When you think of a residential central heating and air conditioning system, what images come to mind? Do you think of a network of ducts carrying the air to the rooms and through vents? That’s probably one of the first things you thought of. These vented systems have been the standard for residential heating and cooling since centralized comfort became big.
Using ducts isn’t the only way to have great, energy-efficient comfort around the year. Today, you can opt for a ductless system, also known as a ductless mini split heat pump. We install and service ductless systems in North Myrtle Beach, SC, and we’d like to share with you some of the great reasons to consider going ductless in your house.
Heating and Cooling
Although there are some “cool only” models of ductless mini splits, most are types of heat pumps. That means your ductless system is a year-round comfort solution. You can switch your ductless heat pump from cooling to heating and back with just a few adjustments to the different indoor units.
Space Saving
Ductwork consumes a great deal of space in a home: the ducts have to wind through the walls, ceilings, and attic to reach all the rooms. Ductless systems don’t have to worry about that—they use not a single inch of ductwork. Instead, ductless mini splits operate through a series of wall-mounted blower units (also called heads) placed throughout the rooms. Each of these heads contains its own refrigerant coil and blower motor, and they all connect through the back of the wall to a single outdoor cabinet that houses the compressor and exhaust fan. The blower units send conditioned air straight into the rooms, no ductwork required.
Energy Saving
If you’re looking to save money on annual energy costs, going ductless is a great way to do it. Ductless systems use smaller motors to run their blowers, so they consume less power. Because they don’t have ducts, they don’t suffer from heat loss and heat gain through the duct walls, which is a major source of energy waste for ducted systems.
Zoning
Each of the heads in a ductless system can be operated separately from the others. You only need to run the units in the rooms that need conditioned air and can leave the others off. This is another way to save energy—you don’t have to heat or cool the entire house each time the HVAC system runs.
Flexibility
Ductless mini split systems don’t have to be a total comfort solution for a home. They can serve other functions with more limited scope. Are you adding a room to your home? No need to tamper with the rest of the HVAC system to accommodate the new space: you can put in a ductless mini split for that room. Want to convert a garage or attic to a living space? A ductless mini split gives you an easy option for climate control.
Cleaner Air
Ductwork collects a great deal of dust and other debris. Each time the HVAC blower comes on, this pollution gets sent into the air of the house. With a ductless mini split heat pump, you won’t have to worry about this. You’ll have less dust and contaminated air.
Call Martin Heat & Air. We’re more than HVAC services; we give you peace of mind.