Hillsboro residents have been faced with increasingly hot summers, and installing air conditioning has become a goal for many. Homes that don’t have ductwork already in place have a number of options, including window units and wall units. However, the ductless mini-split is also a contender, and when placed in the right locations, it can work very well. Of course, they also have their disadvantages, and before you choose to install one, you’ll want to consider their pros and cons.
What a Ductless Mini-Split Really Is
A ductless mini-split is a two-part cooling system. One part sits high up on an interior wall; this part contains the air handler, the filter and the controls. These models also usually have remotes that you can use so that you don’t have to climb up on a chair to turn them on. The other part sits outside and contains the condenser and compressor. The two parts are connected via tubing and cables that run through a small passage in the wall. The system doesn’t require a full duct to transfer air, hence the “ductless” part of the name.
Ductless mini-splits are room-specific. While their initial setup looks similar to a central AC unit, the air exchange takes place in one room only. These aren’t powerful enough to cool an entire house. That means that if you decide you want to use mini-splits to cool your home, you’d have to buy several indoor units (the outdoor half can serve as many as four indoor halves, depending on the model). You’d also have to have those small wall openings drilled for each indoor part.
Energy Efficiency Compared to Other Types of Air Conditioning
Mini-splits have energy efficiency in their favor. These units are much more efficient than both central air conditioning units and wall-mounted air conditioners. They don’t draw as much power, and because they’re room-specific, you can tailor how cool you want each room to be. That saves both energy and money. However, you still need to be aware of drafty doors and windows, and leaving the door to the room open can make it harder for the mini-split to maintain a stable temperature in the room.
One thing to be aware of is that some models of mini-splits won’t display the room temperature. There are models that do this, but you have to specifically look for that feature. That can be a minor annoyance if you’re used to cooling systems that display the current temperature. Of course, you can place a separate thermometer in the room, too.
Oddly, mini-splits are not as cost-efficient in terms of installation. It’s not that surprising that they’d cost more to install than a wall-mounted unit. However, the fact that they can cost more to install than some central air conditioning units is a surprise to many. That mainly has to do with the ducts; mini-splits can cost more to install than a central unit in a house that already has the ducts in place. However, if your house doesn’t already have ducts, the mini-splits will cost less to install because drilling those smaller passages through the wall is much cheaper than installing a full network of ducts.
Repairs, Maintenance and Projected Lifespan
How easy repairs and maintenance are really depends on the model. There are anecdotal stories online of homeowners having terrible times trying to fix these systems, although these reports don’t really say whether the homeowner called an air conditioning repair service or if they tried a DIY repair. It’s better if you call a repair service and let professionals deal with the system.
Maintenance for mini-splits is very important. They usually have washable filters, and you’ll need to clean these regularly. That can be as often as every couple of weeks, depending on the model. Routine maintenance tends to be simple: Clean the filter, dust the housing, ensure nothing is blocking either part of the unit and have the unit inspected annually. But skipping the routine maintenance can quickly reduce the efficiency and cooling ability of the unit.
Mini-split lifespans are generally good. On average, a mini-split can last up to 20 years, although some models may need replacement much earlier. The more vigilant you are regarding care and repairs, the longer the unit should last. It is possible for a mini-split to last much longer than 20 years if the maintenance has been excellent.
Ease or Difficulty of Installation
As air conditioning units go, mini-splits are among the simpler models to install overall. However, drilling that conduit that holds the connections and tubing that runs between the two halves of the mini-split isn’t that simple. It’s only a few inches wide, but you have to know what you’re doing to ensure that you don’t damage your home. And if the outdoor unit that you buy is one that hangs on the side of the house, installing that yourself can be dangerous. Installation is best left to professionals. Plus, the more mini-splits you install, the more complicated the work will be.
Humidity and Moisture Removal
Mini-splits can dehumidify the air as they cool a room. However, they may not be as powerful in that respect as a central unit. If it’s very humid in the house, the mini-split will have to contend with humid air seeping into the room under the door. Mini-split dehumidification is generally more efficient than what you’d get with, say, a portable air conditioner.
Noise Issues
This is a huge pro of ductless mini-splits. The systems are quieter than central air conditioning because you don’t have to listen to air rushing through ducts that may rattle if they have a loose part. They aren’t necessarily whisper-quiet, but the indoor half of a mini-split is fairly low-noise. The outdoor half can be noisier, but it may still be quieter than many central air units.
What Situations Are Mini-Splits Best Suited For?
Mini-splits are best for homes where you need cooling in a specific room and for homes where installing ductwork for a ducted central air system isn’t possible. These are great for roommate situations; you can install a mini-split in a room you rent out so that the tenant can control their own room’s temperature without messing with other air conditioning systems in the house. If you’re building an addition or dividing a larger room into smaller ones, mini-splits allow you to keep those new rooms cool.
Mini-splits are also appropriate for homes where certain areas have inconsistent temperatures. Maybe most of your home has great passive solar, and most of the house stays within a comfortable temperature range except for one portion of one floor. You can install a mini-split there to help regulate the temperature.
If you want a way to keep your Hillsboro home cool that doesn’t involve lugging window air conditioners to different rooms or installing expensive ductwork, a mini-split might be your best bet. Contact Pro Heating and Cooling, Inc. today to see what your options are.
