Central Air Conditioning vs. Ductless Systems

About 75% of U.S. households have some kind of air conditioning equipment, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. But not all heating and cooling equipment are safe for your home and family. For instance, conventional heating systems such as space heaters, hot water pipes, and fireplaces are the leading cause of U.S. home fires and the second leading cause of U.S. home fire deaths, according to the National Fire Protection Agency. Window cooling units, on the other hand, pose the risk of break-ins. Maybe this is one reason why the ducted central air conditioning system is the most popular home heating and cooling system in the United States. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, about 90% of new U.S. homes are equipped with central air. The central air system is safer than portable heating or cooling units and newer models are more energy efficient than their predecessors. However, even now, home heating and cooling account for half of the total energy expenses in most U.S. homes. Hence another home heating and cooling solution have emerged in recent years. It is called the ductless mini-split system.

Arco Home Services Offers the Best Home Cooling Solutions

Finding the right heating and air conditioning company can be hard. You need to make sure they have the knowledge, skill, and experience to provide you with the right options that solve your energy needs. For a low-cost high-quality consultation, installation and service you can trust us here at Arco Home Services. We are a highly trained, licensed, insured and experienced team of technicians in your area, proudly offering best home heating and cooling solutions since 1957. From purchase and installation to maintenance and repair, we handle each project with care and with a focus on getting the job done right the first time. Installing a right heating and cooling system in your home is key to the durability of your unit and effective energy savings.

Ductless Mini-Split v. Ducted Central Air Conditioning

While air conditioners can differ from model to model, they all function on similar scientific principles. A typical central air conditioning system consists of an outdoor condenser and an indoor fan-and-coil air handler. The indoor and outdoor units are connected by ducted pipes that transport refrigerant. A ductless mini split system also consists of an outdoor compressor, one or more indoor air-handling units and a connecting refrigerant line. However, in central air conditioning system tubes of ductwork run through the walls and the ceiling and, via the vent, deliver conditioned air in your home. In a ductless system just a small hole, no more than 3-inches, is drilled through a wall to run the refrigerant line between the outdoor and the indoor units. Hence, the installation of a ductless mini-split systemis cheaper and less invasive and compared to a central air.

The central air system works on a ‘one-size fits all’ principle i.e., temperature settings on a thermostat apply to the entire house. Whereas a mini-split system can have as many as four indoor air handling units at different rooms in the house connected to the outside condenser. Each of these indoor units is assigned its own wireless remote thermostat. So the mini-split system is tailored to resolve your heating and cooling needs on a room-by-room basis.

The indoor air handling unit could be mounted on a wall, suspended from the ceiling or could be a floor-standing unit. The indoor units blend in with your home decor. On the other hand, the home architecture is compromised by the ducting lines of a central air system.

The mini-split system doesn’t have ducts. Hence there is no energy loss associated with ductwork as in a central air system. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a ducted system can account for more than 30% energy loss because of leakage and condensation. The loss is worse when the ducts are located in unconditioned spaces such as a garage or an attic.

Ductless mini-split technology is an energy efficient alternative to the central air system in instances where installing a ducted system is costly, difficult or altogether impossible. The decision to install a ductless mini-split system also depends on the size of the room and its location in the house. The ductless system is less effective than the central air in wider areas of the house such as the living room.

Contact us Arco Home Services today to know more about the benefits of a ductless split system and if it can be your alternative to central air.