# How do ducted and ductless heat pumps differ for a DC property?

> A ducted heat pump sends air from one air handler through your ducts; ductless puts a unit in each room. We install ducted systems only, and here is why it matters.

URL: https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/guide/ducted-vs-ductless-heat-pumps/

A ducted heat pump sends air from one central air handler through supply and return ducts to every room; a ductless system hangs an indoor unit in each room, tied to the outdoor unit by refrigerant lines. Both use the same air-source technology. At [Perennial DC Heat Pumps](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/) we install ducted heat pumps only, across Washington, DC; ductless mini splits are a separate trade we don’t offer.

## What’s actually different between the two?

The difference is how the warm or cool air reaches your rooms. In a ducted system, one indoor air handler holds the coil and blower. It pulls air from the house through returns, conditions it and pushes it through supply ducts to the registers. One thermostat, or a zoning system with dampers, runs the whole house.

In a ductless system, each indoor head has its own coil, fan, condensate drain and refrigerant connection, and usually its own remote. The outdoor unit may serve one head or several. Our [buying guide](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/guide/dc-heat-pump-buying-guide/) shows you how to tell which kind of system you have now. Some manufacturers also sell compact ducted air handlers on similar outdoor units, so we go by the indoor model number, not the brand.

## Already have ducts, or none at all?

If your house has working forced-air ducts, usually from a furnace and central air conditioner, it’s the natural fit for a ducted heat pump. We still check those ducts: a heat pump usually moves more air than a furnace for the same heat, and an undersized return can cut its capacity. Our [ductwork service](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/heat-pump-ductwork/) covers that check.

If radiators heat your house, there’s no air distribution at all. A ducted heat pump there means adding duct runs through closets, chases, attics or soffits, then opening and restoring finishes. That’s a real project, and we price it from the site visit and put it in your written estimate. Either way, our [sizing guide](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/guide/heat-pump-sizing/) applies: room loads at 14°F and 94°F decide what each room needs.

## Where does the equipment go in your house?

With a ducted system, the equipment lives in one cabinet, usually in a basement, closet or attic, with the filter and service access there. Your rooms show only registers and grilles. The trade-off is space for the cabinet and duct runs, and some heat lost if ducts pass through unconditioned areas.

A ductless system puts a visible unit on the wall or ceiling of each room it serves, each with its own line set and drain route through the exterior wall. Both types need a 240-volt outdoor circuit, a condensate path and the manufacturer’s clearances. Our [air-handler page](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/heat-pump-air-handler-replacement/) covers the ducted indoor equipment we install.

## Rowhouse, condo or historic district?

Your building shapes either choice. In a [rowhouse](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/guide/heat-pumps-rowhouses/), narrow plans and finished ceilings decide the duct route. In a [condo](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/guide/heat-pumps-condos/), the association controls exterior walls, balconies and roof space. In a DC historic district or on a landmark, any new exterior unit or visible line goes through Historic Preservation Office review, and in Georgetown, exterior changes visible from public space also go to the Commission of Fine Arts.

Each system also needs a DC Department of Buildings mechanical or refrigeration permit and, for new circuits, an electrical permit. Having no ducts doesn’t make ductless automatically easy, and having ducts doesn’t make a ducted replacement automatically simple; we look at both on the first visit.

## Is a cheaper quote really cheaper?

Only if it covers the same house. Our typical range for a whole-home ducted installation or like-for-like replacement is $8,000 to $18,000 before rebates, with standard materials and access. It doesn’t apply to ductless systems, to single rooms or to major new ductwork. A one-room quote covers less of your home, so a lower total isn’t a like-for-like saving.

Our [cost guide](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/heat-pump-cost/) and [estimator](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/tools/heat-pump-cost-estimator/) use only that ducted range and don’t turn it into a per-room or per-head figure. The DCSEU rebate tiers we cover are for ENERGY STAR ducted heat pumps; other equipment types have their own program rules.

## What do we install, and what don’t we?

We install ducted air-source heat pumps, replace them, convert homes from furnaces, set up dual fuel, replace air handlers and handle the related ductwork, as our [services directory](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/services/) lists. Ductless mini splits, geothermal systems and heat pump water heaters are outside what we do, and we don’t quote or arrange them.

If your house has no ducts, tell us when you get in touch. Our [project assessment](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/tools/heat-pump-assessment/) records it, and on the visit we work out whether a ducted design with new runs is practical. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you plainly that the project belongs with a different specialty. [Request an estimate](https://perennialdcheatpumps.com/contact/) for a ducted project with your current system and the rooms you want to fix.

## Questions before you decide

### Can I compare a single-room quote with a whole-home ducted budget?

No, not as equals. A single-room quote conditions one space; our typical range of $8,000 to $18,000 before rebates covers a whole-home ducted system. Line up the same rooms, the same capacity at 14°F and the same electrical and permit work before you call either total cheaper.

### Does no existing ductwork mean the estimator can price a ductless system?

No. Our estimator covers whole-home ducted air-source work only. If your house has no ducts, we look at whether a ducted design with new duct runs is practical and price it from the site visit; if it isn't, we tell you to look for a ductless specialist.

### Does Perennial offer ductless mini-split installation here?

No. We install and replace ducted air-source heat pumps. Ductless mini splits are a separate trade with their own installers, and we don't quote, design or arrange them.

## Continue planning

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