What Is A Mini Split

What Is A Mini Split

Mini-splits are flexible heating and cooling options that allow you to regulate the temperature in individual rooms or areas.

An outdoor compressor/condenser and indoor air-handling unit(s) are the two main components of a mini-split system (evaporator). They’re simple to install, requiring only a three-inch hole in the wall for the conduit, which contains the power and communication cables, copper tubing, and a condensation drain line that connects the outdoor and indoor units.

Mini-split heat pumps are suitable to retrofit add-ons to houses with “non-ducted” heating systems, such as hydronic (hot water heat), radiant panels, and space heaters, as well as a whole home or new constructions (wood, kerosene, propane). They’re also a suitable option for room additions where extending or building distribution ductwork isn’t an option, as well as energy-efficient new homes with only a small space conditioning system.

Central Air vs. Mini-Splits

Because mini-split systems have few to no ducts, they avoid the energy losses associated with central forced-air systems’ ducting. Duct losses can account for more than 30% of space conditioning energy consumption, especially if the ducts are located in an unconditioned space like an attic or basement. Compared with other add-on systems, mini-splits offer more flexibility in interior design options.

Central air systems necessitate the installation of costly and inconvenient ductwork. Anyone who has calculated the cost of installing central air knows how prohibitively expensive it is.

Ductless Mini Split- System In Detail

Mini split-system air conditioners are ductless air conditioners that can be used in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. They’re also a suitable option for small apartments and room additions where extending or installing distribution ductwork for a central air conditioner isn’t possible. Ductless mini-split systems are more common in areas of the country where there are more buildings without central heating and cooling.

The name “split” alludes to the fact that the system still includes an outdoor and indoor unit. A “packaged” system, on the other hand, combines the heating and cooling equipment into a single outdoor unit. The term “mini” refers to the fact that the individual units, or “heads,” are smaller than traditional air conditioning or furnace equipment.

Ductless systems, like traditional HVAC systems, require regular maintenance and service. Their smaller size does not negate the necessity for equipment maintenance.

Mini-splits are most commonly seen in the following places. Let’s have a look at a few of them:

  • Garages
  • Master Bedrooms
  • Finished Basements
  • Attics/Guest Rooms
  • Slab Homes

The following are some of the other benefits of ductless mini-splits:

  • Mini-splits are popular because of their small size and versatility in zoning and cooling individual rooms. Many versions can have up to four interior air handling units coupled to one outdoor unit (for four zones or rooms).
  • Other types of air conditioning systems are often more difficult to install than ductless systems.
  • Many come with remote control, which makes it easy to turn on and off the system when it’s mounted high on a wall or suspended from the ceiling.
  • Remove humidity.
  • Filter your air.

How do Mini-Split Air Conditioners operate?

In terms of operation, mini-splits are most similar to heat pumps. Electric cooling is provided by both types of equipment, just as it is by an air conditioner. This includes extracting heat from a building and distributing it outdoors using refrigerant. The technique is then reversed, allowing it to warm your home in the winter by taking heat from the outside air and bringing it inside.

The most significant difference between mini-splits and heat pumps is that mini-splits do not require ducting. The indoor unit, on the other hand, has built-in indoor air handlers that are mounted on the wall or ceiling of the space you want to heat and cool. Through a small conduit in the wall, copper tubes, wiring, and a condensate drain line connect to an outdoor condensing unit. This component resembles an air conditioner or heat pump condenser from the outside

Multiple indoor units can be linked to a single outdoor condenser, allowing you to use this system to heat and cool your entire home if desired. This configuration also allows for zoning, a widely desired feature that allows you to choose when, where, and how much you heat and cool specific rooms.

Efficiency and Lifespan of Mini-Splits

Ductless systems can excel in terms of efficiency.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER, is a term that many people are familiar with. It’s a computation that determines how much energy is required to cool your home to a specific temperature. The term for heating is HSPF, which stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor.

Whole-house air conditioners typically have a SEER rating of 22-23. The cooling capacity of a ductless mini-split system can exceed 30 SEER! The same can be said for HSPF, where ductless systems are among the most energy-efficient equipment available.

Contact Martens Heating & Cooling today if you need a mini-split air conditioner installed.

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