Zwy
Emperor Of Solar
Have a link to the ducted unit you bought?
It does seem like a good solution to a structure that already has ducting.
Although Ductwork definitely has loss and can have leaks. Especially old sheet metal ductwork.
It is more than that. From this page.
"It also should be noted that reviewing SEER and COP ratings for both unitary central and ductless HVAC systems isn’t necessarily an apples-to-apples comparison. With centralized air-conditioning systems, the air handlers are tested without ductwork attached. When installed in a home, the SEER and COP ratings are negatively impacted by the added ductwork, up to a 35% reduction in performance. Since ductless units are installed within the zone they serve, their performance is 100% reflective of their SEER and COP rating."
Conditioning zones is always more efficient than non zoned.
I work on refrigerant systems. For copper lines, what you stated is true.I’ve never seen a copper line carring anything fail anywhere other than the connectors unless it was impacted or crushed by something, or corrosion is present.
That goes for fuel lines, water, and refrigerant.