There are multiple ways to cool your Arvada, CO home, but few are as efficient as a ductless mini-split. Although they’ve been around since 1959, ductless mini-split ACs are fast-gaining new interest due to their low operating costs, flexibility, and ease of installation. However, like all HVAC equipment, these units come with both benefits and drawbacks. To help you make an informed selection, the following are several pros and cons of having a ductless air conditioner installed.
Mini-Split AC Systems Limit Energy Waste
Ductless air conditioners provide customized climate control. While central cooling systems cool entire homes uniformly, air delivery from a mini-split is divided across multiple indoor zones.
Each zone gets its own thermostat and air handler, and the climate in each zone is controlled independently of the others. This allows residents to only get cooled air when they want it. It also eliminates the need to cool spaces that no one in the building is using.
Mini-split air conditioners additionally prevent the considerable energy loss that commonly occurs in ducted systems. Even relatively new ducting can be responsible for energy losses of up to 25%. Without the ductwork, problems like air loss and heat gains won’t be an issue.
Ductless Mini-Splits Cost More Than Central Air Conditioners
At initial purchase, you’ll pay a lot more for a ductless mini-split system than you would for a comparable central air conditioner. However, this isn’t accounting for the costs of installation. In homes that lack central HVAC ductwork, the cost of retrofitting buildings with air ducts can make a central air conditioner’s installation far more expensive.
Mini-Split Installation Is Minimally Invasive
Compared to ductwork retrofitting projects, ductless mini-split AC installation is minimally invasive. Each room or zone that gets its own air handler will have a small hole drilled in its exterior wall. The average diameter of these holes is about three inches.
HVAC installers use these openings to pass wires and copper refrigerant lines through and connect them to indoor air handlers. Air handlers are mounted high up on walls or on ceilings to minimize their aesthetic impact. Moreover, they’re available in a diverse range of colors, and they have slim profiles. The right options can seamlessly coordinate with existing decor.
Switching to a Ductless Mini-Split Could Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Even with routine maintenance and regular air filter changes, ducted cooling systems can introduce a lot of airborne debris into your living space. This is increasingly true as HVAC ductwork ages and develops cracks, loose connections, and other air leaks. In comparison, ductless mini-split systems distribute conditioned air right where it’s produced. In addition to eliminating heat loss and heat gain during air distribution, their setup also ensures that micro-sized impurities aren’t picked up along the way.
You’ll Miss Out on Integrated Indoor Air Quality Accessories
Ductless mini-split systems cannot accommodate indoor air quality (IAQ) accessories that are installed directly in HVAC ducting or attached to it. Thus, if you need whole-house dehumidification, whole-house air purification, or other IAQ technologies for supporting resident health, you’ll want to have a ducted cooling system installed.
Ductless Mini-Split ACs Can Cool Areas That Aren’t Serviced by Central HVAC
You don’t have to use a ductless air conditioner for whole-house cooling. These systems can accommodate between one and eight indoor air handlers as needed. If there are areas of your home that aren’t properly serviced by your central AC, you can use a mini-split to ventilate these spaces and keep them safe and comfortable. Homeowners with central cooling systems often install ductless ACs to regulate temperature and humidity in attic bedrooms, garden rooms, garages, and finished basements.
Add Value to Your Home With a Ductless Mini-Split
Many savvy buyers are searching for homes with efficient, well-maintained, and relatively new cooling systems. Given their low operating costs, ease of installation, and general appeal, ductless mini-split air conditioners tick all of these boxes and more. If you don’t currently have a fixed cooling solution in a home you have on the market, adding ductless AC is a great pre-sale improvement for upping interest in your listing.
We proudly serve homeowners in Arvada, CO and the surrounding communities. We offer heater, air conditioner, and ductless mini-split installation, maintenance, and repairs. We also provide water heaters, indoor air quality services, and gas piping. To find out about our service club memberships or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at Coffman & Company today.
