The standard air conditioner setup includes an outdoor heat exchanger and a fan, as well as an indoor heat exchanger, fan blowing the conditioned air inside ductwork to each room. In contrast, ductless mini-split systems have similar indoor and outdoor components. However, ducts are not required for operation. Read on to discover the pros and cons of both systems.
How Ductless Mini-Split Systems Are Used
These systems are often used for retrofitting homes without ducted heating systems, small apartments and add-on rooms. This is because, in most of these cases, extending the ductwork is out of the question.
Advantages of Ductless Mini-Split Systems
- Versatility: Mini-splits are compact and may be used to heat and cool rooms. A single unit can have up to four indoor air handlers depending on how much cooling is needed.
- Ease of Installation: Since ductless mini-splits only need a small hole (three inches) for the conduit connecting indoor and outdoor units, installation is relatively easy. Conduits can vary in length, so you can install indoor units up to 50 feet away from outdoor ones.
- Energy Savings: While both ductless and central air conditioners can be efficient at keeping your home comfortable, ductwork can cause significant energy losses. Ducts alone can be responsible for up to 30 percent of a home’s energy usage. Mini-splits have no ducts and therefore use much less energy.
Advantages of Central Air Conditioning
- More Affordable: Mini-splits can cost in the range of $1,200 to $2,000 per ton of cooling capacity. Central air conditioning systems typically cost 30 percent less.
- Appearance: Central air conditioners have a built-in look and are typically unobtrusive when compared to window units and ductless systems.
- Able to Cool an Entire Home: Central air conditioning systems are designed for whole-house cooling, while mini-splits are better for cooling smaller spaces.
Are you trying to choose between a mini-split and a central air conditioning system? Contact the HVAC professionals at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company today. We’ve been serving Yuma area residents since 1952.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about mini-splits and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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