Ductless AC: How It Really Works

Heating and cooling your home requires ducts…right? For many homes, this is the case. But did you know that there’s a way to keep your Lafayette home at a comfortable temperature without the use of ducts? Let us here at Tim’s Southern Air share with you the wonders of ductless AC.

What Is Ductless AC?

Ductless air conditioning systems, otherwise known as ductless mini split systems, are a non-invasive, energy-efficient way to heat and cool your home. Air handlers are installed in each room of your home and connected to an outdoor unit. Most indoor units are small – around two and a half feet wide and a foot tall – and can be recessed into the ceiling, hung on the wall or set on the floor of a room.

How Does A Mini Split System Work?

Mini split units are equipped with an evaporator and fan component that cools down the air in a room. You also have the option to add a heat pump to the system which allows the mini split system to warm up your home as well. Each indoor air handler is connected to the outdoor unit through refrigerant lines that transport air.

Unlike ducts, these lines only require a small opening in the walls of your home that connects the lines to the unit, leaving the structure of the home unaffected. Through the refrigerant lines, the warm or cool air in each room is transferred to the outdoor unit.

Say Goodbye To Your Air Ducts

There are many benefits to ductless AC, but the main draw is how energy efficient the system is. As long as the insulation in your house is free from leaks, mini split systems can be up to 20%-30% more efficient than traditional heating and cooling systems.

Another benefit is the versatility of the system. Since the mini split units are separate from each other, they can be placed in specific rooms of a home. Even if you choose to place a unit in every room of your home, the mini split units run individually, cooling each room to a custom temperature. This means that you can choose to turn off or adjust the temperature room-to-room.

If you are renovating an older house that doesn’t have existing ductwork or are building a new home, instead of installing a series of air ducts that require you to open the walls of your home and rework the structure, consider installing a ductless mini split system, which is more affordable and time-efficient.

How Do I Install Ductless AC?

Ductless AC may not work well for homes in colder climates, but it’s a great option for our customers in Lafayette and surrounding areas. If you do decide to install ductless AC, it’s important to buy the right size mini split units for the size rooms they will be installed in. The strength of a mini split unit is measured in British Thermal Units, otherwise known as BTU. To determine what size unit you’ll need for your room, refer to these measurements:

• Room Square Footage: 150-250, BTU: 6,000
• Room Square Footage: 250-300, BTU: 7,000
• Room Square Footage: 300-350, BTU: 8,000
• Room Square Footage: 400-650, BTU: 12,000
• Room Square Footage: 650-1,000, BTU: 18,000
• Room Square Footage: 1,000-1,300, BTU: 24,000

Here at Tim’s Southern Air, our technicians can help you understand which unit to purchase and install your system in a timely manner. Contact us today to schedule a consultation if you’re ready to go ductless.