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

The majority of homeowners are acquainted with central air conditioners.

Mini-split systems are a type of ductless heating and cooling. In place of providing conditioned air to the full home through a network of air ducts, they heat and cool a single room at a time. This provides more advanced temperature control, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency.

How Do Mini-Split Air Conditioners Work?

Mini-splits are most similar to heat pumps in the way they operate. Both kinds of equipment provide electric cooling, just like an air conditioner. This involves using refrigerant to remove heat from within a building and discharging that heat outside. Then, a reversing valve permits the system to work backward, adding warmth to your residence in the winter by removing heat from outdoor air and bringing it inside.

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

Multiple indoor units can connect to an individual outdoor condenser, enabling you to heat and cool your total house with this system if wanted. This configuration also makes zoning possible, a very desirable feature that allows you to determine when, where and how much you heat and cool specific rooms.

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

Mini-splits are a good option for the majority of households. Consider these reasons why using a ductless mini-split might be a good choice for your needs:

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

• • You can switch off the heat and air conditioning in unused areas to save on your heating and cooling bills.

• • Mini-splits give additional heating and cooling for spaces that are hard to keep cozy.

• • Use a ductless system to heat and cool a home addition or enclosed patio without the expense of installing ductwork or the hassle of using window AC units.

• • Mini-splits are the perfect choice for spaces where overhead ductwork is impractical. A few examples might be historic homes, tiny homes, temperature controlled sheds or workshops, or garage conversions.

What are the Advantages of a Mini-Split System?

Ductless mini-splits are extremely efficient systems, but you might still be considering why you would want to select it over a common furnace and air conditioner. Here’s why a large number of the U.S. homeowners are using ductless mini-splits:

• • Avoid the drawbacks 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 costs. Plus, if your residence doesn’t already have ducts, you avoid the hassle and expense connected to adding them.

• • Select the right temperature for all rooms: With zoned heating and cooling from a ductless mini-split, you can keep an office refreshing while maintaining a cozy nursery—all while making the most of energy efficiency.

• • Save money and energy by not heating and cooling unused areas: Shutting supply registers in a central HVAC system can throw it off kilter, putting stress on the equipment and invalidating any likely savings. But with individual air handlers in every room, you can heat and cool particular rooms only when you need them.

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

The same as regular HVAC systems, ductless mini-splits need meticulous sizing and Expert installation to deliver the best performance. Our knowledgeable mini split installers in the U.S. can help you determine if a mini-split system will match your needs. We can then assist with figuring out the precise equipment size and model to make your house as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible.

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