Ductless Mini Splits: What are they?
Most of us do not sit around thinking about air conditioning. We like to press a button, feel the breeze, and forget about it. But what happens when your house wasn’t built with a workable duct system? Or when one room stays cooler or hotter than the rest of the house? Sure, you could buy a fan to keep the room cool, or buy a space heater to keep the room warm. Both of these things are great quick fixes. But what if there was a long term solution that allowed you to control the exact temperature within a room? You’re in luck, because there is!
The ductless mini split AC may be the answer you are looking for. Central air is efficient in cooling a large space. But, there seems to always be one area that isn’t getting the love it deserves. In comes the mini split to the rescue.
Ductless Mini Split AC Explained
I’m sure at this point you’re probably thinking, “okay, cool. The ductless mini split AC is a solution. But what is it?” Good question!
A ductless mini split AC unit is exactly what the name implies. A small, compact, duct free cooling and heating experience split throughout your home.
Mini splits break down into two main parts. The most visible part is the white or silver indoor air handling unit. While these units vary in size, they measure in around 14 inches tall x 43 inches wide x 9 inches deep. This is the part of the unit that actually directs air throughout your room. The indoor handling unit attaches to your wall. There are several options for how your indoor unit attaches to your space. You may choose to mount it to a wall or suspend it from the ceiling.
The second part of the unit lives outside. It is an outdoor compressor/condenser. The outdoor unit handles most of the functions that keep your indoor unit producing cool air. It circulates refrigerant to create a heat exchange through the conduit. This provides the required energy to the compressor. On average, the outdoor units are about 32 inches tall x 38 inches wide x 17 inches deep.
Finally, there is a small third part to the system. The link between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is the conduit. It houses the main power system. Also found in the conduit is the necessary tubing for the refrigerant and for suction.
What’s the difference between the mini split and central air?
But what’s the real difference between the mini split and central air? There are quite a few differences, actually.
Without looking too deep into what makes AC systems tick, there is one difference that is clear. Central air systems use a duct system. These duct systems are internal throughout your business or home. Duct systems need a much more lengthy installation process.
There is also the problem of wasted energy. In a home, ductwork is often in an unconditioned space like an attic. When your ducts are in an unconditioned space, you are more likely to waste energy. The percentage of energy lost may be as high as 30% of the energy your AC unit consumes.
Duct systems also do not usually run through attics, garages, or add ons to your home or business. A ductless mini split is a perfect way to easily cool these spaces.
Both central AC units and ductless mini splits consist of two main parts. The first part is the indoor air handler. The second part is the outdoor compressor. But, the mini split is much smaller, easier to install, and can be a custom cooling and heating experience.
The best part? You can add a mini split to your existing cooling system.
What does installation look like?
As we mentioned earlier, we can install indoor air handlers in quite a few ways. This allows you to pick the perfect spot to better blend it with your interior design scheme. They are either hung from the ceiling, mounted to the wall, or mounted against a drop ceiling. The recommended installation location of your indoor unit is at least 6 feet off the ground. Metal mounting equipment is used to secure your indoor unit to the wall.
Placement of outdoor units has a unique flexibility. You may have a mini split indoor unit in the front of your home or business. If you would prefer to place the outdoor unit around the side of the building, or even the back, you can. The outdoor unit does not have to be next to the room where the indoor unit lives. It is possible to link up to 50 feet of conduit cable between indoor and outdoor units. This opens up a world of options for compressor placement. You can choose where to place the outdoor unit. This means you can choose to hide it completely behind a bush if you want.
To connect the indoor and outdoor units, we will cut a small hole in the wall. This hole is about 3 inches in size. The conduit line runs through this hole between your units.
Finally, once we have connected it all, you can program your remote. Now you can sit back, relax, and feel cool.
Wait, there’s more?
Ductless Mini Splits have so many pros. Depending on the model, up to 4 indoor air handlers can connect to one outdoor compressor. Because they are stand alone units, you can place as many, or as few, throughout your building as you want. You can mindfully place indoor units in rooms that need a little extra TLC. If you have central air, it can regulate the rest of your space.
Each unit has its own thermostat. This lets you control the exact temperature in your room without the pesky white noise of a fan or space heater. Unlike central air, you can also turn off the unit when a space is empty to save money and create a more eco friendly home.
McCarthy Air is available for all your questions about ductless mini splits. Ask us about installing your ductless mini split today!
But the ductless mini split isn’t all we do at McCarthy Air. We are available 24/7 for emergency services. Our other services and specialties include wifi thermostats, ultraviolet sterilization, and pool heaters.
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