Mini Split AC: A Smart HVAC Upgrade
There are plenty of reasons you may want to consider a ductless air conditioning system. Perhaps your house is built without ductwork, or maybe the ductwork has been poorly maintained over the years and needs some serious work. Maybe you’re adding an addition, or you have a converted insulated garage that never seems to get as cool as the rest of the home. Maybe the humans in your household are fighting over the thermostat, and you need a way to let everyone set their own personal temperature. And of course, there are the energy efficiency advantages—since they use less energy than other systems, a ductless system will reduce your utility bills considerably.
Ductless systems are made up of an outdoor compressor/condenser unit and one or more indoor “air handler” units, each with a blower fan, evaporator coil, and air filter. They connect to the outdoor unit via a conduit that houses the power and refrigerant lines as well as the condensation drain. The air handlers mount to the wall or ceiling and can be controlled with a convenient remote. These units are quiet enough to run in the background, but not so quiet that you can’t hear the TV or a conversation when they’re on.
These units are very efficient, able to cut your energy bill by up to 30%. They also use variable fan speeds, which means that once they’ve gotten your room to the right temperature, they can lower the fan speed and maintain that temperature with minimal energy usage. That can save you even more money over time.
Besides the energy efficiency, a big benefit of these systems is that they allow you to create comfort zones in your home. Each of the indoor air handlers can be individually programmed with a remote, so you can have ultra-precise room-by-room temperature control. You can even shut off the units in rooms you don’t use at all to cut your electricity usage further.
Another advantage of these systems is that they can help you dehumidify your home. Since they’re so efficient at cooling, they can pull the moisture out of your air and make it feel more comfortable. This can be a real benefit in humid climates.
The final benefit is that a ductless system is much more customizable than a conventional system. The indoor units can be mounted just about anywhere and are relatively small, allowing them to blend into your decor. Plus, the exterior portion of the system is very discreet.
As with any new heating Mini Split AC or cooling system, it’s best to have your ductless system professionally installed. A trained HVAC technician can ensure that everything is set up properly and will last for a long time. They’ll know how much space you need for the air handlers and the outdoor condenser, and they can make sure there’s enough electrical power for them to run. They’ll also have the experience to avoid installation mistakes that could cost you a lot of money in the long run.