What is a Ductless Mini-Split and What are the Benefits?

Colorado residents who have challenges heating certain areas of their homes, may be looking for the ideal solution to improve their home comfort levels all year round.

A ductless mini-split system is designed to provide you with precise temperature control in individual rooms. These useful devices are designed to have no ducts. This is a consideration engineered to eliminate energy losses primarily associated with the ductwork of central forced air systems.

But what is a mini-split, and what features make it more beneficial to a homeowner than a ducted central AC system?

Let’s find out.

What is a Ductless Mini-Split?

Are you looking for the right HVAC unit for your home and needs?

Then the following question has most likely popped up: what is a mini-split?

A mini-split unit is a useful HVAC system that consists of one indoor and one outdoor unit linked with refrigerant tubes and wiring. The evaporator (indoor unit) is mounted on the wall, and it doesn’t need any ductwork. The compressor (outdoor unit) is located outdoors and is responsible for compressing or expanding refrigerant to cool or warm your indoor air. 

A ductless mini-split involves a similar process to a central air conditioning system. It removes the heat from the indoor air and expels it to the outside. It then blows the cooled air throughout the room through a fan in the indoor unit.

However, unlike the central AC unit that contains a central indoor unit connected to other rooms by ductwork, a mini-split has an indoor unit in every room. This way, each indoor unit cools a specific room independently.

The compressor unit usually pumps the liquid refrigerant through the connecting tubing to the evaporator. As air is blown over the evaporator coils, they absorb humidity and heat from the air, and the refrigerant turns to gas. The heat and excess humidity are transferred through the same tubing to the outdoor compressor, where they are expelled into the outside atmosphere.

One consideration for the outdoor units is placing them strategically to minimize noise and vibrations inside the living spaces. Be sure to keep this in mind if you’ve been asking yourself, “what is a mini-split unit?”

Benefits of a Ductless Mini-Split

Now that you know the answer to the question, “what is a ductless heating system?” let’s take a look at the various benefits:

1. Zoning

The ductless mini-split unit gives homeowners the flexibility to cool individual rooms. The number of units required depends on the extent of heating or cooling needed in each zone. This gives you an opportunity to save energy, which can lead to lower utility bills.

2. Easy to Install

Are you looking for an easy-to-install air conditioning system? A mini-split system only requires a few steps.

• Drilling a 3-inch hole through a wall for the conduit
• Connecting the Line set
• Ensuring you pump down the unit into a vacuum
• Line set tests for leaks 
• Connecting the electricals 

Even better, most of the manufacturers provide a variety of lengths of conduits. This ensures that you can place your compressor in your desired position based on your home’s design. 

However, while these steps always sound straightforward, they are only easy for a professional. Therefore, if you are not one, it’s highly recommended that you seek the services of a qualified HVAC technician to install the system.

3. Energy Efficiency

If you choose a ductless mini-split, you can avoid energy losses, often related to ductwork in forced air systems, and enjoy high efficiency. This is an excellent opportunity to avoid overspending on heating and cooling your home. 

4. Maintaining Structural Integrity

Another pro of a ductless mini-split system is that it helps preserve the structural integrity of a home. 

Installing a reliable ductless system will still give you the desired indoor temperatures and humidity without any concerns about compromising the structural integrity of your home. As a reminder, you should team up with a professional technician, like one of our team members at IMS Heating & Air, if you need help installing your unit.

5. Even Cooling

Sometimes traditional air conditioning systems disappoint us when they provide us with uneven temperatures in our homes or businesses.

If you find yourself in this situation, investing in a ductless mini-split system is the way to go. This system can make practically any space comfortable and help you combat high indoor temperatures and humidity levels.

6. It’s Ideal for Extensions

If you are thinking about building an additional room or adding an extension to your home, you should not increase the load on the total system. Adding ductwork to your home can strain your HVAC units, especially if they’re undersized. However, with a ductless mini-split, you can add extra space as you wish.

7. Environmentally Friendly

A ductless mini-split system’s most impactful benefit is that it is environmentally friendly. For instance, the system is designed to help save on energy wastage, which is paramount in energy conservation. Unlike central heating and cooling systems, a mini-split doesn’t use ductwork, which is prone to leakages leading to energy wastage. 

Also, through its automatic ON/OFF feature, it allows the system to turn on only when it’s necessary. If the room doesn’t require air conditioning, it stays off. This helps conserve energy while at the same time reducing the possibility of getting worn out due to extensive use.

What is a Mini-Split? — Key Takeaway

Most homeowners have questions about their HVAC units, especially when it comes to mini-splits.

The question, “what is a ductless mini-split?” can be easily answered by considering the benefits mentioned above.

Undoubtedly, ductless mini-split units are gaining popularity as people begin to appreciate the advantages that come along with the systems. Whether you are looking to heat or cool a commercial or residential property, it is highly recommended that you consider a ductless mini-split system. 

You can enjoy a mixture of efficiency, low cost, and environmental-friendly features that suits your preferences and needs.

Also, for environmental enthusiasts, with a ductless mini-split system, you do not have to worry about negatively impacting the planet. The system is easy to install and has minimal impact on the environment. 

Contact one of our team members at IMS Heating & Air if you’d like to install a mini-split unit in your home or business.