Cincinnati Ductless Mini-Split Pros: Jansen Heating & Cooling

At Jansen Heating & Cooling, we have been installing ductless mini-splits for a long time. They came out just a few years after we opened for business in 1953 but have become much more popular in recent years. If you are looking for a Cincinnati heating and cooling company to provide an affordable cooling/heating solution for your home, we’re here to help with a low-cost and energy-efficient ductless split heating and air conditioning system.

Why are ductless mini-splits such a popular choice these days? Ductless mini-splits are compact and efficient, and some can both cool and heat your home. They allow for individualized, zoned comfort, and can cut your home HVAC costs in half compared to propane, oil or baseboard electric heat. They can be installed in stubborn hard-to-heat or cool spots in your home, without any disruptive and messy ductwork needed. For these reasons and others, ductless split heat pump systems are rapidly catching on across the US and around the world. According to a recent survey:

1. 43% of homeowners who purchased a ductless system bought it to solve hot and/or cold spots in their homes.
2. 27% had turned a garage into a living space.
3. 27% purchased a ductless split system to replace a portable window AC unit.
4. 25% used it for an addition, exercise room or entertainment room.
5. 74% of the people who use ductless heat pumps use them for both heat and AC.
6. 18% said their HOA would not allow a window air conditioning unit.

Jansen Heating & Cooling has been installing more and more ductless split heat pump systems in recent years throughout the Cincinnati area. These innovative AC systems are becoming as popular as central air conditioning and heating systems for a variety of reasons that address common issues and frustrations that can exist in homes with traditional HVAC systems (or in homes without central AC).

What Is a Ductless Mini-Split? And How Does It Work?

Like central air systems, ductless mini-splits have condensers outdoors with coils, compressors and fans. Central air conditioning systems have one large air handler inside, while systems without ducts have several smaller ones, spread throughout the home. In a mini-split system, each air handler has a thermostat, evaporator coil, air filter and fan attached to the outside condenser by refrigerant lines and electrical cables instead of ducts.

The system pulls air from inside your home and blows it over the evaporator coils. Refrigerant absorbs the air’s heat.

Traditional ac systems work in a very similar way, but once the cool air is brought into your home, the cool air is spread throughout your house via duct work (like tunnels for the air) that have been installed as part of your home’s infrastructure through the ducts and out of vents spread throughout your home. So, the main difference really is that a traditional ac brings the cool air into the house in one place, and then spreads it around, while a ductless mini-split brings cool air into your home in one or more places (depending on how many units you have) and only distribute the cool air to the room the unit sits in. In some ways, it’s like a combination of a window ac unit (with no window needed) and a traditional ac unit (but without the distribution mechanism).

Aside from having no ductwork, where energy is often lost in a traditional forced-air system, one major attraction of a ductless split system is its independent temperature control.

An outdoor compressor unit containing:

• the coil for heat exchange,
• fan, and
• compressor

is attached to (an) air-handling unit(s) inside the house. A tube containing:

• wiring for electricity,
• a line for refrigerant, and
• condensate pipes

connects the outdoor and indoor units.

Residents of the house can set their preferred temperature in any room that has an air handler, usually with a remote control. Some homes utilize several mini-split air handlers for effective whole-house cooling or heating.

Ductless mini-split systems are a great solution to varied needs or desires for different temperatures in different parts of your home, and they’re a great solution for those rooms that are either too far from the main ac unit or for whatever reason (lots of direct sunlight, more windows, insufficient insulation) just don’t stay as cool as the rest of the house.

Installation and Replacement

We realize that the decision to install a ductless split air conditioning and heating system is a big one, so we want you to know what to consider and what to expect. The time it takes Jansen Heating & Cooling to install a mini-split in a Cincinnati home depends on the number of indoor units, the size of the system and the complexity of the installation. A single room can take as little as 1-3 hours; a multi-room installation can take up to 6 hours. Mini-split installation time can also be affected by the accessibility of the site. For example, if the job requires boring a hole through a brick or concrete wall, it could take longer.

Mini-split installation involves selecting the right unit and location, running refrigerant lines between units, installing electrical wiring, drilling holes through walls as needed, vacuuming the refrigerant lines, charging the system with the correct amount of refrigerant and ensuring proper drainage.

Benefits of Ductless Mini-Splits: Great for Small Homes, Detached Garages and Home Additions

Due to their compact size and lack of ductwork, ductless mini-splits are especially great for smaller homes, garages and additions. When you have a ductless HVAC system put in, you can expect:

• energy-efficient cooling,
• quieter operation,
• heating capabilities for some systems, and
• precise temperature control in each region of your home.

Our experienced, professional technicians can work with you to design a system with the right number and placement of air handlers for optimum heating and cooling in your home. With proper installation and maintenance, your new mini-split(s) can last 10 to 15 years in your Cincinnati area home.

Plus, ductless mini-split installation can save up to 50% on your home heating and cooling costs compared to oil, propane or electric baseboard heat.

Is a Ductless Split Heating and Air Conditioning System Right for You and Your Home?

Here at Jansen Heating & Cooling, we perform a thorough analysis of your system’s usage and needs to provide tailored recommendations for your home’s specific requirements. We’ll help you quickly identify your requirements for:

• Home use such as special air conditioning situations due to a home office, an exercise room, frequent parties, or if there’s unnecessary cooling of closed-off rooms during unoccupied periods.
• Comfort requirements such as stale air problems, specific rooms that are too hot or too cold, system noise levels, or air that is too humid (muggy) or too dry (static electricity, dry throat or skin issues).
• Health/safety requirements such as poor indoor air quality, respiratory conditions, humidity control, or child safety concerns with your system.
• Property requirements such as if you are planning home renovations, adding on to your home, or if there are HOA by-laws to consider.
• Financial and budgetary requirements such as the importance of saving money on energy consumption and operating costs, working with a company who can protect you from risk and liability, or your wish to explore different payment options.

Call us to learn more about our entire lineup of ductless split heating and air conditioning systems and enhancements. We’ll help you decide what type of system is best for your situation, and we’ll tell you how best to move forward towards better comfort in your home.

(And any time your ductless system isn’t working as it should, call us here at Jansen Heating & Cooling for quick and reliable repairs. We want to handle your heating and cooling headaches, so you can relax and focus on the more important things in life.)

Ductless Mini-Split FAQs