A guide to deciding which is right for you.
Heat pumps have been a popular alternative to air conditioners for decades, especially in mild to warm climates. There are two primary types of heat pumps on the market today – ducted and ductless. If you’re looking to install a heat pump in your home, office, or other space, the first step should be identifying which type will work best for you.
While both ducted and ductless heat pumps perform the same job, there are important differences in functionality, performance, and installation that can help determine which is right for you. Beyond the obvious difference in ducting requirements, each can have distinct advantages over the other depending on your space, your comfort needs, and the presence or absence of existing HVAC equipment.
What are Ducted Heat Pumps and how do they work?
Though all heat pumps are designed to perform the same basic function – providing heating and cooling capabilities in a single unit – ducted heat pumps utilize ductwork to evenly distribute conditioned air throughout a space. This can be beneficial for multi-room or whole-home installations, making it easier to maintain consistent temperatures throughout the different spaces.
A ducted heat pump system consists of an outdoor condenser unit and a centrally located evaporator/air handler to regulate air exchange, control humidity, and provide filtration. As with all central HVAC systems, airflow and temperature are controlled by a centralized thermostat unit, or multiple units for zoned systems.
Key Advantages of a Ducted System
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- Uniform Heating and Cooling
Ductwork means that conditioned air is evenly distributed, delivering the same level of comfort from room to room. - Comprehensive Air Filtration Capabilities
A variety of filtration options are available based on the air handler you install. High-quality filtration devices like HEPA filters, UV light filters can easily be added in-line to ductwork - Centralized Control
Temperatures can be controlled throughout your space from a single control point, usually a wall mounted thermostat - Straightforward Installation for Already Ducted Homes
For homes with existing ductwork, a ducted heat pump offers simple, inexpensive installation.
- Uniform Heating and Cooling
Though ducted heat pumps are highly efficient and work well when installed appropriately, there can be disadvantages to ducted units, especially if improperly matched to a space.
Some Possible Disadvantages of Ducted Systems
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- Potential Energy Loss Due to Ductwork
Damaged or improperly insulated or maintained ductwork can cause your heat pump to work harder than necessary. Leaks, blockages, or improperly sized ducts can become a drag on your system requiring more energy to maintain desired temperatures – and costing you more money. Proper seasonal cleaning of ductwork can help offset this issue, but regardless, a typical ducted system delivers higher energy bills than a ductless one. - Difficult Installation for Un-Ducted Homes
If your home doesn’t have existing ductwork, installation can be invasive and costly. - Higher Maintenance Costs
Because the complexity of a ducted system creates home-wide opportunities for leaks and other issues, maintenance requirements are higher. Ducts require regular inspection and cleaning to ensure the system’s integrity and eliminate dust and mold buildup
- Potential Energy Loss Due to Ductwork
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- Lack of Room-by-Room Control
Counter to the convenience of centralized control, without the installation of zoning devices, a ducted system doesn’t allow for room-specific temperature adjustment to meet differing preferences.
- Lack of Room-by-Room Control
To learn more about Lennox’ ducted heat pump offerings, explore our precision heat pump selection.
Ok, so what is a Ductless Heat Pump and how is it different?
While ductless heat pumps, also called mini-splits consist of the same two primary components – an outdoor condenser unit and an indoor air handler, that’s where the similarities end. Though available in a variety of capacities, ductless heat pumps are specifically designed for smaller spaces, which means components are smaller and offer more flexibility than their ducted counterparts.
Without the need for ductwork, a ductless heat pump is also simpler to install, especially for new construction applications. Typically, the condenser and air handler units are installed near one another along the same outer wall of a space; one outside, one inside. To complete the system, the two are then connected by an electrical line and refrigerant conduits. This simplicity means installation can be as easy as cutting a single, 3-inch hole in the outer wall of your space.
For even more flexibility, ductless air handlers are also available in a variety of configurations – wall-mounted, floor console, and ceiling cassette, to name a few. These options give homeowners the ability to design a system that works best for their space and meets their aesthetic preferences.
Some Advantages of a Ductless System
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- Highly Energy Efficient
Even properly installed ductwork provides ample opportunity for leaks and thermal loss, especially as a system ages. And ducted equipment must work harder to compensate for these inefficiencies. Because the connections between ductless indoor and outdoor units are sealed and secure, those risks are all but eliminated, reducing wear and tear on your equipment and saving you money on your electric bills - Room-by-Room Control
If you’re conditioning a multi-room space, a ductless system can be configured to provide true zoning within your space by pairing a single condenser with multiple air handlers. Since each air handler has its own controls, occupants can set the temperature specific to their personal preferences within each zone. Ductless zoning can also be an energy saver, allowing you to turn off areas that don’t need heating or cooling when they aren’t in use.
- Highly Energy Efficient
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- Easy Installation When Ductwork isn’t Available or Feasible
Ductless heat pumps are ideal for new add-on construction, out buildings, or other spaces wherein stalling ductwork might be cost-prohibitive. The simple design of a ductless mini-split makes adding heating and cooling capabilities to these spaces much cheaper and less invasive than ducted equipment.
- Easy Installation When Ductwork isn’t Available or Feasible
While with proper application and installation, ductless heat pumps can have significant benefits, there are also some disadvantages to consider.
A Few Possible Drawbacks of Ductless Systems
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- Higher Installation Cost for Large or Multi-Room Spaces
Remember, despite being available in a range of sizes, ductless heat pumps are designed for smaller applications. Because of this, choosing a ductless solution for a multi-room, or whole-home applications can become costly. Depending on the overall size and design of the space, a multi-room installation can require multiple units – indoor and outdoor. We recommend finding a local HVAC pro who can help you assess your space, and find a balance of cost and efficiency that meets your needs.
- Higher Installation Cost for Large or Multi-Room Spaces
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- Appearance of Indoor Units
The appearance of indoor units may be a concern to some homeowners. Though some of the more modern air handlers are designed to blend in with most home décor, they are still far more conspicuous than a simple central air vent.
- Appearance of Indoor Units
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- Lacks of Centralized Control
While having control over individual rooms within a zoned ductless system can be beneficial in some ways, it can be inconvenient for some when compared to single, centrally located thermostat. With a ductless system, homeowners must move from room-to-room to actively manage each zone.
- Lacks of Centralized Control
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- Maintenance Needs
Since each individual unit requires its own filter monitoring, maintenance, and replacement, maintenance for a multi-component ductless system can be a bit more involved than a typical ducted heat pump.
- Maintenance Needs
Check out our ductless heat pump selection to learn more about the flexibility and options of a ductless system.
Which type of Heat Pump is right for your home?
As we’ve covered, there are many things to consider when choosing the option that’s best for you and your home. Both ducted and ductless options can deliver great benefits when properly applied.
The main factor in determining which is approach is right for you is the size and design of your space. Reach out toa local Lennox dealer to get a survey done of the space. Many dealers provide this type of consultation free of charge. They’ll help you determine square footage, address any design concerns that might affect your choice, and provide you with many of the answers you’ll need to determine which approach will deliver the most benefit. 
It's also important to take into account how the space will be used. Heating and cooling requirements of a space that is a center of activity used frequently by the family are going to be different than those of a basement getaway or an add-on craft room. And if you’re equipping a multi-room space that includes bedrooms or separate living spaces, you may want to consider a zoned approach to maximize individual comfort.
Once you’re over the ducted or ductless hurdle, your dealer can help begin weighing the up-front investment, installation fees, and maintenance costs, and efficiency ratings associated with the equipment that fits your needs – and get you on your path to perfect air.
