Choosing the right heating and cooling equipment for your Hudson, OH home is important. After all, you want options that are reliable, durable, and easy to maintain. The best products will also allow for manageable home energy bills and a modest carbon footprint, even during times of temperature and humidity extremes. Whether your home has ductwork for supporting a central HVAC system or lacks ductwork entirely, ductless mini-split heat pumps and air conditioners are well worth considering. Keep reading to learn all about them.
Ease of Installation
Ductless mini-split air conditioners and heat pumps are most appealing to consumers who live in homes that lack ducting. With a ductless mini-split, people who want whole-house heating and cooling don’t have to pay to have their homes retrofitted with air ducts. Not only does this allow for considerable savings, but it also means being able to retain more indoor space. In many older homes, post-construction ductwork can prove difficult to conceal behind drywall. This can lead to decreases in usable area and unwanted changes in indoor aesthetics.
Ductless mini-splits have combined condenser/compressor units. Like central AC condensers, these units are installed on small, concrete pads outdoors. During installation, a single, three-inch hole is drilled in the exterior wall of every room or zone that will have its own thermostat and air handler. Refrigerant tubing and the necessary electrical wires are then passed through these openings to connect air handlers to outdoor condensers. After air handlers and thermostats have been put in, the equipment is turned on and tested, and homeowners are taught how to use their new ductless systems.
Compared to the post-construction installation of HVAC ducting, this entire process is only minimally invasive. There are far fewer building modifications that must be made. Less indoor space is lost, and indoor aesthetics aren’t greatly impacted.
Ductless Mini-Splits Work in Homes With Ducting Too
If you have central HVAC, you can still get great value from a ductless mini-split. These systems work well for heating and cooling areas that are either under-serviced or unserviced by existing HVAC. For instance, you can add a ductless mini-split to your garage, garden room, attic, or finished basement for reliable temperature and humidity control.
Get Multi-Pronged Climate Control
Indoor air handlers have a slim profile. They’re often installed on ceilings or at the upper portions of walls. However, despite their basic-seeming designs, these units offer the same functions that central HVAC systems do. They filter conditioned air before distributing it, regulate indoor humidity, and maintain residents’ preferred temperatures. Best of all, given that heated and cooled air is distributed right where they’re produced, indoor air quality (IAQ) tends to be a bit higher. Conditioned air from ductless mini-splits isn’t forced through long networks of debris-covered ducting before entering rooms.
Ductless Mini-Splits Provide Zoned Heating and Cooling
Among the greatest benefits provided by ductless mini-splits is their ability to heat or cool select areas of the home independently of others. Standard, central HVAC systems are built to heat and cool entire buildings uniformly.
During ductless installation, homeowners and HVAC companies work together to divide building interiors into several distinct zones. In some homes, every room might get its own indoor air handler and thermostat. In others, the inside of the building might be divided into just four or fewer zones.
With zoning, there’s no need to heat or cool spaces that aren’t in use. Over time, this can result in tremendous energy savings. Moreover, if there are dramatic differences in temperature preferences from one resident to the next, everyone can set the thermostat in their immediate area accordingly.
Ductless Mini-Splits Are Efficient in Other Ways
Zoning is but one of several ways in which ductless mini-splits offer impressive levels of efficiency. Their absence of ductwork and their ability to distribute air right where it’s produced prevents constant, HVAC air duct-related energy losses. When HVAC air ducts are leaky and aging, ductwork itself can be responsible for up to 50% of a home’s energy waste.
There’s also the fact that ductless mini-splits use heat transfer rather than actual heat production. Air conditioners, including ductless mini-split air conditioners, move warm air from the interior of the building outdoors. During the summer season, ductless heat pumps are functionally identical to air conditioners. In the winter, they reverse their operations to bring warm outdoor air inside. This is currently the most efficient option for heating in many areas. In fact, it’s possible to find ductless mini-split heat pumps with efficiency levels as high as 300%.
We’re committed to helping residents of Hudson, OH make informed decisions about their home heating and cooling systems. We’ve been proudly serving homeowners throughout the region since 1991. We offer heater and air conditioner installation, maintenance, and repair services. We additionally provide ductless mini-splits, humidifiers, and advanced IAQ solutions. To schedule an appointment, contact Bernard Heating & Cooling today!
