Ductless, Mini-Split Air Conditioners & Heat Pumps

Ductless, mini split-system air-conditioners (mini splits) have numerous potential applications in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. The most common applications are in houses with "non-ducted" heating systems, such as hydronic (hot water heat), radiant panels, and space heaters (wood, kerosene, propane). They can also be a good choice for room additions and small apartments, where extending or installing distribution ductwork is not feasible.

Like central systems, mini splits have two main components: an outdoor compressor/condenser, and an indoor air-handling unit. A conduit, which houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and a condensate drain, links the outdoor and indoor units.

Advantages

The main advantages of mini splits are their small size and flexibility for zoning or heating and cooling individual rooms. Many models can have as many as four indoor air handling units connected to one outdoor unit. Commercial ductless air conditioners or heat pumps are capable of 40-70 indoor heads or more. Since each of the zones will have it's own thermostat, you only need to condition or heat that place when someone is there. This will save energy and money.

Ductless mini split systems are also often easier to install than other types of space conditioning systems. If necessary, you can locate the outdoor unit as far away as 100 feet from the indoor evaporator. This makes it possible to cool rooms on the front side of a building house with the compressor in a more advantageous or inconspicuous place on the outside of the building. In addition, indoor and outdoor units are a quiet as 50-dB; barely audible under most circumstances.

In comparison to other add-on systems, mini splits offer more flexibility in interior design options. The indoor air handlers can be suspended from a ceiling, mounted flush into a drop ceiling, or hung on a wall. Floor-standing models are also available.