All About Mini-Split Air Conditioners: What They Are and How They Work

Most homeowners are acquainted with central air conditioners.

Mini-split systems are a type of ductless heating and cooling. Rather than delivering conditioned air to the entire residence via a network of air ducts, they heat and cool a single room at a time. This provides more targeted temperature control, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency.

How Do Mini-Split Air Conditioners Work?

Mini-splits most closely resemble heat pumps in the way they operate. Both styles of equipment offer electric cooling, similar to an air conditioner. This requires using refrigerant to extract heat from inside a building and discharging that warmth outside. Then, a reversing valve allows the system to run backward, heating your home in the winter by pulling heat from outdoor air and bringing it inside.

The biggest contrast between mini-splits and heat pumps is that mini-split systems don’t have to have ductwork. Instead, the indoor unit has a built-in air handler, which is installed on the wall or ceiling in the room you want to heat and cool. Copper tubes, wiring and a condensate drain line join to an outdoor condensing unit through a small conduit in the wall. This exterior component looks similar to an air conditioner or heat pump condenser.

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

Is a Ductless Mini-Split the Best Choice for My House?

Mini-splits are a good solution for many households. Consider these reasons why installing a ductless mini-split might be right for you:

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

• • It’s possible to shut off the heat and air conditioning in unused areas to save on your heating and cooling expenses.

• • Mini-splits deliver extra heating and cooling for areas that are difficult to keep cozy.

• • Use a ductless system to heat and cool a residence addition or enclosed patio without the expense of putting in ductwork or the annoyance of relying on window AC units.

• • Mini-splits are the perfect choice for spaces where traditional ducts is impractical. A few examples are period homes, tiny homes, temperature controlled sheds or workshops, or garage conversions.

What are the Advantages of a Mini-Split System?

Ductless mini-splits are very efficient systems, but you may still be wondering why you would want to select it over a regular furnace and air conditioner. Here’s why a growing number of the U.S. homeowners are getting ductless mini-splits:

• • Avoid the pitfalls of ductwork: By providing heated and cooled air directly, air doesn’t pass through leaky air ducts on its way to each room. This can save you as much as 30 percent on your heating and cooling costs. Along with that, if your residence doesn’t already have ducts, you avoid the hassle and cost that comes with putting them in.

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

• • Use less money and energy by not heating and cooling unused spaces: Securing supply registers in a central HVAC system can throw it off kilter, straining the equipment and negating any possible savings. But with individual air handlers in all rooms, you can heat and cool specific spaces only when you need them.

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

As with traditional HVAC systems, ductless mini-splits need careful sizing and Expert installation to provide the best performance. Our experienced mini split installers in the U.S. can help you figure out if a mini-split system will meet your needs. We can then help you with finding the precise equipment size and model to make your house as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible.

For more details, or to book an appointment, call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing at . You can also schedule an appointment online.