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

Many homeowners are informed about central air conditioners.

Mini-split systems are a kind of ductless heating and cooling. Rather than providing conditioned air to the entire house with a network of air ducts, they heat and cool one room at a time. This provides 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 run. Both models of equipment deliver electric cooling, similar to an air conditioner. This uses refrigerant to remove heat from within a building and exhausting that heat outside. Then, a reversing valve enables the system to work backward, heating your house in the winter by extracting heat from outdoor air and depositing it inside.

The main distinction between mini-splits and heat pumps is that mini-split systems don’t need ductwork. As an alternative, the indoor unit has a built-in air handler, which is installed on the wall or ceiling in the space you want to heat and cool. Copper tubes, wiring and a condensate drain line connect 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 one outdoor condenser, allowing you to heat and cool your full home with this system if wanted. This configuration also makes zoning feasible, a very desirable feature that allows you to choose when, where and how much you heat and cool distinct spaces.

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

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

• • You can heat and cool a complete residence that lacks existing ductwork.

• • You’ll be able to turn off the heat and air conditioning in unoccupied spaces to save on your energy bills.

• • Mini-splits provide extra heating and cooling for spaces that are tricky to keep cozy.

• • Use a ductless system to heat and cool a house addition or sunroom without the expense of adding ductwork or the annoyance of relying on window AC units.

• • Mini split systems are the natural choice for spaces where traditional ducts is impractical. A few examples are historic homes, tiny homes, temperature controlled sheds or workshops, or garage conversions.

What are the Benefits of a Mini-Split System?

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

• • Avoid the hidden issues of ductwork: By delivering heated and cooled air directly, air doesn’t move through leaky air ducts on its way to each room. This can save you upward of 30 percent on your heating and cooling costs. Plus, if your home doesn’t already use ducts, you avoid the inconvenience and price connected to adding them.

• • Choose the ideal temperature for every room: With zoned heating and cooling from a ductless mini-split, you can keep an office refreshing while maintaining a comfortable nursery—all while optimizing energy efficiency.

• • Conserve money and energy by not heating and cooling unused areas: Closing supply registers in a central HVAC system can throw it off kilter, straining the equipment and invalidating any likely savings. But with independent air handlers in every room, you can heat and cool certain spaces only when you need them.

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

As with traditional HVAC systems, ductless mini-splits call for meticulous sizing and Expert installation to provide the most efficient performance. Our skilled mini split installers in the U.S. can help you determine if a mini-split system will meet your needs. We can then support you with determining the exact equipment size and model to make your house as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible.

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