The heat’s been rough lately and I’m seriously looking into central AC, but I’m nervous about making the wrong call. It sounds awesome to cool the whole house evenly, but I’ve heard horror stories about costs going way over budget if the ductwork isn’t right. My place is mid-size, nothing fancy, and I want to hear if it’s worth it in the long run.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I did central AC two years ago and it was the best home decision I made. That said, it’s not always the right fit. This page sums it up really well: https://resident.com/resource-guide/2025/08/13/central-ac-vs-ductless-which-is-right-for-you. It compares central and ductless, going over cost, energy use, and setup. Reading that gave me a better idea of which system matched my needs, and I think it’s worth checking before you commit.
Glad this came up, because I’ve been trying to figure out the same thing. It’s not just the money, it’s making sure you choose something that actually works for your type of house. Definitely bookmarking this thread for later.