How much do ducted air conditioners cost?

Ducted air conditioning installation costs can vary greatly due to a variety of factors. This page sets out to inform you of the things an aircon technician will consider when quoting a ducted air conditioner installation so you can be better informed when having a system quoted and installed.

Why get a ducted air conditioner?

Firstly why should you get a ducted air conditioner? Ducted air conditioners can be a bit of a buzzword or go-to recommendation when looking for an air conditioner with most new homes having one installed as a default it is important to ensure they are the best air conditioner for you.

What is a ducted air conditioner?

A ducted air conditioner consists of an outdoor compressor, ceiling-mounted evaporator and blower and an array of insulated ducts that carry cool air from the evaporator to every room in your home. As they only have one outdoor and one indoor unit while still providing whole-home cooling they can be far cheaper to run than individual split systems for every room.

Why get a ducted air conditioner

Ducted air conditioners are the most efficient air conditioners for cooling your whole home. They are quiet, discreet and centrally controlled for ease of use. On top of this ducted air conditioners offer zoning capabilities so you are only cooling the rooms that are being used saving in operating costs. They are perfect for modern and older homes that have adequate ceiling space to fit the indoor unit and require whole-home cooling.

Why you shouldn't get a ducted air conditioner

There are a few main reasons for not getting a ducted air conditioner including:

• Only need to cool one or two rooms:

  If you only need to cool a home office and maybe a bedroom because these two rooms get stinking hot in summer and you are required to spend time in there where your open plan living area is comfortable with a fan.

• Small studios, granny flats or apartments:

  Homes or studios with one or two rooms will be better off getting a split or cassette air conditioner saving in installation and purchasing costs.

• No roof cavity space:

  If your home doesn't have enough or any roof cavity space it is next to impossible to install a ducted air conditioner. in these instances, a bulkhead or wall-mounted split system air conditioner will offer a better air conditioning solution.

These are a few of the main reasons why another type of air conditioning will be better for your home or business. If you are still unsure whether a ducted air conditioner is best for you quiz your air conditioner technician when getting a quote.

What affects the cost of a ducted air conditioner?

When giving you a quote an air conditioning technician will consider a broad range of variables. Some of the main things they will consider are as follows:

1. What type of air conditioner will best suit your use case:

   As covered earlier a ducted air conditioner might not be the best for your home and it might be more economical to go for a split system.

2. The size of the ducted air con needs to efficiently cool your home or business:

   This can be affected by a few things; the size of your home, the number of rooms and or zones, and the insulation of your home. If your home is older or doesn't have enough insulation you may need a slightly bigger air conditioner to cool your home effectively.

3. Difficulty to install:

   An aircon tech will be looking at where they can access your roof cavity, and how much space is in your roof cavity. They will also work out how many rooms need to be ducted and how to best zone your home. This can determine whether they will need to get a slimline evaporator unit or they can use a regular one. They will also have to work out where best to install the outdoor unit to get optimal airflow this will also determine whether they will need to lay a small slab to install the compressor on.

4. Technology:

   Apart from the compressor, evaporator, and refrigerant piping, there are a few peripheral technologies you can include in your air conditioner to improve control and usability of the system. The first is a wi-fi control module that most brands offer as an extra for their ducted air conditioners. This lets you control your air conditioner via a mobile device from wherever you have an internet connection. The next is the control panel; ducted air conditioners use a central control panel to control the system. You can go one of two ways with these panels. The traditional control panel comes in around $200-300 or a digital control screen that provides greater control but can cost up to $1,500.

These are the main variables an air conditioner technician will consider when providing a quote for a ducted aircon installation. On top of this if you already have a ducted air conditioner they will inspect the existing hardware such as refrigerant piping and either the indoor or outdoor units if they are still working to see if they can salvage these components to lower the installation cost.

If you need further advice on whether a ducted aircon is best for you or are after a quote for a ducted air conditioner installation at your home then All Purpose Air Conditioning is perfect for you. Contact our team today for a 100% workmanship guarantee on a ducted aircon installation.

References:

How Much Does Ducted Air Conditioning Cost? [2025] | Hipages

How much does ducted air conditioning cost? | Canstar Blue