A “mini-split” is a compact air conditioning and heating unit that does not utilize ductwork to cool or heat a room, they are also known as “ductless mini-splits” for this reason.
They consist of two pieces, the outdoor condenser and the indoor air handler (or “head”). The indoor air handling unit mounts onto a wall inside the space and blows temperature controlled air directly into the space. Mini-split condensers can support multiple “heads”, some as many as five.
This offers a benefit and a drawback.
The benefit is that these units can be used to control the temperature in a space that does not have ductwork, or cannot be retrofitted with it, spaces like you find in many older homes with no attic crawl space or space under the home. They are very common in Europe where the architecture is very old and made from stone. It would be nearly impossible if not economically unfeasible to retrofit these buildings with ductwork. So they install mini-splits to cool the space.
The drawback to a mini-split is that it mounts on the wall inside the space. This can create a bit of an eyesore, and it takes up 3-4 sq. ft. of wall space.
Mini-splits also offer the ability to keep one space a different temperature from the rest of the comfort controlled area. For example, many people like to use them in a garage or workshop area to cool the space when they are using it, like working out in a garage. Yes, it would be possible to add ductwork to a garage and just use the main HVAC system to cool that space, the problem is that this would mean that anytime the HVAC is running to cool the main living area of the home, it will also be cooling the garage, whether you need it to or not. The mini-split allows you to cool the garage by itself, only when you need it to, like during your workout. This relieves the pressure of continual operation on your main HVAC unit and allows the flexibility to cool only when necessary.
Below is an image of a mini-split with 3 heads used to retrofit a space that had non-standard cooling needs. This gives you a good idea of how they can be utilized. In this example the mini-split heads act as a zoned system, allowing you to operate with 3 different temperatures, one for each head.
Is A Mini-Split Right For Me?
In most cases in the US, a standard HVAC system will work. But in some cases a mini-split is the answer. Here are a few questions you can ask to make your determination.
- Is the space ducted? If not, can it be?
- Does the space need to operate at a different temperature than the rest of the comfort cooled area?
- Does the space need to operate at different intervals than the rest of the comfort cooled area?
- Is the space too small for a standard HVAC system?
If you cannot add ductwork, or you answered yes to any of the rest of the questions then a mini-split may be what you need.
If you would like a professional assessment and heat load calculation to assist in solving your comfort cooling needs give us a call and we can set up an appt. 817-382-7088
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