How Do Ductless AC Units Work?
Central air conditioners and ductless mini-split systems do the exact same job, just in different ways. A central ac system uses ductwork to distribute the air throughout your home, whereas a ductless system does not. Instead of using a system of ducts, the cool air is fed directly into the living spaces via air handling units which are installed in each space. Similar to the central ac system, a ductless mini-split utilizes both an indoor and an outdoor component. There is an outdoor condenser unit, which links up to the indoor components. Some systems have just one air handler, however, a ductless ac unit uses multiple air handlers. These air handlers are installed throughout the home in areas that need cooling. Each of these areas is also able to be controlled independently of each other. Besides just being used for cooling, if there is a heat pump on your ductless unit, you can also use it for heating purposes as well.Do Ductless AC Systems Save You Money?
Now that we have explained how these types of systems work, we will tackle the important question regarding saving money. Due to their design, these systems will be able to help homeowners lower their heating and cooling bill expenses.- Duct-Free Configuration
The system does not use ductwork in order to distribute properly conditioned air. Using this type of system can generate savings of up to 30 percent right away! Most home systems can lose up to 30 percent of their air through leaks in the duct system, which forces your HVAC system to have to work harder. Without this ductwork, these air leaks do not exist in a ductless ac system.
- Improved Efficiency:
The ductless mini-splits are highly efficient, but the amount of energy they can help save depends on what HVAC system is being replaced. If they are replacing an older, inefficient system, there can be more savings when compared to a newer system. A mini-split system can replace inefficient options, and on average uses 40 percent less energy than a window unit and 25 to 40 percent less energy than an electric baseboard heating system.
- Zoning Capabilities:
Ductless AC systems have a great advantage compared to central systems, the ability to zone the cool air. Zoning means that every part of your home has its own thermostat and can be controlled separately from other parts of the home. The needs of each zone do not impact comfort levels throughout the rest of the home.
