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

Most homeowners are most familiar with central air conditioners.

Mini-split systems are a kind of ductless heating and cooling. Rather than giving conditioned air to the complete house through a network of air ducts, they heat and cool one room at a time. This delivers more advanced temperature control, improving comfort and energy efficiency.

How Do Mini-Split Air Conditioners Work?

Mini-splits are most like heat pumps in the way they operate. Both kinds of equipment provide electric cooling, just like an air conditioner. This uses refrigerant to draw out heat from in a building and exhausting that heat outside. Then, a reversing valve allows the system to operate backward, warming your residence in the winter by extracting heat from outdoor air and depositing it inside.

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

Several indoor units can work off of an individual outdoor condenser, enabling you to heat and cool your total house with this system if wanted. This set-up also makes zoning possible, an extremely coveted feature that allows you to choose when, where and how much you heat and cool specific areas.

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

Mini-splits are an excellent option for the majority of households. Think about these reasons why using a ductless mini-split could be a good choice for your home:

• • You can heat and cool a total residence that doesn’t have existing ductwork.

• • You can switch off the heat and air conditioning in empty rooms to save on your utility expenses.

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

• • Use a ductless system to heat and cool a residence addition or enclosed porch without the expense of putting in ductwork or the inconvenience of using window AC units.

• • Mini-splits are the perfect 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 highly efficient systems, but you may still be wondering why you would want to choose it over a common furnace and air conditioner. Here’s why a large number of the U.S. homeowners are installing ductless mini-splits:

• • Avoid the hidden issues of ductwork: By delivering heated and cooled air directly, air doesn’t move through holey air ducts on its way to all rooms. This can save you as much as 30 percent on your heating and cooling expenses. Also, if your house doesn’t already have ducts, you avoid the inconvenience and price that comes with putting them in.

• • Select the best temp for every room: With zoned heating and cooling from a ductless mini-split, you can keep an office cool while maintaining a warm nursery—all while making the most of energy efficiency.

• • Save money and energy by not heating and cooling vacant spaces: Securing supply registers in a central HVAC system can disturb it, putting stress on the equipment and canceling any likely savings. But with detached air handlers in all rooms, you can heat and cool specific rooms only when you need them.

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

As with traditional HVAC systems, ductless mini-splits call for careful sizing and Expert installation to ensure 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 help you with finding the precise equipment size and model to make your house as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible.

For extra information, or to request an appointment, get in touch with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing at . You can also schedule an appointment online.