These days, no home or office is complete without an air conditioning system to keep people cool. These systems can come in varying sizes, ranging from large central AC systems to window units, but one big difference to note is ductwork. This is what separates ACs into two distinct categories, those that are ducted, and those that are ductless.
Ductless HVAC systems have many benefits and can be a great option for some homeowners. Our team at Super Heat, Air, and Plumbing discusses ductless HVAC systems, so you can make the best decision for your home!
What is a Ductless HVAC System?
As suggested by the name, a ductless HVAC system works to heat or cool your space without any ductwork needing to be installed.
Ductless systems consist of two separate units, an outdoor compressor, and an indoor evaporator. The indoor unit is responsible for pushing the warm or cool air into the living space, while the outdoor unit ejects the absorbed heat outside. Both units are connected through a small hole in the wall.
The most common type of ductless system that you will come across is wall-mounted mini-splits. The indoor unit of a mini-split is mounted high up on the wall, while the outdoor unit is installed almost directly on the other side, either on the ground or mounted to the wall. You can make your mini-split “smart” by using a smart thermostat.
Other types of ductless units include:
- Wall-mounted multi-splits
- PTACs
- Portable air conditioners
- Window units
- Cassette-type air conditioners
For this article, we will be focusing on ductless mini-split systems.
Benefits of Ductless HVAC Systems
There are many advantages to installing a ductless mini split including:
#1. Lower Operating Expenses
Ductless air conditioners are much cheaper to operate than ducted air conditioners mostly due to the absence of ductwork. Why? Well, ducts present the biggest source of air leakage (AKA wasted energy) within ducted AC systems.
It has been estimated by the US Department of Energy that homes with central air use up to 30% more energy due to air leakage from the ductwork.
#2. Smart Technology
Ductless HVAC systems can be made “smart” quite easily with smart AC controllers which provide AC controls from the convenience of a smartphone. With smart technology, you can control your AC from anywhere, anytime.
Other features of smart technology AC controllers include temperature or humidity-based triggers, weekly scheduling, usage tracking, and smart home compatibility with other smart home systems.
#3. Enhanced Efficiency
You have likely heard of SEER ratings before. This rating corresponds to the amount of energy that your air conditioner can save. The higher the SEER, the more energy-efficient your AC will be.
Ductless HVAC systems generally have higher SEER ratings than ducted systems, with some ductless systems having a SEER as high as 30.
#4. Streamlined Installation
The absence of ducts means that ductless air conditioners can be installed in less time than their ducted counterparts. Further, the effort of installation is much less, meaning that installation costs are also kept to a minimum.
The best part of installing a ductless system is that you don’t have to turn your home upside down during installation. There is no need to tear the ceiling apart for ductwork or move all your furniture elsewhere.
When our team at Super Heat, Air, and Plumbing installs ductless systems, the walls of your home are not damaged, the ceiling isn’t opened up, and the only modification that we will need to make to your home is a small hole behind the indoor unit, which isn’t visible after installation.
#5. Improved Air Quality
The quality of the air that we breathe has a major impact on our mood and health. Allergens, airborne bacteria, and other pollutants can have a detrimental effect on our health, making the air quality of our indoor space highly important.
Ductwork is a major source of pollutants such as mold, dust, and algae, and can spread them throughout your home through your cooled air.
Since ductless systems don’t have ductwork, you’ll be breathing higher quality air in your indoor spaces.
#6. Minimal Maintenance
Compared to central air conditioners with ductwork, ductless air conditioners require minimal maintenance.
The filters need to be cleaned and washed, and you should keep bushes or plants around your outdoor unit trimmed, but other than that, you don’t need to do much to maintain your ductless HVAC.
That doesn’t mean that you can set and forget your ductless HVAC! It still requires regular tune-ups and maintenance just like any other air conditioning system.
#7. Heating
This is one of the biggest benefits of some ductless systems. Reversible or ductless heat pumps can function for heating and cooling. So, no need for a separate furnace to keep you warm throughout the winter. Nice!
Go Ductless
If you are interested in learning more about ductless HVAC systems or are ready to install one in your home or office space, give our superheroes a call at Super Heat, Air, and Plumbing! We will help you decide which kind of ductless system is right for you and can install your new ductless systems quickly and efficiently.
