Ductless Mini Splits Explained: The Future of Home Heating and Cooling

If you have always used traditional HVAC systems in your home, the idea of switching to a ductless mini split might leave you feeling uneasy. There’s no reason to worry about making this change in your home. Once you learn more about this technology, you’ll be able to determine whether this is the best cooling system for your household.

How Does Ductless Mini Split Technology Work?

You’ll discover that there isn’t a big difference between a traditional air conditioner and a ductless mini split. Both types of systems rely on an outdoor compressor to help with the transfer of heat. Like your current AC system, the indoor air handler draws heat from your living spaces.

As heat enters the air handler, it helps convert the liquid refrigerant into a gas. That refrigerant gas gets pushed to the outdoor compressor, where it gets compressed and cooled. 

The refrigerant reverts back into a cool liquid and returns to the indoor air handler. Meanwhile, the compressor releases the warm air into the outdoor environment.

Since ductless mini splits use the same technology as traditional air conditioning systems, they still need a spring tune-up. 

The major difference with mini splits is that they won’t use your home’s ducts. Instead, the air handler releases cooled air directly into your living space. This eliminates the need for duct cleaning and the cooling challenges associated with ductwork.

How Energy-Efficient Is a Mini Split?

Even if you follow energy-saving tips to reduce your home’s carbon footprint, there isn’t any effective way to cool your home without energy. However, a ductless mini split significantly reduces your energy usage. There are a couple of ways the system improves energy efficiency.

First, it’s a smaller system. Mini splits don’t use the same size components that larger systems use. The compact equipment can cool the same space without using excess energy. Each cycle costs less, bringing down your overall cooling costs.

Second, a ductless system eliminates the time your treated air takes to reach your living spaces. You won’t have to worry about air leaks in your ducts. The air handler releases cooled air directly into your home. This more direct process keeps a consistent temperature while running fewer cycles.

Can You Cool a Whole House With a Mini Split?

Preparing for any type of AC installation requires knowing what to expect from the process. Typically, a mini split installation is faster and less invasive. 

However, the time the installation takes will depend on the number of air handlers you install. One air handler might not be enough to cool a home with multiple rooms. A more complex layout requires several air handlers.

While most ductless AC systems do require multiple air handlers, this can become a benefit. It gives you the opportunity to create several temperature zones throughout your home. You can keep your kitchen cooler, turn off the cooling in unoccupied rooms, and maintain a more moderate bedroom temperature.

Explore Your Cooling Options With the Experts

Southern Air is an established leader in the HVAC industry with years of heating and cooling experience. We can help you choose between a traditional air conditioner and a mini split. We’ll make sure your new system will effectively cool your home without wasting energy. Contact us to request an estimate today!