If you’re constructing a new building or just need to replace your air conditioning or heating, it’s definitely worth at least considering a ductless mini-split. Even if your building currently has a central HVAC system, a ductless mini-split can be a good alternative since this type of system has some benefits over central HVAC. Here, we’ll explain all you should know about ductless mini-splits and what benefits they can provide to any home or business in Portland.
An Overview of Ductless Mini-Splits and How They Work
Most central air conditioners are split systems that consist of an outdoor unit and a central indoor air handler. The difference with a mini-split system is that it has smaller individual air handlers. Some systems are single-zone with one air handler while others are multi-zone and have numerous air handlers. Instead of circulating air around the entire building, each mini air handler is only responsible for cooling and heating the room or space it’s in.
The most common type of ductless system is a mini-split heat pump. There are also mini-split air conditioners if you only need cooling and not heating. In either case, each of the air handlers serves as a control. That means the outdoor unit will automatically start when you turn on any air handler or when the thermostat in any room signals the air handler it controls to turn on. However, the outdoor unit will only supply refrigerant to those air handlers that are currently running. That means you’ll often have times when only some of the air handlers are running and cooling or heating the surrounding space.
How Mini-Splits Can Lead to Improved Indoor Comfort
One of the biggest advantages that ductless mini-splits have over central HVAC systems is that they provide zoned comfort control. Each air handler and thermostat in a multi-zone ductless system is independent of all of the others. That means you can set the air handler in one room to one temperature and set any of the others to a different temperature.
This is especially useful for certain commercial buildings such as office environments or small apartment complexes since it allows each person to keep their space at whatever temperature they want. It’s also great for homes since it allows each person to keep their bedroom however warm or cool they want without impacting the temperature in the rest of the house.
Having zoned comfort control also makes it easy to eliminate and prevent problems with hot and cold spots. It’s common for homes and commercial buildings to have issues with one area or room that is often much warmer than the rest of the building in summer or colder in winter. With a mini-split, you can easily prevent this from happening. That is because the air handler in that area will always run as long and as often as necessary to keep the temperature exactly where you want it to be.
How a Ductless Mini-Split Can Save You Money
Another advantage of mini-splits is that many of them are extremely energy efficient. The most efficient central air conditioner currently available is around 28 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). This is fairly high, but many mini-splits have SEER ratings in the 30s and some are even above 40 SEER. Many mini-split heat pumps also have much higher HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) ratings compared to the majority of central heat pumps, meaning they heat much more efficiently as well.
In addition to the higher efficiency ratings, ductless systems also don’t have the same energy waste issues that commonly affect central HVAC systems. A large percentage of central HVAC systems have some issues with their ductwork that prevent them from cooling and heating as well. This leads to them wasting energy and costing more to run. This includes things like duct leaks and debris buildup inside the ducts that obviously aren’t an issue with a ductless system.
Another common issue is that many people don’t change the air filter in their central HVAC as often as they should, which also results in the system using more energy. With a mini-split, you still need to clean the filter in each air handler regularly. Nonetheless, you will still have fewer issues since a dirty filter in one air handler will only affect how well it works. It will not have any impact on the rest of the system.
The fact that a ductless system provides zoned temperature control also allows it to save on energy. That’s again because each of the system’s air handlers will only run as needed. The reason that it matters is that different rooms and areas don’t always heat up or cool down at the same rate when the cooling or heating is off.
That means the air handler in an area that is normally cooler won’t run nearly as much during the summer as the others might. Similarly, if you have an area that is typically warmer, the air handler that supplies it won’t run as much in the winter. You may have rooms that rarely ever get used. If so, you can also save energy by turning the temperature higher in summer and lower in winter to minimize how much the air handler in that room has to run.
Another reason that a mini-split heat pump system can save you money is that heat pumps are the most energy-efficient type of heating for places like the Portland area. That is because the area rarely experiences extreme cold. A high-efficiency ductless heat pump system could easily allow you to heat your home or commercial property. It could so for less than half of what you’d pay if you had a furnace or most any other type of heating.
Other Benefits of Installing a Ductless Mini-Split System
Ductless mini-split systems also have several other benefits that can make them a great choice. For instance, a single-zone ductless system will almost always be the least expensive option if you’re adding another room to the building. If you wanted to connect the new room to your central HVAC, you’d obviously need to pay to have additional ductwork installed.
However, there is a bigger issue. It’s that there is a decent chance your existing furnace and AC or heat pump won’t be able to effectively heat and cool your building after you increase its size. That means you could have issues with keeping the building comfortable and your energy bills increasing if you don’t replace the existing units with larger units.
Lifespan is another area where ductless mini-splits almost always outperform central HVAC units. The typical lifespan for most central HVAC units is 15 years or so, and many central heat pumps end up giving out after only 10 to 12 years. If you install a new mini-split, you can usually expect it to last for 20 to 25 years if not longer.
Your Trusted HVAC Professionals
If you’re searching for a reliable, experienced heating and cooling company in the Portland area, Specialty Heating & Cooling LLC is the contractor to turn to. We have nearly 40 years of experience serving residential and commercial customers throughout the metro area. You can count on our team of certified technicians to expertly handle your indoor comfort needs. You might want to know more about whether a mini-split is right for your building. In addition, if your HVAC requires any repairs or maintenance, give us a call to get the professional advice and assistance you need.
