Residential Ducted Air Conditioning

Ducted air conditioners offer distinct advantages over other types of AC systems, such as multi room air conditioners or single room air conditioners. The key difference lies in their ability to cool or warm the entire house, delivering comprehensive climate control instead of focusing on a single room. This is achieved by efficiently distributing cooled or heated air through a network of ducts, ensuring consistent temperature regulation throughout the entire home.

Ducted home air conditioners offer several compelling advantages that make them a preferred choice for whole home cooling and heating solutions. Here are the key benefits of a ducted aircon:

• Ability to cool or heat multiple rooms at once: One of the most significant advantages of residential ducted air conditioning is its capacity to cool or heat multiple rooms simultaneously. Using a centralised unit, cooled or heated air is distributed through a network of ducts that connect to various rooms in the house. This comprehensive approach ensures a consistent and comfortable indoor environment throughout the entire home, even during extreme weather conditions. 

• Discreet design: Ducted air conditioning is a sleek system which is unobtrusive to the design of your home. The only visible part of the system are stylish vents in the ceiling and a wall controller in a central location.

• Zoning: For efficient operation, zones can be set-up to help manage air flow to different areas of the home. These zones can be switched on or off as required. For example, the air conditioning can be on in the living areas during the day, and in the bedrooms during the night. This feature allows you to maximise comfort and minimise energy wastage.

• Quiet operation: Ducted air conditioning units are designed with noise reduction in mind. The indoor unit is typically installed in the ceiling and the outdoor unit is installed in a less frequented area of the house, keeping noise levels low during operation. The conditioned air is also delivered through insulated ducts, reducing any possible noise transmission inside the living areas. This feature is especially valuable for maintaining a peaceful and undisturbed environment, ensuring that the cooling or heating process remains unobtrusive.

Efficient operation: Ducted air conditioning systems are renowned for their energy efficiency. Centralised cooling and heating allow for better control over temperature settings, which optimises energy usage. Long lifespan: Properly installed and maintained, ducted air conditioning systems boast a long operational lifespan. These systems are designed with durable components and advanced engineering, enhancing their reliability and longevity. Regular maintenance, including filter replacement and professional inspections, can further extend the lifespan of the unit. Read more about our air conditioner warranty.

Yes, ducted air conditioners can provide heating as well as cooling. These systems are commonly referred to as "reverse cycle" air conditioners. The term "reverse cycle" comes from the fact that they can reverse the refrigeration cycle to provide both cooling and heating functions.

During hot weather, a ducted air conditioner removes heat from inside the home and expels it outdoors, effectively cooling the indoor environment. In colder weather, the ducted air conditioning system reverses the process by absorbing heat from the outside air and transferring it indoors to warm up the living spaces.

Yes. Ducted air conditioning systems can be zoned for different floors of a multi-story home. This zoning capability is achieved through the implementations of dampers and zone control systems. By adjusting these dampers, the airflow can be directed to specific zones or floors, enabling independent temperature control for each area.

Determining whether residential ducted air conditioning is the ideal solution for your home depends on several crucial factors. Consider the following aspects to make an informed decision:

• Home size and layout: Ducted air conditioning systems provide a whole home comfort solution. It is a quiet, easy to operate and energy efficient method of heating or cooling multiple rooms, or the entire home, whilst using optional zone control. If you have an expansive living space requiring consistent cooling or heating throughout, a ducted air conditioner’s ability to distribute conditioned air evenly and efficiently via ducts may be the perfect fit.

• Number of rooms to cool or heat: If you need to regulate the indoor climate in several rooms simultaneously, a ducted air conditioner can offer a comprehensive solution. With its ability to cool or heat multiple zones independently, this system ensures personalised comfort for each area.

• Budget considerations: Ducted air conditioning units can involve higher upfront costs compared to other options, primarily due to the ductwork installation. If you have a flexible budget and prioritise long-term benefits like energy efficiency and enhanced comfort, a ducted system may prove worthwhile.

To determine the most suitable option, contact us to speak to our experts who can assess your home's requirements and provide personalised advice.

The choice between a split system and a ducted air conditioner ultimately depends on the specific needs of your home. 

Split system air conditioners are ideal for heating and cooling one or two rooms, delivering efficient and flexible solutions for spaces where duct air conditioners cannot be installed. 

Ducted air conditioners, on the other hand, are best suited for use in large spaces, where multiple rooms must be heated or cooled. Ducted air conditioning systems are an efficient and discrete method of providing comfort tailored to each occupant’s preferences.

There are several steps to operating a ducted air conditioner efficiently. 

It is imperative that the temperature is set to the most efficient levels, between 22 and 24 degrees when cooling, and 19-21 degrees when heating. 

Make sure you also take advantage of the zoning capabilities of your Fujitsu General ducted air conditioner to provide the optimum level of comfort to each room. For more information, please refer to our article on how to zone ducted air conditioning. 

For your ducted air conditioner to work at its best, ensure your home is well-insulated, and that the air conditioning system itself is regularly maintained by a professional. 

Using smart controls to set timers, or switching the unit off when it is not needed, can also significantly reduce the amount of energy used by your ducted air conditioner.

In order to determine which air conditioner is right for your home, you first need to know the size of the space you will be heating or cooling. Begin by measuring the length and width of each room to calculate the area of each room in your home.

A basic calculation is that each square metre requires around 0.125kWh of energy to heat or cool [1]. However, this can vary based on your home’s ceiling height, insulation quality, window sizes and exposure to sunlight. 

You will require a more powerful unit if the rooms in your home face west, or if the building has poor insulation. 

For more detailed information, please see our blog on what size air conditioner will fit your home, or contact a member of the Fujitsu General Assist team. 

[1] https://www.hhaircon.com.au/hints_tips/how-much-should-an-air-conditioner-cost/