Autumn is the perfect time of year to evaluate how your AC performed during the heat of the summer and consider whether it’s time to make a change. As you look into the available options, you might realize you don’t know much about ductless mini splits. The more you know, the better able you’ll be to make a choice you’ll be happy with for years to come.
We’d like to give you a primer on ductless mini splits. Consider the benefits, the reasons some people choose them, and whether one would be right for you.
Versatility
The key attribute of mini splits is that they are ductless systems. They’re perfect for homes that never had ductwork for central AC. So if you’ve been cooling your home with window units and thinking you had no options, this is the perfect solution.
But even homes with ductwork can be great candidates for mini splits. Perhaps your ductwork is badly damaged, or old and deteriorating. Leaky ductwork wastes a ton of energy, and replacing it could get expensive. A mini split is a tidy way to resolve the problem.
And if you’ve got good central air but have areas of the home that it doesn’t cover—perhaps a new addition, or an enclosed garage or attic that you’re now using as living space—a mini split can provide climate control in that portion of your house so you don’t need to renovate your ductwork and get a larger central AC unit.
Heating and Cooling
A ductless mini split can simply be used for air conditioning. But in combination with a heat pump rather than an air conditioner, it can provide heat as well. The flow of refrigerant can be reversed, bringing warmth in when it gets chilly. This can be used in combination with other sources of heat for when winters get extremely cold but is efficient by itself in temps as low as 40 degrees.
Efficiency
The term mini split refers to the fact that, upon entering the house, the refrigerant coils split and head separately to each air handler. With multiple air handlers, you’ll have zone control: you can set each thermostat to whatever temperature you desire. No longer will you be cooling the whole house just because you need to be comfortable in one room.
In addition to the energy savings from that, ductless systems simply draw less power. This is largely because they use smaller motors to power their fans than the ones central AC systems use.
If you use a heat pump with your ductless mini split, during the times of year when you don’t require any other heat source, you’ll be heating with the most efficient system that exists. Instead of creating heat, the heat pump simply moves it from one place to another, which uses an amazingly small amount of energy.
When you’re considering AC installation in Plainfield, IL, a ductless mini split should be a frontrunner. We’re happy to provide more information and specific recommendations based on your home and your individual needs. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Call J&A today, Sleep-tight tonight!