Have you always been using a standard central air conditioner for your home cooling? There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, of course! In fact, today’s models of central air conditioners are far more efficient than those of even the last decade, and systems being developed in 2023 and beyond will be even moreso.
That said, as great as central air conditioners are, this is not your only option for cooling. You may be ready to consider the installation of a ductless air conditioner. Read on to learn about the numerous benefits of such a system.
First, What Is A Ductless Air Conditioner?
Also referred to as a ductless mini-split or ductless HVAC system, these units are as the name implies, ductless. They actually operate on heat pump technology. That means that in addition to cooling, they can also heat, through a refrigerant process.
What makes them different is that a central AC or heat pump system has a single outdoor unit hooked up to a single indoor unit… while a ductless system has an outdoor unit hooked up to up to 4 indoor air handlers, which are usually wall-mounted in the rooms that need them. Here’s why this setup is preferable to many homeowners:
It Provides Zoned Cooling (and Heating)
Because the wall-mounted air handlers are individualized, they can actually be operated independently. Each has its own thermostat and can be adjusted to meet the needs of the room.
So if you have one in the kitchen, you may naturally want to set it to a lower temperature while you’re cooking, whereas at the same time if you have a baby’s bedroom you may not want to set the thermostat too low.
This is all possible with a ductless system! Not to mention, some people in your household may simply just have different cooling and heating preferences.
It Saves Space
A ductless system can save a lot of space. First off, if you’ve always used a ducted air conditioner, you can get rid of that ductwork, and use the space where it was installed for something else–if it was the attic you could use it for storage, if it was behind the drywall you can add more and better insulation, if it was the basement you can finish the basement if you’d like to!
The wall-mounted air handlers also save space as you won’t have to worry about blocking off vents.
Ductless Systems Are Efficient
Ductless systems make very efficient air conditioners, but where they really shine is as heaters. Because they transfer heat instead of generating heat as a furnace does, a ductless system is one of the best options you can go with when you want powerful but affordable heating.
Ductless systems are also efficient because of their zoned cooling options. Rather than cool down the whole house to keep one room comfortable, you only need to draw power from a single air handler to achieve the comfort you want.
For professional ductless services and more, contact Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning today.