Ductless air conditioners are a great way to keep your home comfortable this summer, but many people don’t know exactly how they work. It’s crucial to comprehend how mini-split units operate before installing a new one or replacing your current one. This article will explain everything you need to know about how these mini-split systems work, including the benefits of installing a ductless air conditioner.
How do ductless air conditioners work
Mini-splits sometimes referred to as ductless air conditioning systems, connect individual room units to an exterior compressor. The evaporator coils in the interior unit are refrigerant-cooled. The coils absorb the warm air that blows over from the room. All of that interior heat is then transferred to the exterior unit by the refrigerant. Learn more by contacting air duct cleaning Cumming.
A mini-split system places small units immediately in each room, which pull in warm air and send it out as cold air, as opposed to a central indoor unit connected by lengthy lengths of ductwork conveying warm and cool air back and forth.
Now you may wonder how a tiny ductless unit can cool your whole house. It’s quite straightforward: a single compressor that is present on the outside takes warm air from the house. This compressor is connected to the network of internal units. After the main unit is set up, you can choose from a variety of indoor unit alternatives, such as ceiling indoor unit, or ceiling register and floor mount unit. Moreover, you can see other options to match the aesthetic and functional requirements of each area.
Which Size Do I Require?
The simple part is choosing the right size unit for your requirements. Simply calculate the square footage of a room and factor in extra space like closets. After that, use a size chart to establish how many BTUs you need for that particular area. The following is a short list of BTU capacity:
- 6,000 BTUs cool the area 150 to 250 square feet.
- 7,000 BTUs can cool an area of 250 to 300 square feet.
- 8,000 BTUs have the capacity to cool an area of 300 to 350 square feet.
All mini-split systems have a certain BTU output, so you need to take the capacity and square footage into consideration. It’s crucial to take your home’s insulation into consideration as well. Unsurprisingly, a structure with insufficient insulation has numerous air leaks and requires a larger system. Common sense advice: Simply throwing more equipment at a leaky house won’t do much good. Before continuing, confirm that the insulation is adequate.
Advantages and disadvantages of ductless air conditioner
mini-split units are a great investment, and they can help you save money on your power bill. However, they aren’t for everyone. If you still don’t understand how they work and what they can do for you, here’s a breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of mini-split units.
Ductless systems’ benefits
The simplicity of installation is the main benefit of mini-split systems over conventional central air solutions. Installing new ductwork in a house that doesn’t already have it is a costly and difficult task.
Mini-splits are a well-liked substitute for conventional air conditioners since they require considerably less intrusive installation, look better in the space, are quieter, and use less energy. Numerous additional benefits exist as well, such as:
- Integrated zoning gives you complete control over the temperature in each space.
- Mini-splits use heat pumps to run and may both heat and cool a room.
- Mini-split systems that save energy don’t lose air through duct leakage. Through ducting, 20 to 30 percent of energy is wasted. However, the benefits of insulated ductwork are unmatched.
- Instead of shutting down the entire system, inverter compressors adapt to the needs of the system.
- Quiet and unassuming presence in a room.
- Of course, ductless systems are not perfect.
- Mini-splits are no different from other options in that they each have drawbacks.
Problems with Ductless Systems
Ductless systems can have minor problems that you should be aware of before you buy one. Here are the four most common problems you’ll see with ductless systems.
Ductless is significantly more expensive than window or baseboard units in terms of cost.
- Mini-splits often only come in white or beige, which is not particularly helpful to room design.
- Cleaning filters once a month is required for ductless systems to remove dust and debris.
- Climate-related issues:
- To operate ductless heat, homeowners in extremely cold climates might need a fuel backup. While talking about this, one should also consider other environmental factors while installing a ductless air conditioner.
What to consider while installing the mini-split unit in an outside environment
If the temperature drops below -30 degrees Fahrenheit in your northern Minnesota cabin, your system will struggle, the condensation coils will freeze, and the heating will stop. Mini-splits work quite well down to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Not good. Additional considerations include things like high humidity, extreme hot or cold temperatures, ceiling height, and room layout. For instance, a large room with alcoves or blocky wall design could need a second unit to properly meet the space’s cooling and heating needs.
This is how ductless air conditioners work. The short answer is that they use a series of coils and fans to cool or heat the air in a room. By blowing conditioned air directly into the space you want to cool or heat, these systems can be more efficient than traditional central AC systems. If you’re curious about whether a ductless system would work for your home, give us a call – we’d be happy to help you out!
