What is the Difference between a Duct unit and an Air Source Heat Pump?

Duct units and air source heat pumps are two different air conditioning systems, which have significant differences in working principles, installation methods, applicable scenarios and performance characteristics.

1. Working principle

Duct units

Duct units usually use fan coils as terminal equipment to deliver hot and cold air to each room through a pipe system. It uses a fan to blow air through an evaporator or condenser to achieve cooling or heating.

Air source heat pump

Air source heat pumps absorb heat from outdoor air and heat it up through a compressor and deliver it to the room for heating or cooling. Air source heat pump systems usually use closed water circulation and can be installed flexibly without length and height restrictions.

2. Installation method

Duct units

Duct units need to connect indoor and outdoor units, and usually need to use products from the same manufacturer. The requirements for copper pipes during installation are high, which increases labor costs.

Air source heat pumps

The number of outdoor units of air source heat pumps is small, and they can be placed on the roof. The installation is more flexible, the connection method is simple, and the maintenance cost is low.

3. Applicable scenarios

Duct machine

Applicable to scenarios that require central heating and cooling for the whole house, but it has a certain impact on air humidity, and in some cases may require fresh air treatment.

Air source heat pump

Applicable to scenarios that require efficient heating and cooling, especially in cold areas, and can provide heating and hot water functions at the same time.

4. Performance characteristics

Duct machine

It has the characteristics of beautiful appearance, small space occupation, low cost and convenient maintenance, but its parts are less versatile and maintenance is more troublesome.

Air source heat pump

The parts are more versatile, maintenance is more convenient, and it has more advantages in long-term investment, especially in energy saving and environmental protection.

In general, duct machine is more suitable for scenarios that require central heating and cooling for the whole house, while air source heat pump is more suitable for cold areas that require efficient heating and cooling, and has significant advantages in energy saving and environmental protection.