Some older homes simply cannot accommodate the extensive ductwork required by a central heating and cooling system. Some homes may also feature "hot spots," zones or entire rooms that never seem to get quite comfortable no matter how much you fiddle with the thermostat. Maybe you're a homeowner eager to upgrade the energy efficiency and eco-friendliness of your major home systems and appliances. Whatever the case, before you invest in a ductless heating and air conditioning unit, let’s cover the basics.
What is Ductless Air Conditioning and How Does it Work?
Ductless air conditioning units are standalone systems that provide air conditioning options for homes without ductwork.
A ductless A/C unit will typically come in one of two different configurations.
The first configuration is a ductless mini-split. This configuration cools a single room or zone. A single indoor air handler is connected to an outdoor compressor unit by electrical cables and a refrigerant line that passes through a small hole in the wall. The air handler essentially works much like it would if you were installing a window air conditioner, but you can install it anywhere on or within your wall. To maximize convection (hot air's tendency to rise and cold air's tendency to fall), air handlers are usually mounted near the ceiling. These wall-mounted heating and cooling units can run automatically or be adjusted using a dedicated remote control.
The second configuration is a ductless multi-split. Unlike a ductless mini-split, a ductless multi-split cools multiple rooms or zones. These models allow you to connect up to four indoor air handlers (for four rooms or zones) to one outdoor unit. Each zone has its own remote control. If one inside unit stops functioning, the other units will still work and cool their respective zones.
Ductless heating and air conditioning units are not ventless. These systems still must discharge warm air and drain condensate (excess water) created during the cooling process outside your home. Although ductless, ventless air conditioners aren’t a thing, if you’re looking for a ventless air conditioner, consider evaporative (or swamp) cooler options.
Why Would You Need a Ductless Heating or Air Conditioning Unit?
Ductless multi-splits are great for homes in which a central air conditioning system would be too expensive or impractical to install. If you currently cool your home with window units, a ductless A/C unit is a definite upgrade, as the self-contained nature of the air handlers translates into fewer air leaks.
A ductless mini-split can also be a great complement to an existing central HVAC system. If you've recently added a room to your home or converted a garage into a living space, you can cool it using a mini-split instead of extending your ductwork (which can be really expensive). You can also use a ductless mini-split to improve temperature control in a single room. If one zone of your home receives a lot of sunlight, you can add a ductless mini-split to keep that room comfortable without lowering the thermostat for your entire house (and raising your electric bill).
