Are you having trouble making your four-season room, addition or garage comfortable? Do you simply want to be able to improve the temperature control in each room? Then a ductless mini-split system might be the answer.
Okay, what precisely is a ductless mini-split system? Recall the days of cumbersome window units and central air conditioning systems that consisted of a maze of ductwork?
Fortunately, for many of us, those systems are a thing of the past, thanks to the arrival of ductless HVAC systems. These modern-day systems provide a groundbreaking technique for home heating and cooling. Due to their compact design and extraordinary efficiency, ductless units have transformed how we deal with indoor climate control.
So, how exactly do they work?
Ductless mini-split systems deliver heating and cooling comfort to one or more living spaces, or “zones”, minus the use of conventional ductwork.
Rather, a single heating/cooling condensing unit, which is normally placed at the exterior of a building, allows the system to reach the preferred room temperature via a closed, refrigerant loop to one or more air-handling units located in a building’s interior.
Compact, sleek and devised to efficiently circulate the air for the best possible comfort, these indoor units continuously check air temperature and self-adjust the system’s performance for peak energy efficiency.
This blog will explain how ductless mini-splits can impact your home’s comfort. By the end, you’ll know whether it’s an option that’s right for you and your family.
Ease of installation: Yes, ductless mini-splits may not be as easy to install as a window unit, but it’s a reasonably quick installation when professionals perform it. The one major alteration to your home is a medium-sized hole drilled into the wall and a mount installed inside to hold the appliance. Obviously, as the name indicates, the unit doesn’t need any complex duct system. Just as important, there’s no major interruption to your life. Technicians arrive and can install a single unit in a couple of hours. More units take longer, but even so, they should be up and running within a day.
Rooms that benefit the most from ductless mini-systems: A traditional use is an extra room above a garage. Typically, this space is under-insulated and susceptible to exterior temperatures. Getting a duct out there is somewhat difficult, and ducts can’t be run in a garage without reliable safety restrictions. The perfect solution is a ductless mini-split system.
Let’s say you want the temperature in your master bedroom to be 65, but you want the house to be at 70 degrees. If you set the thermostat to 65, the entire house cools, not just one room. With a ductless mini-split, you’re not running up your utility bill to attempt to simply cool down your master bedroom.
If you were to add on an extra room, you are boosting the load on the entire system if you add ductwork. Even if there is no additional ductwork, the total square footage has changed, and your system could very well turn out to be undersized, meaning the entire house suffers. Auxiliary heating and cooling may be the only answer if your present system becomes maxes out. The solution: a ductless mini-split unit.
Your home office may be jam-packed with monitors, a printer and other apparatuses. Want to keep it cooler without installing a room air conditioner? A major advantage of a ductless system is that it can be “zone” comforted.
Here, then are the key paybacks of a ductless mini-split system.
Space saver: One of the most attractive things about a ductless system is its reduced size. As described above, a ductless system consists of just two parts: the indoor air handler and the outdoor condenser/compressor. One outdoor unit can be connected up to four indoor air handlers that are located on the wall in each room. For a more subtle solution, you can install a ceiling cassette rather than a wall unit.
Quiet: Not many people like to live where there is a constant, noisy clatter of a mechanical appliance running overhead. Older radiators and HVAC systems can make a heck of an uproar.
Ductless mini-splits are acknowledged for their silence, remaining quiet as you read, sleep and, by and large, live your life. You can also place them higher on the wall without blocking the windows, should you desire more fresh air and sunlight.
Less operating expenses: This is the bottom line for a lot of us. We all love appliances that cut our utility expenses, and why not?
For example, ductless air conditioning systems are significantly less expensive to run than ducted air conditioners. One manufacturer, Mitsubishi, says that a ductless unit can save up to 30-40 percent of energy costs when compared to a forced-air system. The principal reason? The lack of ductwork.
Ducts deliver the most noteworthy cause of leaking air in ducted systems. Gaps, improper installation, ruptures, etc., all have a say in the conditioned air leaking out and turning into squandered energy. The U.S. Department of Energy approximates that homes with central air conditioning eat up to 30 percent more power owing simply to leaking ducts.
HVAC Zoning: HVAC zoning describes the capability to split your home into well-defined areas or “zones,” each with its own individually regulated temperature. In a ductless system, each zone is governed by its indoor unit, meaning you can tailor the heating and cooling in each space matching your particular needs. Each space can be set to the best temperature for the people in it, making for ideal comfort.
This “zoned” method improves energy efficiency by sidestepping the necessity to heat or cool unoccupied spaces, offers personalized comfort all through your home and helps end thermostat wars at home.
Improvement in air quality: An added benefit of ductless HVAC systems is the boost in air quality. Conventional HVAC systems can amass dust, mold and other allergens in the ductwork, which are eventually spread throughout the house.
Because ductless mini-splits don’t have any ductwork, there is no danger of pollutants being distributed through the ductwork. This is especially helpful for those with allergies or respiratory problems.
A boost in comfort: Remember that discussion about broken ductwork leading to uneven heating? That’s only one of the unpleasant things that can be dodged with a ductless mini-split system. Kinked or pinched ducts can actually prevent warm or cool air from getting to your vents and torn or cracked ducts can heat or cool spaces such as your attic rather than your living quarters. Keep in mind that ductless systems will direct the heat or cool air where you want it.
Choosing the right ductless system: When choosing a ductless mini-split system, it’s crucial to take into account issues including the size of your home, the number of rooms you need to condition, and your precise heating and cooling requirements. Consulting a professional at AC& R Services can help you select the optimum ductless mini-split system for your home.
Give us a call at your convenience.