Mini Splits: A Flexible Way to Heat AND Cool

 


Ductless, mini-split heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) systems are s great solution for a variety of home heating problems. The flexibility of mini-split systems makes them ideal for many types of rooms and settings. Learn some of the ways that mini-split systems offer more flexibility than other HVAC systems.

When choosing to add on to an indoor air comfort system, the existing system must be taken into account to make the right choice. If you have a “non-ducted” existing system, or are adding a room and you can’t extend the ductwork you have, a ductless mini-split-system may be the best choice.

To connect the indoor evaporator unit of a mini-split system to its exterior compressor/condenser unit, your HVAC professional only needs to open a three-inch space into the room’s wall. Conduit containing the power cable, HVAC tubing, and drainage tubing is snaked through the hole. This means that your HVAC retrofit doesn’t cause complete upheaval. Ductless mini-split systems work well as auxiliary heating sources in homes that rely on the following non-ducted heat sources:

- Hydronic (hot water) systems
- Radiant panels
- Wood, kerosene, or propane space heaters

A mini-split system is a great solution for a room add-on or renovation. If you’ve recently finished a basement, bonus room, or workshop, you don’t have to tie your new mini-split system into your existing HVAC system to heat and cool your new living and working space. Consider a ductless mini-split system for the following rooms:

- Barn office
- Foaling or calving barn
- Large playhouse

The mini-split system includes its own thermostat and outdoor compressor/condenser unit to heat and cool your home. You won’t tax your existing HVAC unit with additional ductwork. In addition, you can turn the heating or cooling off when not using the add-on space without affecting the rest of your home’s comfort.

The compressor/condenser unit of a ductless mini-split system can be located up to 50 feet from the room being heated and cooled by the system. Whether you have a cottage office in the backyard or an attic room in an awkward location, you can have a ductless mini-split system installed in the space without extraordinary effort.

Along with flexibility of installation, ductless mini-split systems offer excellent energy efficiency when conditioning spaces. In a ductless mini-split system, the compressor is inverter-driven instead of working at a constant speed. Because the compressor operates at a lower frequency most of the time, the system uses less power.

Because each space in a ductless mini-split system has its own heating and cooling controls, you can achieve custom comfort in each space with a compressor. If you have a room frequented by cold-sensitive people, pets, or plants, the mini-split system allows the room to be heated more than adjacent rooms. Infant nurseries and spaces for people with mobility issues can have flexible heating and cooling solutions with ductless mini-split HVAC units.

Rooms that tend to stay colder or hotter than adjacent rooms will benefit from a ductless mini-split system. Whether the room is drafty or located near an exterior wall, the mini-split unit will make the room as comfortable as the remainder of your home. You needn’t raise the whole house’s temperature to keep rooms colder or warmer than normal. A ductless mini-split system is also a great way to heat a garage or other unheated space next to an indoor room.

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