected by refrigerant tubing that distributes cooled air via an air handler, or device containing a cooling element, filters and blowers.

Versatility

Ductless systems offer the versatility of installation in confined spaces due to their smaller size and lack of duct work restrictions. The indoor unit typically fits in areas such as crawl spaces and closets. The outdoor unit require a only a small hole cut into the wall to support it and is less conspicuous than a central air conditioning system due to its smaller compressor size.

Noise Reduction

Although central air conditioners cost less than a ductless system, ductless systems offer significant noise reduction compared to central ACs. The outside placement of the compressor reduces the interior humming noise associated with central air conditioning units.

References

• HVAC for Beginners: Ductless AC, The Basics
• "Troubleshooting and Servicing Modern Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems"; John Tomczyk; 1995

Resources

• "Air Conditioning Application and Design"; W. P. Jones; 1997