Have you been looking for a less expensive alternative to your current heating and ventilation system? Look no further than the mini split! Mini splits are a heating and cooling system that lets your adjust the temperatures in individual rooms throughout your home. These less intrusive systems are great for almost any kind of home, whether they are larger or smaller, because they use zoning for their heating and cooling. You can control which rooms are being temperature controlled and not the whole house all at once.
This brings us to the biggest difference between mini splits and a more traditional HVAC system: no vents or ducts running all over the house. Mini splits are a type of ductless heating and cooling. Instead, a mini split is made up of two parts: an indoor part and an outdoor part. To connect the two, you only need about a 3-inch hole leading to the outside. All of the wiring, cables and tubing use the one hole. The indoor unit is usually installed on a wall near the ceiling and is attached to the outdoor part, which looks similar to a traditional air conditioner. They can be installed in each room or just a select few.
Mini split systems work similarly to heat pumps. They provide cooling by drawing warm air in and using a refrigerant to move the heat from the air before releasing it into your home. During the winter, the machine works in reverse to bring air in from outdoors, heating it up, and moving it into your home.
Here are a few reasons to consider doing a mini split in your home:
1. Ductwork
Mini splits help you if your home doesn’t have existing ductwork, is an older home, or if it’s a newer small home. Homes that may not have ductwork in place already would be much more cost efficient to use a mini split than to install expensive ducts and venting.
2. Saving money
You can save money by not only having to buy expensive ductwork, but also by utilizing proper zoning techniques you can cut down your energy bills. Only heat or cool the rooms you need to and are currently using. By being ductless, you save on energy consumption even more. Systems with ducts and venting lose about 30% of energy through heat/cooling radiation, especially if the ducts run through non-climate-controlled environments.
3. Detached structures
If you have a space like a porch, detached garage, or work shed that needs heating and cooling but isn’t attached to what you currently have, mini splits work great. This also includes rooms that just need a little extra help during extreme temperature months.
One of a few disadvantages that come up with mini splits are cost. The initial cost can be about 30% more expensive than traditional systems. However, that only includes the initial devices, not the cost of the duct system. A window unit of similar power is also likely to only cost half as much. Another potential problem is that the installers must be experts. Even small mistakes can result in short cycling, which can cost more money and not provide proper temperature or humidity. Finally, some people just do not like the look of the devices on their walls.
Fortunately, Twin City Heating and Air’s experts will find the right fit for you and your home, whether you go with a mini split or the traditional system. You’ll feel the difference with us.
