Ductless Air Conditioners

What You Need to Know About Ductless Air Conditioners

You might have given up the idea of having a central air system because your house simply doesn’t have the space necessary for you to install the ducts that are necessary for a central air conditioning system. But, the good news is that we can now have ductless air conditioning systems that are as good as a central AC unit. In fact, though new to North America, this type of air conditioning has been quite popular in Japan and other countries for some years now and is very common in multifamily housing. The ductless air conditioners can be used for various residential and commercial applications.

What Are Ductless Air Conditioners?

Ductless air conditioning systems actually offer both heating and cooling capabilities. Ductless HVAC, or mini-split-systems, offer similar benefitts without the space-consuming equipment found in central HVAC systems. If you have an older home without a traditional HVAC unit or are looking to upgrade your current system, ductless heat pumps might be the perfect solution for your comfort needs.

Ductless HVAC systems combine mini-split technologies with a heat pump. They deliver cool air during the hot days of summer and in the winter, they absorb heat from the outdoors and move it inside to make homes more comfortable.

Ductless mini-slips have two main components: an outdoor condenser and indoor air handlers, which professionals install on walls or ceilings. Depending on your needs, you may have more than one air handler in your home.

How Do Ductless Air Units Work?

The system works by circulating refrigerant through a small conduit, or tubing, that connects the outdoor unit to the indoor air handlers. The conduit contains a condensate drain, refrigerant line, and power cable. Unlike traditional HVAC systems, ductless heat pumps do not require ductwork. This means that if your home does not already have a ductwork system, as is the case with many older homes, you will not be forced to remodel or sacrifice storage space to make room for ducts.

During the installation of a mini-split system, a specialist mounts the indoor units, or air handlers, in the rooms you wish to heat and cool. They will then drill small holes in the walls of the respective rooms for the conduit so that it remains hidden.

Pros and Cons of Ductless Air Conditioners

There are, however, few problems with the ductless air conditioning system. The basic problem is that of installation. You must have enough space outside your home to install the outdoor unit. This is a considerably larger unit than the regular window air conditioner. So the space required is significantly more.

Even if you do have the space, there is also the issue of aesthetics. A large unit jutting out of your wall or window doesn’t quite look good. If you plan to install a ductless air conditioner in your new house, make sure you design your house accordingly.

The ductless air conditioner has similar pros and cons to central units, but uses the advantages of both the room unit and the central air conditioning to provide you with an option that you otherwise didn’t have. 

Ductless HVAC might serve your heating and cooling needs well if:

• You have an older home that does not have a central HVAC system or ductwork installed
• You want to heat and cool an area of the home that’s not connected to the central HVAC system, such as a garage or an addition
• You want to upgrade or replace your HVAC system with equipment that doesn’t use ductwork
• You want to heat or cool individual rooms or space in your home
• You live in a region without wide temperature swings or extremely cold winters
• Someone in your home suffers from allergies

Explore Ductless Air Conditioning Units with AAA Heating and Cooling

The best way to determine if a ductless air conditioning system is best for you is to schedule a consultation with an expert from AAA Heating and Cooling. Based on the information learned, they’ll create a custom plan that fits your expectations and budget. Call to schedule an appointment today!