What’s a Mini-Split HVAC unit and why would I want one?

If you’re struggling to get the temperature right in all the rooms of your house, a Mini-Split HVAC unit may be the answer.

Many families struggle to find a way to make each room in their house comfortable for its main occupant.  Not only do different family members prefer a little different temperature, but your home may have features that make regulating the overall climate tricky. For instance, rooms with vaulted ceilings or large windows may need a different thermostat setting than the rest of the house. This is where a central air conditioning systems may be lacking, but a Mini-Split HVAC unit may be the perfect solution for you to customize your climate.

What is a Mini-Split HVAC unit?

A Mini-Split HVAC unit (or ductless mini-split) is a heating and cooling system that allows for the ability to control temperatures and climates in individual rooms or spaces. They’re great for many different residential situations and also come in handy in light commercial and institutional situations. Mini-Splits are a perfect solution for reaching independent climate control in a single space, or for multiple spaces. In this scenario, you could have three rooms all with different temperatures to accommodate them. 

Similar to the central ducted systems you’re probably familiar with, Mini-Splits have two main components: the outdoor compressor/condensing unit and the indoor air-handling (evaporator) units.

There are four types of mini-splits available, single-zone, hyperheat single-zone, pre-charged single-zone and multi-zone. All systems can effectively heat or cool single spaces, while a multi-zone system can serve as many as 5 zones/areas at a time from a single outdoor condenser.

Pre-charged mini-splits, otherwise known as quick connect systems, are perfect for the DIY crowd looking for a rewarding weekend project. The pre-charged line sets eliminate the need to work with a refrigerant (Licensed professionals should be the only people to handle refrigerants).  Aside from these quick connect units, mini-splits must be installed by a trained or certified installer, per local code. We gladly handle the electrical and install of these units but do require an HVAC person to “vacuum” the lines.

Why should I consider choosing a Mini-Split HVAC unit?

As we’ve discussed, these units are great for difficult or unique air conditioning needs. Mini-split systems are highly customizable and offer flexibility for the heating or cooling of individual spaces, not just the entire house at once like your central air systems. A mini-split can serve up to five zones from one condenser, each indoor air handler having its own thermostat which offers the ability to heat or cool each space only when occupied. This can provide significant cost and energy savings overtime. They also can fit into any pre-existing space, particularly ones that may not be able to have ducts added. 

Mini-split systems are more energy efficient than a central air conditioning system, as they avoid much of the energy losses associated with the ductwork in a central system. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, duct losses can account for up to 30% of energy consumption in space heating and cooling. To top it off, an inverter compressor on a mini-split system, instead of a rotary compressor, can save even more energy by using only enough power to reach and maintain the desired set temperature, and then idling until more power is needed. How’s that for efficiency? 

If you’re interested in having a Mini-Split HVAC unit installed, give us a call so we can get you an estimate. You’ll be more comfortable in no time!