Central air conditioner or split air conditioner, it is a common topic in home decoration. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages and are suitable for different needs and scenarios. The following is a comparison from many aspects:

 

1. Room size

 

Central air conditioner

  • It is applicable to large houses, villas, and commercial spaces.
  • It can cover multiple rooms and is suitable for large areas that require unified temperature control.
  • It is concealed for installation and suitable for families pursuing high-end decoration effects.

 

Split air conditioner

  • Applicable to small and medium-sized houses, with each room installed independently.
  • Each air conditioner is controlled independently, suitable for use scenarios with personalized needs.
  • The initial installation cost is low, suitable for users with limited budgets.

 

 

2. Cooling/Heating Capacity

 

Central air conditioner

  • High power, suitable for multiple rooms at the same time.
  • Even cooling/heating, small temperature fluctuation, high comfort.

 

Split air conditioner

  • Good cooling/heating effect for a single room, fast startup.
  • Suitable for single-room use, but low energy efficiency when multiple air conditioners are used at the same time.

 

3. Installation and Space Requirements

 

Central air conditioner

  • The installation is complex and requires advance planning in conjunction with the decoration (such as ceiling design).
  • Hidden installation, high aesthetics, but high requirements for the building height (about 25-30 cm reserved).

 

Split air conditioner

  • Easy to install, each room is designed independently.
  • It does not affect the structure of the house, but multiple external units may affect the appearance of the exterior wall.

 

commercial air conditioner

 

4. Energy and Operation Cost

 

Central air conditioner

  • High energy efficiency, especially variable frequency models, are more energy-efficient when used in multiple rooms at the same time.
  • The initial installation cost is high, but the energy consumption is economical in long-term use.

 

Split air conditioner

  • The energy consumption of a single unit is low, but the overall energy efficiency is low when multiple units are running at the same time.
  • The initial installation cost is low, but the long-term operating cost is high.

 

5. Appearance and decoration matching

 

Central air conditioner

  • Hidden design, integrated with the overall decoration, high aesthetics.
  • Suitable for modern simple and high-end decoration styles.

 

Split air conditioner

  • The appearance is visible (wall-mounted AC, floor standing AC), which may affect the overall decoration style.
  • The new model has a strong sense of design and can meet some decoration needs.

 

6. Noise

 

Central air conditioner

  • The main unit is placed outdoors, and the operating noise is low.
  • The indoor air supply is quiet, suitable for users who are sensitive to noise.

 

Split air conditioner

  • There is noise in both indoor and outdoor units, especially in old models.
  • The quiet performance of high-end split models is gradually improving.

 

7. Initial cost and maintenance

 

Central air conditioner

  • The initial installation cost is high (usually 30,000-100,000￥, depending on the size of the apartment).
  • The later maintenance cost is high (such as cleaning pipes and maintaining the main unit).

 

Split air conditioner

  • The initial cost of a single unit is low (about 2,000-15,000￥/unit), and the total cost depends on the number of rooms.
  • Easy to maintain, and a single unit failure does not affect the use of other rooms.

 

central air conditioning

 

8. Comprehensive Pros and Cons

 

 Type  Central air conditioner  Split air conditioner
 Pros  High power, wide cooling range, suitable for  large rooms  Affordable, space-saving, suitable for small rooms
 Cons  Large floor space, high price and energy consumption items  Limited cooling range, low power

 

9. Suitable Crowd and Scenario Advice

 

Central air conditioner

  • Suitable for large houses and families who focus on beautiful decoration and comfort.
  • Suitable for scenarios where multiple rooms and multiple users are used at the same time, such as villas, offices, etc.

 

Split air conditioner

  • Suitable for users in small houses or single rooms.
  • Suitable for scenarios with limited budget or short-term use, such as renting a house.

 

10. Suggestions

  • If the budget is sufficient and the decoration effect is high, choose a central air conditioner.
  • If you pursue economy and practicality and the house area is not large, choose a split air conditioner.
  • The choice between the two mainly depends on the house area, budget, decoration plan, and usage requirements.

 

We are professional air conditioner manufacturer with 30+ years experience; if you have a specific room type or budget requirement, please tell us, and we can further recommend a suitable solution for you!