What Is A Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner?
Ductless mini split air conditioners aren’t that different from traditional air conditioners in basic mechanics. Like a conventional system, you have a compressor and condenser outside of your home or business, where the noise and hard work occurs. Inside your building however, the differences become apparent. In place of bulky ductwork pushing cooled or heated air, a mini split air conditioner system has small copper pipes pumping refrigerant to independent wall mounted blowers. Ductless mini split air conditioners serve as year-round HVAC solutions, offering cooling in the warm months and heating in the cold months.
The Benefits of a Ductless Mini Split
- High Efficiency. By eliminating ducts, mini-split systems lose far less cold air than a forced air system and use less power in doing so.
- Zone-Based Cooling. With a central air conditioning system, the best you can do to avoid cooling down particular rooms is to close vents, which is hardly an ideal solution. Ductless mini split air conditioners however cool or heat only the rooms you program them to.
- No Ducts. The copper pipes used for a ductless mini split system take up far less space than the ducts for a forced-air system, making them easier to install, viable for more locations, and less visually conspicuous.
- Quiet. Ducts are noisy, carrying the sounds from your compressor throughout your home. Window units are even worse, as they place the entire unit within a room for all to hear. Ductless mini split air conditioners however, offer a compromise.
Downsides
- Cost. The startup costs for a ductless mini split air conditioner typically run higher than the startup costs for the conventional alternative. Though you will save in the long term, you need to be able to make the initial investment.
- Installation Quality Matters. Any poorly configured HVAC system loses efficiency, but the loss can be massive with a ductless mini split. It’s incredibly important that your contractor installs your unit correctly. This can be avoided by using a trusted installation company.
- Visibility. There’s no easy way to hide the blower in each room. While most owners won’t find their indoor units visually offensive, it may be a challenge to match your unit to certain aesthetics of your home.
- Noise. While most find the sound of the interior units’ fans unobtrusive, some home and business owners might find the focused sound more distracting or unpleasant than the generalized roar of a duct based system.
- Slow Catch-Up. If you turn your systems off during the day, expect to be warm or cool for longer than you would with a traditional system—the nature of mini splits make them slower to achieve comfortable levels, starting from an uncomfortable state.
If you’re looking for unobtrusive high-efficiency cooling and heating, few options can compete with a ductless mini split air conditioner. You’ll need to carefully consider your own needs and expectations before making the final decision, but the advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages. Ensure that you hire a quality company for the installation of your air conditioning system, and you will surely reap the benefits.
