Ductless Mini Splits

Ductless air conditioners, also known as mini-splits, work similarly to central air conditioners in that they draw warm air from your house, absorb its moisture and heat, and then release the moisture and heat outdoors. Because ductless air conditioning units are made to cool a single room instead of a whole house, they are more effective if you spend more time in one area of your house than another. For ductless AC units to operate, three things are necessary:

• The evaporator unit: The evaporator unit is a narrow unit that is installed on the wall of the area it cools. It is usually around three feet long. Their task is to draw in warm air and expel cold air.
• The conduit: This houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, and a condensate drain, connecting the indoor unit to the outdoor unit.
• The condenser: This refers to the outside unit, which receives all of the heat from the house and transfers it to the outside.

Without the ductwork needed for central air conditioning, ductless AC units can chill different rooms within a house thanks to this three-part technology.

In addition to being more capable of providing cooling than central air, ductless AC systems also exhibit remarkable efficiency. With their excellent seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), ductless systems may effectively chill your house without consuming unnecessary energy. Ductless air conditioning is perfect for spaces that are more difficult to cool, like sunrooms or recently completed house extensions, because of its focused cooling powers. They provide you much more control over how much energy you consume because they only cool where you need it.

British thermal units (BTU), which are used to measure ductless heat pumps, are simple to compute if you know how big the space you wish to cool. Get your square footage by simply multiplying the length by the breadth of the room. Then multiply this figure for square footage by 25. Knowing the output in BTU that you’ll require to efficiently heat or cool your area might help you choose the appropriate size for your ductless system.

For example, you will require your ductless heat pump to have a BTU output of about 5,000 if your room is between 100 and 200 square feet. You would need to have a BTU output of at least 35,000 if you wanted to chill a much larger space, say 1,400 square feet.

The usual rule of thumb for determining the number of indoor units required for your ductless AC system is one for each room you wish to cool. These systems use several air handlers to force cold air straight into the space being served because they do not require ductwork. Although you usually only require one air handler per room, the size of the air handler and the room’s dimensions are intimately related. Smaller rooms might get by with a smaller air handler unit to keep a suitable temperature, but larger rooms might need a larger unit to chill the entire space.

Although you can install ductless mini-splits anyplace you want to maintain comfort, rooms with no ductwork, including garages and room extensions, are probably the best places to use them.

Not only are ductless mini-splits an efficient choice for home cooling, they also have a service life well beyond a typical cooling system. While conventional cooling systems last about 12 to 15 years, you can count on your ductless AC system to last upward of 20 years if adequately maintained.

While the maintenance required for your ductless AC system will vary depending on your manufacturer and model, there are several things that should be handled regardless of the system you choose to cool your home, including:

• Regular dust and debris removal: This will prevent damage to the internal components of your unit to make sure the exterior remains clean. Routinely wiping your unit down with a cloth or gentle cleanser will help dust and dirt from making its way inside.
• Cleaning the filter: You will need to either vacuum or clean your unit’s air filter with warm water and a mild detergent every month. This keeps your system operating at maximum efficiency, prolonging the service life of your ductless system.
• Make sure the airflow is unrestricted: While ductless mini-splits require less space than a traditional cooling system, you should still ensure a clearance of at least 4 feet to maintain an unrestricted flow.

Inspect and clean the outdoor condensing unit. You should inspect the refrigerant lines and insulation wraps for general wear or leaks on your outdoor unit. If you’re unsure how to do this, you can always enlist the help of your local professionals!

Each mini-split unit in your home will have its own filter. Turn the air handler off and list the front panel to access the filter — you can easily slide it out of the unit.

You can vacuum or wash it with water and detergent — though make sure to dry it before returning it to the unit and closing it back up.

Be sure to reference your manufacturer’s manual for more insight into the specifics of this process and any unique requirements for your model.

Make sure your thermostat is set to cool and at the proper temperature because it may be configured incorrectly.

It is possible that your air filter is clogged, but it is simple to clean and replace.

If the chilly air from your mini-split is still blowing, call a plumber for repair. There could be a condenser coil clog, a refrigerant leak, or another problem.