Does your home have one or more hard-to-reach spaces that are difficult to heat and cool? These spaces often come in the form of unused guest rooms, loft areas, alcoves under stairs and converted garages, attics and closets. Fortunately, there is a way to keep comfortable temperatures in these spaces year-round. A ductless mini-split provides convenient heating and cooling, especially in areas that traditional HVAC systems struggle to reach.
Zoning Capability
A ductless mini-split makes it possible to create separate temperature zones throughout your home. This makes it easy to deliver targeted heating and cooling in areas like basements, attics, garages and sunrooms. And since each zone operates independently from the others, you can keep different temperatures in each zone. Heating and cooling like this works well in homes that have varying temperature needs. If you turn a garage into a home gym, zoned HVAC will make it simple to maintain a comfortable temperature while working out, for example.
No Ductwork Required
It can cost thousands of dollars to retrofit hard-to-reach spaces for heating and cooling through air ducts. You’ll have to pay for duct installation, insulation and labor costs. If the area has limited accessibility, it can cost even more money to create a new duct network. With a mini-split, you don’t have to deal with any ductwork. Instead, you only need to drill a hole in the wall or ceiling to connect the outdoor compressor to the indoor air handler. This makes ductless mini-splits one of the least intensive installation options available for heating and cooling spaces like enclosed porches, converted attics, spare bedrooms, lofts and alcoves.
Energy Efficiency
Traditional HVAC systems cycle on and off to heat and cool, which wastes a lot of energy. Ductless mini-splits make use of inverter technology. In doing so, the compressor can adjust its speed to maintain a stable temperature without cycling on and off so much. This not only saves money on heating and cooling bills but also delivers more consistent climate control in hard-to-reach spaces.
Flexible Installation
You have a range of options to choose from when it comes to the installation site for a mini-split’s indoor air handlers. Most people have them installed on walls, ceilings or floors. This type of versatility is key to providing comfortable temperatures in some of the most hard-to-reach rooms in a house. You can easily position them in the center of a room or tuck them away in a corner. For example, some air handlers are meant to be placed on the ceiling of a room, which gives you more floor and wall space to arrange furniture and equipment. Tucking a mini-split in the corner of a guest bedroom provides an unobtrusive form of HVAC.
Plus, if an area is a hassle to reach, it will probably be a hassle to install large equipment there. Mini-splits are relatively small and compact, making them great for spaces without much room.
Quiet Operation
Conventional HVAC systems often produce a noticeable amount of noise when they cycle on and off. You might hear sounds similar to banging or noises like rattling. Ductless mini-splits offer a tranquil solution for heating and cooling thanks to their minimal noise levels. They’re perfect for hard-to-reach areas that homeowners convert into home theaters and media centers, such as large closets, understairs alcoves and lofts. Imagine transforming an attic loft into a full movie theater with a projector screen and plush seating. With a mini-split, you can enjoy year-round comfort in the theater without the noise pollution typically associated with traditional HVAC systems.
Quick Response Time
One of the most notable benefits of a mini-split is its ability to quickly heat and cool a room. This benefit is a huge advantage in spaces like sunrooms and guest bedrooms where you only need intermittent temperature control. Traditional systems can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to get a room to a comfortable temperature. Mini-splits deliver instant comfort because they don’t have to wait for an entire central system to cycle on. The rapid response reduces energy waste in unused areas and lets you comfortably enjoy all parts of the home at all times.
Dehumidification
Hard-to-reach areas frequently experience some of a home’s worst moisture control problems. Basements often deal with groundwater seepage, which raises moisture and encourages mold growth. Converted garages deal with moisture problems from poor insulation and outside air infiltration. Converted closets can have moisture issues because of limited ventilation. Thankfully, mini-splits offer some of the best humidity control possible when it comes to HVAC systems. Their dehumidification benefits stem from their ability to regulate both temperature and moisture levels simultaneously. They can remove excess humidity from the air as they cool or heat a space. The effects won’t be as noticeable as if you use a dehumidifier, but pairing the two together is a great solution for humidity.
Enhanced Air Quality
The advanced filtration systems offered by mini-splits improve a home’s air quality by removing dust, allergens and other particles. This air quality improvement they provide can transform sunrooms, garages and basements into healthier, more comfortable living spaces. Poor air quality is common in these rooms because of limited ventilation. To ensure your mini-split delivers the best air quality possible, an expert may recommend installing UV light filtration. UV lights work incredibly well with ductless mini-splits by eliminating bacteria, mold and other harmful microorganisms that may accumulate in the system.
Keeping Your Ductless System Efficient With Regular Maintenance
Just like traditional HVAC systems, ductless mini-splits need regular maintenance. Neglecting the necessary upkeep will result in a heating and cooling system that can’t provide comfortable temperatures, especially in hard-to-reach rooms.
The first maintenance task you must keep up with is regular filter cleaning. Where central HVAC systems usually have disposable filters, filters for mini-splits are usually reusable. Ideally, you should check each filter once a week to see if it’s dirty. If it is, you’ll need to clean it. Most mini-splits require filter cleanings once every two weeks or so. However, if you have pets in the home or use the mini-split more than normal, you might need to clean the filter more often. When filters become dirty, they reduce airflow, which forces the mini-split to work harder. Keeping the filter clean will improve air quality and airflow, resulting in a more comfortable home.
The next maintenance task is for you to schedule a maintenance appointment at least once a year, if not twice. Most other maintenance tasks should be left to the professionals. They will inspect the whole system, cleaning any dirty parts by removing all dust and debris. This part is important because it ensures the compressor can operate with optimal efficiency, which keeps the system from overheating.
Other maintenance tasks that a professional can help with include refrigerant checks and coil cleaning. Low refrigerant harms the mini-split by reducing its cooling capacity, leading to higher energy consumption. Dirty coils can block heat exchange, making the system less efficient. Checking the condensate drain line ensures proper drainage, preventing water buildup and mold growth.
Tuck & Howell, Inc. is the place to call when you have questions about ductless mini-splits. We also help homeowners with geothermal HVAC, water leak detection, sewer services, ductwork installations, cooling, and heating systems. Call us now to schedule a mini-split installation in Duncan, SC.
