When it comes to system choice, ducted platforms continue to be a huge chunk of the market share, underscoring how deeply legacy duct-work is still influencing today’s replacement-heavy environment. According to a new unitary study from myCLEARopinion Insights Hub for ACHR NEWS, 65% of residential work and 73% of light commercial, on average, is ducted, compared to 35% of residential and 27% of light commercial going ductless. The study also shows that full-system replacement remains the path of least resistance for most customers when it comes to performance guarantees and rebates.
To Duct, or Not to Duct
While ductless continues to make steady gains, the newest data shows ducted platforms are still dominant, but this all depends on application. For many residential customers, the decision to stay with ducted is pretty obvious, according to David Rames, senior product manager at Midea, and this finding isn’t much of a surprise for anyone in the field.
“Ducted systems remain dominant largely because most existing homes and buildings were built with duct-work, so contractors naturally continue to focus on replacements and upgrades within those configurations,” Rames said. “With that said, contractors need to be more diligent in seeking out ductless opportunities not served well from a ducted installation perspective.”
Boykin Air 