Many homeowners are most familiar with central air conditioners and furnaces, but it’s important not to forget about additional solutions including ductless mini-splits.
Mini-split systems are a type of ductless heating and cooling. Instead of providing conditioned air to the full home with a network of air ducts, they heat and cool one room at a time. This allows more advanced temperature control, improving comfort and energy efficiency.
How Do Mini-Split Air Conditioners Work?
Mini-splits most closely resemble heat pumps in the way they run. Both styles of equipment offer electric cooling, similar to an air conditioner. This requires using refrigerant to draw out heat from inside a building and exhausting that warm air outside. Then, a reversing valve enables the system to operate backward, adding warmth to your home in the winter by pulling heat from outdoor air and bringing it inside.
The largest difference between mini-splits and heat pumps is that mini-split systems don’t have to have ductwork. As an alternative, the indoor unit has a built-in air handler, which mounts directly to 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 much like an air conditioner or heat pump condenser.
Multiple indoor units can link to an individual outdoor condenser, enabling you to heat and cool your full house with this system if wanted. This set-up also makes zoning practical, a highly popular feature that allows you to determine when, where and how much you heat and cool distinct rooms.
Is a Ductless Mini-Split Right for My House?
Mini-splits are a great option for many households. Think about these reasons why installing a ductless mini-split may be right for your home:
You can heat and cool a complete home that has no existing ductwork. It’s possible to shut off the heat and air conditioning in empty rooms to save on your energy expenses. Mini-splits provide additional heating and cooling for rooms that are tricky to keep comfy. Use a ductless system to heat and cool a house addition or enclosed porch without the cost of putting in ductwork or the annoyance of relying on window AC units. Mini-splits are the ideal choice for spaces where overhead ductwork is impractical. A few examples might be historic houses, tiny homes, temperature controlled sheds or workshops, or garage conversions. What are the Benefits of a Mini-Split System?
Ductless mini-splits are very capable systems, but you might still be considering why you would want to select it over a traditional furnace and air conditioner. Here’s why a large number of Edmonton 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 all rooms. This can save you nearly 30 percent on your heating and cooling bills. Along with that, if your home doesn’t already include ducts, you avoid the hassle and cost that comes with installing them.
- Choose the best temperature for every room: With zoned heating and cooling from a ductless mini-split, you can keep an office refreshing while maintaining a warm nursery—all while optimizing energy efficiency.
- Use less money and energy by not heating and cooling vacant areas: Shutting supply registers in a central HVAC system can throw it off kilter, putting stress on the equipment and canceling any potential savings. But with independent air handlers in all rooms, you can heat and cool certain spaces only when you need them.
Depend on Rob's Albertan Service Experts to Install Your Mini-Split Air Conditioner
The same as standard HVAC systems, ductless mini-splits need meticulous sizing and Expert installation to provide the greatest performance. Our skilled mini split installers in Edmonton can help you decide if a mini-split system will fit 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 more information, or to request an appointment, get in touch with Rob's Albertan Service Experts at 780-800-9047. You can also schedule an appointment online.