Types of air conditioning explained
The main system types, what each is good at, and where each is the wrong choice.
Comparison
| Type | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Single split (wall) | One room: bedroom, office, living room | One outdoor unit per room |
| Multi-split | 2–5 rooms from one outdoor unit | Pipe routes to each room; units share capacity |
| Ducted | New builds, refurbishments, concealed finish | Needs ceiling void and ducting space |
| Cassette | Shops, offices, restaurants with a suspended ceiling | Needs ceiling void and a drain route |
| Floor-standing / console | Where wall and ceiling are not available | Takes floor space; more visible |
| VRF | Larger buildings, many zones, simultaneous heat and cool | Design and commissioning are specialist |
Split systems
A split system separates the compressor and condenser (outdoors) from the evaporator and fan (indoors). That keeps noise outside and lets the indoor unit be slim. A wall-mounted split is the usual domestic choice for a single room because it is the most affordable and the easiest to install.
Multi-split
Several indoor units connected to one outdoor unit. It suits a house where two or three rooms need cooling and the outside wall should not carry a row of boxes. The trade-off is that the pipe routes are longer and the outdoor unit capacity is shared between rooms.
Ducted and cassette
Both are concealed or recessed. Ducted units sit in a ceiling void with grilles in the rooms; cassettes sit in the ceiling with a visible, flush panel. They are the usual choice in shops, offices and restaurants, and in new builds where nothing should be visible.
Which to choose
Start from the rooms and the building rather than the product. A survey settles it. See installation, domestic or commercial.
Common questions.
What is the most common type of home air conditioning?
A wall-mounted single split system, one indoor unit and one outdoor unit.
What is the difference between split and multi-split?
A split system has one indoor unit and one outdoor unit. A multi-split has several indoor units on one outdoor unit.
Which is quietest?
Modern wall-mounted units are very quiet indoors. Ducted systems can be quieter still because the fan unit is remote from the room.
Talk to the engineers.
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