Guidebook to Mini-Split Air Conditioners: What They Are and How They Cool

The majority of homeowners are informed about central air conditioners.

Mini-split systems are a form of ductless heating and cooling. Instead of providing conditioned air to the total house with a network of air ducts, they heat and cool a single room at a time. This allows more advanced temperature control, improving comfort and energy efficiency.

How Do Mini-Split Air Conditioners Work?

Mini-splits are most similar to heat pumps in the way they operate. Both types of equipment provide electric cooling, the same as an air conditioner. This involves using refrigerant to extract heat from in a building and exhausting that warm air outside. Then, a reversing valve enables the system to work backward, heating your residence in the winter by removing heat from outdoor air and bringing it inside.

The main distinction between mini-splits and heat pumps is that mini-split systems don’t require ductwork. Instead, the indoor unit has a built-in air handler, which mounts directly to the wall or ceiling in the space you are looking to heat and cool. Copper tubes, wiring and a condensate drain line connect to an outdoor condensing unit through a narrow conduit in the wall. This exterior component looks much like an air conditioner or heat pump condenser.

More than one indoor unit can link to one outdoor condenser, enabling you to heat and cool your full home with this system if wanted. This arrangement also makes zoning feasible, an extremely popular feature that allows you to choose when, where and how much you heat and cool specific rooms.

Is a Ductless Mini-Split Right for My Home?

Mini-splits are a good solution for the majority of households. Consider these reasons why getting a ductless mini-split could be a smart choice for your home:

• • You can heat and cool a total home that has no existing ductwork.

• • You can turn off the heat and air conditioning in unused rooms to save on your utility bills.

• • Mini-splits provide additional heating and cooling for rooms that are hard to keep comfy.

• • Use a ductless system to heat and cool a residence addition or sunroom without the cost of installing ductwork or the annoyance of using window AC units.

• • Mini-splits are the natural choice for spaces where ductwork is impractical. A few examples might be period houses, tiny homes, temperature controlled sheds or workshops, or garage conversions.

What are the Advantages of a Mini-Split System?

Ductless mini-splits are extremely capable systems, but you may still be considering why you would want to select it over a regular furnace and air conditioner. Here’s why more the U.S. homeowners are getting ductless mini-splits:

• • Avoid the drawbacks of ductwork: By providing heated and cooled air directly, air doesn’t move through cracked air ducts on its way to all rooms. This can save you upward of 30 percent on your heating and cooling expenses. Also, if your house doesn’t already use ducts, you avoid the annoyance and cost associated with putting them in.

• • Find the right temperature for all rooms: With zoned heating and cooling from a ductless mini-split, you can keep an office refreshing while maintaining a warm nursery—all while making the most of energy efficiency.

• • Conserve money and energy by not heating and cooling empty rooms: Securing supply registers in a central HVAC system can disturb it, putting stress on the equipment and invalidating any potential savings. But with independent air handlers in every room, you can heat and cool specific rooms only when you need them.

Trust Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to Add Your Mini-Split Air Conditioner

Much like standard HVAC systems, ductless mini-splits need careful sizing and Expert installation to deliver the greatest performance. Our knowledgeable mini split installers in the U.S. can help you decide if a mini-split system will fit your needs. We can then support you with figuring out the correct equipment size and model to make your house as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible.

For more info, or to request an appointment, contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing at . You can also schedule an appointment online.