When it comes time to replace your air conditioner or heat pump, you probably have a lot of things to consider. One of the things that might come up, as you do research or discuss possibilities with friends or coworkers, is the concept of a ductless mini split. But if you’ve never seen a system like this, it might be easy to dismiss it without much consideration.
We believe that when you make a decision about your home, the way to have the most satisfying outcome is to have as much information as possible about your options. The more you know, the easier it is to make a choice that will keep you happy for the long term. So we would like to tell you all about the option of a ductless mini split, why you might want it, and what’s involved in the installation process.
Ductless Is Energy-Efficient
Ducts allow a great deal of energy to be wasted. Simply by creating all the heated or cooled air in one spot and then moving it around, much of the thermal energy is lost: the air isn’t quite as hot or cold anymore once it gets to your vents and out into your home. But duct leakage is also a huge problem. The typical American home has such badly damaged ducts that 30% of the heated or cooled air is lost through leaks!
In contrast, your ductless system will create all the heated or cooled air right where you need it. There’s no loss of heat or coolness, either simply by traveling such a distance or by leakage. And because each air handler has its own thermostat, you can fine-tune your heating and cooling to meet your exact needs, which will cut down on energy waste because you won’t need to keep your whole home at the same temperature.
Ductless Works in Many Situations
Need to replace your AC? Go ductless! Need to replace your heating system as well? A ductless heat pump will be perfect! Have an old home with no ductwork, so you’ve been relying on window units for AC? Or perhaps your ductwork is so badly deteriorated that it would need to be replaced? Go ductless instead! And if you’re happy with your home’s system, but are building an addition that needs an HVAC system? You guessed it: ductless is ideal.
How Ductless Installation Works
Just like an air conditioner or heat pump that’s meant to connect to ductwork, your ductless system will have an outdoor unit which contains the compressor. This is where, in an air conditioner, the heated refrigerant will travel to dissipate the warmth it has soaked up from the air inside your home. (In a heat pump, the refrigerant flow can be reversed, so warmth is soaked up outdoors.)
The difference is that a traditional central air conditioner has a single central indoor unit. The ductless system is called a mini split because the refrigerant, as it flows through coils back into your home, splits into separate lines to travel to individual air handlers in different parts of your home.
Some alteration will be needed if you’ve always had central air systems before. If you’ve never had such a system, only a small hole will need to be put into your exterior wall. This will allow a conduit line to pass through, which contains the refrigerant line, electrical wiring, and drainage tube. The mounting of the air handlers on your walls is much simpler and less-invasive than building or replacing ducts, so it will go more quickly.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to discuss ductless mini split installation in Washington, DC.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you have about ductless systems.