A quick review of the pros and cons of mini-split A/C units to help you decide whether you should be using them for your home
Here in Gainesville, Florida, we understand the necessity for air conditioning. With a large portion of our population using A/C almost year round, the usefulness of a properly working HVAC system is clear. However, if you have not yet installed a traditional air conditioning system in your house or would like to know about other air conditioning options for your space, consider a new cooling system: mini-split air conditioning.
What Is Mini-Split Air Conditioning?
Mini-split air conditioning systems are a great way to get rid of bulky ducts and evaporator units and replace them with slim copper pipes filled with refrigerant. The pipes originate from the outdoor condenser unit and enter the house through a three-inch wide hole in the wall. On the other end of the pipes are air vent units that convert the refrigerant into crisp, cool air for every room in which they are located.
Why Install Mini-Split Air Conditioning?
The Pros of Mini-Splits:
Size
Due to their size, mini-splits are great for small houses or houses with little space in the attic or basement. Because they utilize small copper pipes instead of ductwork, they can fit through essentially any space to supply hard-to-reach rooms with conditioned air. Even if you are not going to use mini-splits to cool your entire house, they are still perfect to use for just one room or section of the house that you may not be able to otherwise reach with a normal A/C unit.
Energy Savings
Ductwork is notorious for leaking because it’s typically only square fiberglass-lined sheet metal, which is not ideal for holding in air. On the contrary, the tubular copper pipe is not only the right shape for holding in refrigerant, but it is also a better container for sealing in the refrigerant. Consequently, mini-split systems are stellar for saving money and energy!
Control
With a mini-split system, you need to have units that blow the cold air because this system does not blowing air through ductwork: it streams refrigerant through pipes. Therefore, the nature of the system necessitates a unit in each room to which the pipes are running. Having a unit in each room enables customized air conditioning control in each room as well. Typically, mini-split units are smaller than the average window A/C unit, and they are also much more convenient because their compact presence in each room allows you to adjust each room’s temperature. The temperature in each room can be different, or the whole house can be set to the same temperature. Finally, the manageable duct units can be displayed on the wall of the room, or they can be concealed in the ceiling behind a vent in the attic so that they do not take up any space in the room.
The Cons of Mini-Splits:
Price
Unfortunately, mini-split systems are typically 20-30% more expensive than an average HVAC system. However, prospective buyers must remember that mini-split systems save energy that would otherwise be lost through regular ductwork, so while homeowners are making a larger investment, they are also saving more money over time. You are also working with a more convenient system: it can reach any room in your house, and you can control the temperature of each room.
Size of the System
Make sure that you get the right size system for your house. If your system is too small, it will not be able to work for the whole house, and it will burn too much energy. However, if your system is too big, then you will overpay for the unit and waste money.
Who Should You Talk to About Mini-Splits?
As buying a correctly sized system is very important, you should contact your local HVAC supplier to confirm whether or not they work with mini-split systems. If you are interested in installing mini-splits in your house, click here for more information on mini-splits and here to contact a professional who would be more than happy to provide you with an extremely energy efficient mini-split air conditioning system.
