One type of HVAC system that’s gained a lot of popularity over the past 20 years is the ductless mini-split unit. This type of system allows you to enjoy all year-round comfort without the need for any traditional ductwork. If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, it can be helpful to understand both the benefits and drawbacks of this type of system.
Heating and Cooling
Probably one of the most significant benefits of a ductless mini-split system is that it offers both heating and cooling capabilities. You no longer have to invest in two different types of HVAC systems to keep your family comfortable throughout the year. Now, you can purchase one system to handle all your comfort needs.
No Ductwork Needed
One of the biggest problems with older homes is that they don’t always have ductwork. It can be extremely expensive to have ductwork put in your home after it is finished. This is because flooring and walls will need to be removed in order to gain access to the appropriate areas to install your new ductwork. When you opt for a ductless mini-split system, you won’t need to worry about any of that invasive installation.
All these systems require is a small hole on the exterior wall of each room that gets a mini-split unit. This makes them the perfect heating and cooling solution for home additions where you can’t connect onto existing ductwork.
Energy-Efficient Operation
Ductless mini-split systems offer energy-efficient operation. In the summertime, they tend to operate more efficiently than traditional central air conditioning systems. This is mainly because they don’t lose any of their cold air through gaps in ductwork since they don’t use it.
In the wintertime, these units can be extremely energy-efficient when they operate in mild climates. Unlike traditional heating systems, the ductless mini-split unit does not create heat. It simply transports heat from one location to another. This can allow it to reach efficiency levels of up to 300 to 400%.
Federal Tax Rebates
Because ductless mini-split systems are so energy efficient, they qualify for a federal tax incentive. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, homeowners can receive 30% of the total cost of their mini-split system back in the form of a tax rebate. They can claim amounts up to $2,000. Even some local municipalities and state governments are offering their own tax incentives for homeowners who invest in these energy-efficient products.
Zone Temperature Control
If you have a mini-split system installed in your home, you will have individual units in each main room. Each unit will come with its own remote that will allow you to set individual temperature settings. This gives you the ability to enjoy zone temperature control throughout your entire home.
Instead of relying on just one thermostat for your entire home, you can enjoy setting a specific temperature for each room. This not only will go a long way in enhancing your overall comfort, but it can provide other benefits as well. You can enjoy fixing hot and cold spots throughout the year. This also gives you the capability to be more efficient with your energy usage.
Quiet Operation
One of the more annoying parts of forced air heating systems is the movement of air through your ductwork can be quite loud. When you get a ductless mini-split system, you don’t have to worry about the noise. These units operate at a noise level similar to a whisper.
Better Quality Air
Another area where ductless mini-split units outperform traditional forced-air HVAC systems is when it comes to air quality. Systems that rely on ductwork tend to experience more buildup of airborne debris that can reduce the quality of air inside your home. On the other hand, ductless models don’t have to deal with that excess buildup. Rather, each unit has its own filter that removes contaminants from the air as air circulates through the unit. This leads to better overall indoor air quality than with a traditional forced air heating or cooling system.
Dry Mode for Humidity Control
One feature that many new ductless mini-split units come with is dry mode. This works to remove excess humidity from the air without exerting the normal amount of energy to cool your air. It does this by pulling air over the evaporator coils at a much slower operating speed. By removing excess humidity without running your system at full speed, this system can allow you to be more comfortable in your home. Traditional central air conditioning systems must be running in cool mode to offer any sort of humidity control.
Not Efficient in Cold Climates
One major drawback of ductless mini-split units is that they don’t function efficiently at below-freezing temperatures. When temperatures get too cold, they’re unable to extract heat from the air outside. Instead, these units switch to their auxiliary heating mode, which works very similarly to a heating element inside an electric furnace.
Unfortunately, when in auxiliary heating mode, these units are going to be quite expensive to operate. One alternative that a lot of people use in colder climates is a backup heating system. This system will allow you to enjoy all the energy efficiency that comes with your ductless mini-split system when temperatures are above freezing. However, when temperatures dip down below freezing, you can switch to using your backup furnace to enjoy more affordable operating costs than if you were to rely solely on auxiliary mode.
Wall Units Can Be Ugly
Traditionally, ductless mini-split units were only available in wall-mounted models. These are a decent size box that is about one to two feet long by around eight inches high. Unfortunately, they’re not the nicest thing to look at as they stick out from your walls. This can be a big drawback for some people. It’s important to note that modern-day mini-split units are also available with floor-mounted and ceiling-mounted units, with the latter being the more discreet of the two.
More Maintenance
Another drawback of mini-split systems is they do require a little bit more maintenance than your traditional forced-air heating and cooling systems. The main difference in maintenance has to do with the filter. Each mini-split unit will have its own built-in washable filter. This will need to be washed every few weeks to ensure optimal efficiency. With traditional HVAC systems, you only need to change out one filter every two to three months.
Bigger Rooms May Need Multiple Units
Another known disadvantage of mini-split units is they can only handle so much square footage per unit. Your HVAC technician will have to determine the square footage of each room and pick a unit that matches that. Unfortunately, there may not be units big enough to cover the entire square footage of your bigger rooms. In this case, you may have to purchase more than one unit to handle your larger rooms.
Reliable Ductless Mini-Split Service
Beltway Air Conditioning, Heating, & Plumbing offers reliable ductless mini-split service to the entire Columbia, MD community. We can even help with all your air conditioning, heating, plumbing, commercial HVAC, indoor air quality, ductwork, duct cleaning, and thermostat installation needs. Contact us today to schedule your next service appointment.
