Are you considering an addition to your home? Finishing an attic or basement? Maybe converting a vacation cabin into a home you can use for more of the year? Spaces such as these need to be cooled and heated, and the tried-and-true route is usually running ductwork through the space and installing an air conditioner or furnace if it’s needed.
But an increasing number of Americans are going with another option altogether. That option is the ductless mini split. It’s a tidy little system that requires no ductwork, and the technology keeps making big strides.
Ductless mini splits are compact air-source heat pumps designed for convenience, performance and energy efficiency. Ductless mini splits forego bulky ducts by using a thin conduit to house the refrigerant tubing, condensate line and power cable. The sleek air handlers–as many as four are possible–are installed in the living spaces that need cooling and heating. The conduit extends as far as 100 feet, which provides a plethora of installation options.
Ductless systems may have a small footprint, but they have made big strides in technology. In fact, ductless mini splits outperform most high-efficiency heat pumps and A/Cs when it comes to energy efficiency, quiet operation and comfortable cooling and heating during extreme temperature conditions outside (a sweltering 115 degrees down to a bone-chilling 5 degrees and lower).
Two primary reasons for these strides in performance and efficiency are multi-speed air handlers and variable-speed compressors with inverter technology. Many ductless mini splits offer air handlers with five fan speeds and oscillating motion. Compressor inverter technology maximizes heat exchange, delivering precise amounts of refrigerant to meet changing cooling and heating needs. Here are additional benefits of the latest advances in ductless mini-split technology:
- Advanced dehumidification settings
- SEER ratings in the low and mid-20s
- On-board system diagnostics
- Zoning capability
- Programming capability
- Indoor coil freeze protection
For convenience, performance and efficiency, ductless systems are tough to beat. For more information about ductless mini-split technology, contact Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ve proudly served homeowners in McKinney, Frisco, Plano, Allen and the surrounding area for more than 30 years.
