The problem with adding ducts
Central air needs ducts to carry air to each room. In older homes with radiator heat, there is often no easy path for them. Running new ducts can mean opening plaster walls and ceilings, giving up closet space and building soffits, all of which add cost and disruption. In some houses there is simply no good route.
Your main options
Most homeowners without ducts weigh three options: window or through-wall units, ductless mini-splits and new central air with added ductwork. Small-duct high-velocity systems are another option for some houses, using flexible tubes that fit in tighter spaces than standard ducts.
- Window or through-wall air conditioners
- Ductless mini-splits, single or multi-zone
- Ducted mini-split air handlers for a few rooms
- Small-duct high-velocity systems
- Central air with new ductwork
How mini-splits compare
Mini-splits are quieter than window units, keep the windows clear and usually use less electricity for the same cooling. They also provide heat, which window units do not. Compared with new central air, they avoid major ductwork and let you control each room separately, but each indoor unit is visible on a wall or ceiling.
Cost comparisons
Fixr notes that adding a central AC system for cooling typically costs $5,000 to $12,000. In a house without ducts, the cost and disruption of adding ductwork comes on top of that. A ductless system for a few rooms often falls in a similar range, with the advantage of heating too. Your contractor can price the options for your house side by side.
Questions to ask
Ask the contractor which rooms need cooling most, how each option would be installed in your house, what each would cost to run and what each would do for heating. A written comparison makes the choice easier.
Living with each option
Window units are cheap and easy to replace but block light, let in drafts in winter unless removed and can be noisy. Through-wall units stay put but need a sleeve cut into the wall. Mini-splits cost more up front but run quietly, provide heat as well as cooling and leave windows clear. Central air hides the equipment but needs ducts in every room it serves. Think about noise, looks and year-round use as well as price.
Typical cost comparison
Published ranges from Fixr.
| Option | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Ductless mini-split heat pump | $2,000 to $8,000 |
| Central AC system, added cost | $5,000 to $12,000 |
| Air-source heat pump | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Two-zone ductless system | $3,000 to $8,000 |
National ranges from the published sources below, not quotes. Westchester labor rates and older-home wiring often put local prices toward the higher end.
Sources: Fixr, heat pump installation cost; Fixr, ductless heat pump cost
Questions homeowners ask
Is a mini-split better than window units?
For most homeowners, yes, for noise, efficiency and keeping windows clear. Window units cost less up front.
Can a mini-split cool a whole house?
With enough indoor units, yes. Many homeowners start with the rooms they use most and add zones later.
Do mini-splits work with my existing heat?
Yes. Many homes keep radiators or other heat and use mini-splits for cooling and mild-weather heating.
Are the indoor units hard to hide?
Wall units are visible, though many are slim and neutral in color. Ceiling cassettes, floor consoles and small ducted air handlers can be less noticeable. Ask the contractor to show you the options for each room.
Other services
Ductless mini-split installation
Heating and cooling for homes and rooms without ducts.
Multi-zone mini-splits
One outdoor unit serving several rooms.
Heat pump conversions
Moving from window units or fossil fuel heat to a heat pump.
Mini-split repair
Diagnosis and repair for ductless systems.
Mini-split maintenance
Cleaning and checkups that keep systems efficient.
Rebates and incentives
Programs that may lower the cost of a heat pump.