If you need to upgrade your HVAC system, there are many different types available to you. You may be considering a traditional HVAC unit, a heat pump or a ductless mini-split HVAC system. Learning about the different types and getting answers to the questions you have about each type will help you decide which is the best option for your home. Here are a few questions you may have if you are wondering if a ductless mini-split HVAC system is right for you.
What Differentiates a Ductless Mini-Split HVAC System From Other Systems?
There are two features that differentiate a ductless mini-split HVAC system from other heating and cooling units on the market. The first unique feature about this product is that it is ductless. The majority of HVAC units, air conditioners, heaters and heat pumps use ducts and vents to carry the heated or cooled air from the unit into your home. This type of device does not require your home to have a duct system. The other unique feature about this type of heating and cooling system is that it is split, so you can heat and cool certain parts of your home. You have different heating and cooling modules located in various units in your home, allowing you to cool only certain rooms, based on where you place the units. This is similar to the control you can get with portable heaters and swamp coolers.
Who Would Benefit from a Ductless Mini-Split HVAC System?
Ductless mini-split HVAC systems are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners. This is because this type of system is beneficial to many different groups of homeowners. The first group of homeowners that this system can benefit is those who have older homes that may not have a duct system. If you live in an older home, you may have a radiant heating and cooling system or you may have no system at all. In either case, installing ductwork in your home can be costly. You have to open up walls and ceilings to place ducts and vents. If you don't have the budget for this, or don't want to have this done, a ductless mini-split HVAC system may be a great option for you.
Another group of homeowners that are considering ductless mini-split HVAC systems are those who are doing extensive renovation projects on their home. Ductwork takes up space behind walls and in ceilings. If you are looking to expand a room, build a closet or raise the height of your ceilings, your ductwork may get in the way. Some homeowners are installing ductless mini-split HVAC systems so they can remove the ductwork in their home and gain more living space or ceiling height. If this is a home renovation you are considering, you may benefit from this type of heating and cooling system.
The last group of homeowners that can benefit from mini-split HVAC systems are those who only live in a small portion of their home. If you are an empty nester, you may have a large home that is only occupied when your children are out of college for the summer or home for the holidays. If you have a traditional HVAC unit, you have to heat and cool your entire home, wasting energy and money. Installing a mini-split HVAC system allows you to control the temperature in the rooms you live in, and not touch the ones that no one is currently in. This can reduce your energy usage. However, when you have guests, you can easily turn on the split system in those spaces and heat and cool those rooms as needed.
Can the Average Homeowner Install a Ductless Mini-Split HVAC System Themselves?
Installing a mini-split HVAC system is a complex job. It requires suction and liquid lines be properly installed to prevent flooding or water damage. It requires the correct voltage on outlets to prevent your circuits from popping. You need to know how to correctly wire the system to prevent electrical issues. You need to know where to place the unit in a home for optimal performance. And you need to know what size and output of a unit you need to buy based on the size of your home and how often the unit will be used. A professional plumber, electrician or heating and cooling specialist is better equipped to properly install this type of unit.
Ductless mini-split HVAC units are becoming popular among homeowners because there are many benefits to them, especially if you are looking for a ductless system. Getting answers to the questions you have will help you determine if this is the right type of heating or cooling system for your home.
For more information and tips, talk with an HVAC contractor, such as those at Allied Mechanical & Electrical, Inc..
