Banish Heat & Humidity While Saving Energy with Ductless Air Conditioning
Massachusetts and Rhode Island are experiencing a pattern of warming that means higher summer temps and more sweltering days. Temperatures in the Northeast rose by not quite two degrees Farenheit between 1895 and 2011, but it could increase by 5-10 degrees in the next 60 years. The coastal U.S. Northeast is heating faster than most regions of North America, but much of the area’s existing architecture lacks centralized air conditioning.
The patchwork of window units and portable air conditioners many homeowners acquire from heatwave to heatwave fixes the problem in the short term but their inefficiency make them costly to run as a long-term solution. A popular alternative to traditional air conditioners, mini-splits involve much less intrusive installation, blend in better with the room, and run more quietly and with more efficiency.
Ductless AC units are far more energy-efficient than a traditional HVAC system due to several factors:
Zoning flexibility: Because of the benefits of zoning, ductless systems won’t waste energy cooling unused areas of the home, office or commercial space, conserving energy over time.
Ductless construction: The ductwork in traditional systems comes with the risk of damage such as cracks, leaks, and rusting, which leads to wasted energy as the system works harder to cool the space.
As Massachusetts’ and Rhode Island’s mini-split specialists, we may be partial to these systems, but there are pros and cons associated with every type of AC. The right system for you and your home can depend on any number of factors, including room size, lifestyle and preferences, presence of existing ductwork, and more. In general, it can be a good solution in situations involving:
Long-term property: Since ductless HVAC systems can cost more to install but save money over time, they’re generally a good investment for individuals and families who plan to stay in their current homes for the foreseeable future.
Multiple zones: If areas of the space are used at different times, or have different cooling needs then ductless mini-splits can provide the necessary flexibility. For those looking to cool only one room or region in their home, they can be a good choice.
New addition: They’re also a good option for those building an addition on their house, as it saves the expense of adding ductwork and rebalancing the HVAC.
Relative to other methods of cooling your home? No. Ductless air conditioning usually costs less during purchase and installation than installing a ductless system in a ducted space. Window units and portable air conditioners can cost less than a mini-split system at first, year after year the system saves money in lower energy bills. Learn more about the cost of mini-split systems and how you can save with state rebates!
Ductless air conditioning systems (or mini-splits) link individual room units to an outdoor compressor. The indoor unit contains evaporator coils cooled with refrigerant. Warm air from the room blows over and is absorbed by the coils. From there, the refrigerant transfers all that inside heat to the outdoor unit. Instead of a central indoor unit connected by serpentine ductwork transporting warm and cool air back and forth, a mini-split system assigns each room, or zone its own unit, pulling in warm air and sending it back out once cooled.
Ductless mini-split systems are quiet, take up less space inside, cost less to run and they also deliver heat.
Worried about rising energy costs? Don’t lose your cool this summer, schedule a consultation today!