With the official start of summer upon us, it’s time for homeowners to ask themselves if their air conditioners are up to the task of keeping them cool and comfortable throughout the coming months, at a relatively low cost. If not, and if your air conditioner has reached 10-15 years of age, then it may very well be time to replace the system. The question is now, should you replace your conventional central air conditioner with a ductless system?
If so, you’ve definitely come to the right team! But what if you’re still unsure? After all, a ductless air conditioning system (and heating system) is a great, efficient choice for many homes, but it’s not the best choice for all homes. Read on to learn if its right for yours.
What It Means to Go Ductless
As the name suggests, a ductless HVAC system doesn’t require any ductwork in order to circulate conditioned air. Instead, it utilizes multiple air handlers, which are installed in the rooms you need them in throughout the home. One outdoor unit is able to support up to 4 indoor air handlers. Each air handler is tasked with conditioning only the room in which it is installed. IN addition, each air handler has its own thermostat and can be used independently of the other air handlers.
When it comes to installation, there’s a bit more construction work involved than with a traditional central air conditioner or heat pump, but nothing too intense. It involves drilling very small holes in the drywall behind each air handler. A conduit is guided through these holes to connect the outdoor unit to the indoor air handlers. Each conduit has a power cord, condensate line, and refrigerant line.
While this might sound like a lot, it actually saves a lot of space in your home, and the independent nature of the air handlers makes for very convenient use. Ductless systems have a number of advantages over central air conditioners and heat pump systems, such as:
- Improved Energy Efficiency: Ductless systems are much more energy-efficient than other systems. This is due largely in part to the fact that there isn’t any ductwork to worry about, and therefore no ductwork damage or air leaks to worry about. Leaky ducts are responsible for about 30% of air loss, which is a major waste of your hard-earned money, right?
- More Versatility: When your home is equipped with multiple indoor air handlers that each work independently of each other, you have fewer household squabbles over the thermostat. This is a benefit in and of itself, but there is a practical benefit to this as well. Let’s say that you are cooking on a daily mild day. The kitchen is going to heat up pretty quickly, while other rooms in the house might stay comfortable. With a ductless system, you can run the air handler in the kitchen while keeping the rest of the air handlers off, therefore saving energy. Or perhaps you have a baby’s room that you want to keep a little warmer than the rest, and with a ductless system you can cool the home down while keeping the baby’s room just a few degrees warmer.
These are just a couple of the benefits of doing ductless! Reach out to us for more information.
For professional installation and AC repair in Nashville, TN contact Covenant Heating and Cooling.