A ductless mini-split is a heating and cooling system that does not need ductwork. If you have traveled in Europe or Asia, your hotel room was probably heated and cooled by one. They are common there because they fit in tight spaces, and they have caught on in the United States for their high energy efficiency and their ability to condition rooms that a central system cannot reach.
How a Mini-Split Works
A mini-split has an outdoor unit connected to one or more indoor units. The most common type we install is the wall-hung heat pump model, which both heats and cools. There is no ductwork, and each indoor unit has its own temperature control.
Where Mini-Splits Make Sense
Mini-splits are a good fit for hard-to-heat rooms, rooms with no access to ductwork and spot heating and cooling. Jobs where we have installed them include:
- Room additions, including master bedroom additions
- Sun rooms and converted screened-in porches
- Upstairs master suites
- Finished basements with no ductwork access
- Attics
- Office spaces and computer server rooms
Why Mini-Splits Are So Efficient
Heating and cooling account for a large share of the energy used in homes and offices, and a standard ducted system loses some of its efficiency through leaky ductwork. A mini-split has no ducts to leak. Mini-split heat pumps also carry some of the highest SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings available. SEER works like miles per gallon on a car: the higher the number, the less energy the system uses.
Multi-Zone and Whole-House Systems
One outdoor unit can serve several indoor units, so a mini-split system can handle more than a single room. In one home, we installed two outdoor heat pumps serving five separate areas, using a combination of wall-mounted and ducted indoor units. In another, a metal home that had been heated only by a wood stove for eight years, two outdoor heat pumps and seven ductless indoor units now provide heating and cooling in every area of the house.
The Brand We Install
We have grown to love Fujitsu mini-split systems for their quiet operation, ease of installation and ease of use.
Wondering whether a mini-split is right for your space? Contact Envirotech or call us at 913-268-6700.