One of the newest innovations in cooling your home is ductless mini split air conditioning. With no formal ductwork, it certainly has its advantages. Here is some information on both ducted and ductless split air conditioning systems to help you choose the right one for you.
Ducted Air Conditioning
Traditional “ducted” central air conditioning uses air ducts inside the walls and ceilings of your home to distribute cooled air. Cooled air travels from the central air conditioning unit through the ducts and into to each room via vents. Unless you have a computerized ducting system, the only way to regulate a room’s temperature is by manually closing or opening the vent for greater or lesser airflow.
Ductless Air Conditioning
As the name implies, ductless (a.k.a. ductless mini-split) air conditioning needs no ductwork and can be installed virtually anywhere. Instead of cooling air with one central air handler that blows air through the ducts, ductless systems send refrigerant directly to multiple small air handlers or blowers that are installed in one or more areas in your home. These air handler units are installed on the wall or ceiling of each room. since each unit works independently of the others, the temperature of every room is controlled separately.
Choosing What You Need
If you have the ducts in place, and you don’t need precise control over the temperature of your rooms, a ducted system usually works best for you, as it is quicker and less expensive to hook up a new unit to the existing ventilation.
If you do not have ducts, live in a home where there is no basement or no room for ducts in the walls, have a home where heating is from hot water registers or electric baseboards, or if you desire complete and variable control of your cooling system in every room a fan unit is placed, then a ductless system usually fits your needs better.
Now here are some other considerations that may influence your decision:
If you are concerned about aesthetics, a ducted system may be the way to go. Ductwork is hidden in the walls and ceiling, whereas ductless units are mounted and visible in each room.
There is also the matter of maintenance expenses to consider. Ducted air conditioning systems have fewer components, so naturally they are easier and less expensive to service and have cleaned periodically. On the other hand, ductless air conditioning systems have air handlers in each room that require service.
Are you adding a room? It may be difficult to add ducts and connect to your existing air conditioning system, and your existing system may not have the capacity to cool this additional room. In this case, a ducted system can prove to be very costly, whereas adding a ductless system to that new room will be much more economical. Additionally, should you not be using that room as often as the rest of your home, you’ll be able to save on energy costs by not cooling the room unnecessarily.
Lastly, where ducted air conditioning systems may be beneficial for air circulation, the flip side is that the circulation of dust is also greater, since air is moving through ducts across the home.
While ductless and ducted air conditioning systems have their advantages and disadvantages, there’s one that is best for you. Let the professional installation team at Edwin Stipe HVAC & Plumbing help you figure out which type of system is most suitable for your home and family. Contact us today for more information or a free installation estimate at 610-258-0201.
