Controlling the climate of your house is a critical part of your daily comfort. Nevertheless, your current AC could be hurting instead of helping. Inefficient air conditioning can leave you extremely heated up in the upcoming hot seasons. If you have made the decision to update your cooling system, you will have a variety of options. Due to this, you could be a bit confused on what to go for to ensure you make the right choice. Well, one of the best options is ductless air conditioning. Although these ACs have been available for quite a while now, they are usually highly ignored. If you have never given these devices a thought, you could be missing a big opportunity to save money, increase AC efficiency, and boost your home’s comfort.
What is Ductless Air Conditioning?
Ductless air conditioning simply entails an AC without ductwork. Whether you live in an old or new home without ductwork, or you want complete control of your house’s atmosphere, ductless systems are great at expanding your comfort, regardless of the challenges that present themselves.
Ductless air conditioners have many potential applications in commercial, institutional, and residential buildings. They are mostly used as retrofit add-ons to properties without ducted heating systems like radiant panels, hydronic, and space heaters. They can also be used for room additions in apartments where it is impossible to install distribution ductwork.
How Do Ductless Air Conditioners Work?
Ductless ACs come in two distinct configurations – ductless mini-split and multi-split.
Ductless Mini-Split
This configuration cools a single zone or room and therefore, only one indoor air handler is used.
Ductless Multi-Split
It cools multiple rooms or zones and allows you to connect up to four different indoor air handlers.
Benefits of Ductless Air Conditioning
Here are some reasons why you should consider using ductless air conditioners:
Saves You Money
Regulating the temperatures of your home, especially during extreme weather conditions can have a great effect on your wallet. One the main reasons behind the high energy bills you are paying for is the inefficiency of your current unit. Updating to a ductless air conditioner can help reduce your monthly bill payments.
Increased Comfort
A ductless air conditioning system gives you full control over how many units you need and where to place them. You can install them at any place you want without having to demolish your property.
Ideal for the Environment
Since ductless air conditioners are highly efficient, they help reduce your carbon footprint immensely. Furthermore, since they are independently run, you only need to place them in the particular rooms you use and ignore the others. This helps minimize the amount of energy used, reducing environmental impact and saving you money.
Silent Operation
Air conditioning equipment can be noisy and extremely disturbing, making it hard for you to relax or concentrate when working. Since most parts of a ductless AC are placed outside your property, much of the operation takes place outdoors, away from where it cannot disturb your peace.
Requires Little Installation
Ductless air conditioning is easy to install and requires a maximum of two days to complete the whole process. Unlike installing traditional ductwork, your contractor does not have to rebuild ceilings or walls, meaning your house will not be in a reconstruction state.
Potential Drawbacks of Ductless Air Conditioners
If you are looking to purchase a ductless air conditioning system, you need to consider the following:
Higher Initial Cost
A ductless mini-split will cost somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000 per ton of cooling capacity. This makes ductless air conditioners quite expensive compared to other air conditioning systems.
Less Visually Appealing
Some homeowners do not like the appearance of ductless air conditioners, as they tend to prefer built-in central air conditioning systems.
Inefficient when Incorrectly Installed
If ductless air conditioners are not properly installed or placed in the right location, short cycling could take place. Short cycling leads to wastage of energy and controls temperatures and humidity levels irregularly. In addition, accessing a technician to help install these systems can be hard for homeowners.
Your air conditioning system helps ensure you feel comfortable at your house. Well, there are many options to consider when selecting a good ductless AC. Therefore, you should take your time to research the different varieties available to you so you do not miss something of utmost importance. Whichever option you decide to go with, you should understand that the long-term comfort of your family is vitally essential.