Ducted Air Conditioner Installation for Newly Renovated Bungalow in Damansara Heights

The Customer's Situation

Dr. Lim Wei Keat and his wife were completing a full renovation of their 4,500 sqft bungalow in Damansara Heights. They'd hired an interior designer who insisted on clean ceilings throughout — no wall-mounted aircond units breaking up the carefully curated aesthetic. The solution was a ducted aircond system.

Their architect had already planned the ceiling voids with adequate height (400mm) for ductwork, which was a huge advantage. Many retrofit projects struggle with insufficient ceiling space, but starting from a renovation meant everything could be designed properly.

Dr. Lim's requirements were specific: he wanted independent temperature control for the upstairs bedrooms versus the downstairs living areas, quiet operation (he's a light sleeper), and smart controls he could manage from his phone.

System Design

We designed a two-zone system using Daikin's premium ducted range:

• Zone 1 (Ground floor): Daikin 4.0HP concealed ducted unit serving living room, dining area, and study — approximately 2,000 sqft of conditioned space
• Zone 2 (First floor): Daikin 3.0HP concealed ducted unit serving 4 bedrooms and upstairs landing — approximately 1,800 sqft
• Zone dampers: Motorised dampers on bedroom branches allowing individual room control
• Controls: Daikin's i-Connect smart control system with WiFi connectivity and phone app

Each zone has its own outdoor condenser unit, mounted on a custom platform at the rear of the house. As detailed in our ducted aircond guide, having independent zones eliminates the biggest drawback of ducted systems — the inability to cool rooms selectively.

The Installation Process

Day 1-2 was ductwork installation — our sheet metal team fabricated the main trunk ducts and branch ducts on-site, fitting them precisely within the ceiling void. Coordination with the ceiling contractor was essential — we needed to complete ductwork before the plaster ceiling went up.

Day 3 focused on the indoor unit installation and refrigerant piping. The concealed units were mounted on threaded rods from the concrete slab above, with rubber isolators to prevent vibration transfer.

Day 4 was outdoor unit installation and electrical work. Day 5 was vacuum, gas charging, commissioning, and air balancing — adjusting the dampers to ensure even airflow to all rooms.

For a breakdown of typical costs for ducted installations versus other unit types, check our installation cost guide. Ducted systems are the most expensive to install but offer unmatched aesthetics.

Results

• Temperature consistency: Less than 1°C variation between rooms on the same zone
• Noise level: Below 30 dB(A) in bedrooms — virtually silent
• Cooling time: Entire ground floor reaches set temperature within 20 minutes
• Smart control: Dr. Lim can adjust zones, set schedules, and monitor energy usage from his phone anywhere
• Aesthetics: Zero visible aircond units — just flush ceiling grilles matching the interior design

Customer Feedback

"We spent a lot on this renovation and didn't want aircond units ruining the design. The ducted system is perfect — guests always ask how our house stays so cool without any aircond visible. The zone control means we only cool the bedrooms at night, which keeps the TNB bill reasonable. Very happy with Total Aircond's work."

— Dr. Lim Wei Keat, Damansara Heights