Increasingly, homeowners facing specialized cooling and heating situations are going ductless. Ductless split systems (also called “mini-splits”) are versatile, offering comfort, efficiency and convenience. In many ways, they are superior to traditional ducted HVAC systems.
Ductless split ACs and heat pumps – both energy efficient and convenient – offer independent temperature control in specific areas of a home. They’re particularly suited for renovated rooms or sections, or additions to the home.
However, when installed with multiple indoor units, they can cool or heat an entire home if properly installed and placed.
One residential situation where the ductless system is increasingly popular is when a homeowner without gas service or internal ductwork, who has used electric baseboards for heat and portable AC units for cooling, decides to upgrade to a more efficient and effective heating and cooling option.
Ductless ACs and heat pumps also are popular in add-on rooms of homes, where it’s too difficult and impractical to extend ductwork to serve the new space.
What Does a Ductless AC Installation Involve?
A ductless split is a split-system air-source heat pump or AC with one major difference from a traditional forced-air cooling or heating system: working without ductwork, an installed ductless AC or heat pump conditions only the room or area where its air-handling units are located.
- Outside, a compressor unit containing the heat-exchange coil, compressor and blower connects to one or more air-handling units inside the house. A conduit with lines, tubes and wires to carry refrigerant, condensate and electricity connects the outside unit with the inside unit(s).
- Inside the house, each of one or more interior air-handling units – most systems allow for up to five – contains a coil and blower, in addition to a remote control in most systems.
Ductless cooling/heating air handlers can be installed in a variety of ways:
- on the wall
- hanging from the ceiling or
- free-standing
They don’t make a lot of noise and can be integrated relatively easily into your interior design. They don’t intrude on room design the way a window air conditioner or space heater would. They’re also permanent fixtures that are sealed against air leaks, so in the case of ductless ACs, you need not worry about dismantling the unit when the seasons change.
It’s tough to beat an HVAC installation that permits you to control the comfort in your immediate environment from the coziness of your easy chair. Just adjust the temperature with a remote-control device connected to the unobtrusive air handling unit attached to the wall.
How Does a Ductless Split System Save Energy?
While ductless split systems enjoy unique design characteristics (using inverter technology) that result in high efficiency, their ability to operate without ductwork also saves energy.
Significant energy is lost in a traditional forced-air system as the air moves through ducts. It happens either through air leakage or natural loss of heat or coolness during the trip to its destination in your home.
That doesn’t happen with a ductless split system. Additionally, you won’t suffer the many things that can go wrong with a ducted system:
- ducts clogged with dirt, debris and other contaminants
- duct sections coming apart or hanging loose
- heat infiltration/loss from ducts running through unconditioned areas
- inconsistent air delivery depending on distance from the HVAC system and
- more
None of these things is an issue with a ductless split system.
Just like with traditional central heating and cooling systems, the benefits of a ductless split system will depend on the quality of the equipment and installation, its energy efficiency, the physical circumstances of your home, how your household uses energy, the climate where you live, and a variety of other factors.
However, there’s no doubt that ductless split systems are gaining popularity in the United States, including in the Greater Cincinnati area. The best HVAC contractors serving Milford, Loveland and other Cincinnati suburbs – as well as Cincinnati itself – offer ductless splits when homeowners are seeking better options.
Consider scheduling a free appointment, with no obligation, with one of Jansen Heating & Cooling’s installation advisers to discuss how a ductless AC installation can provide comfortable and efficient heating and air conditioning in your home.
Especially consider a ductless system if you’re converting a space without heating or cooling into a workshop, home office, guest room or some other use.
If a Ductless Split System is Not for You…
If your home’s HVAC system provides uneven heating and cooling to different parts of your home, such as in a finished basement or upstairs loft or bedrooms, but a ductless split system is not practical or preferred, you might consider a zoning system in your home.
These systems divide your home into two or more comfort zones, with each served by a separate thermostat connected to mechanized duct dampers. They open or close ducts serving a single zone, allowing homeowners to customize the heating and cooling in each area. This means you won’t have to heat or cool parts of the house that don’t need it.
If you’re getting unbalanced air conditioning or heating in your home that doesn’t appear related to the different climate conditions on different levels or areas, you may have ductwork or other air distribution issues that will require attention from your favorite Cincinnati AC service company.
Regular professional maintenance on your HVAC system should catch these sorts of issues before they become problems.