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DUCTLESS MINI SPLITS

Let's examine some of the biggest pluses of a ductless mini-split system.

Installation Ease

It's very easy to install ductless mini-splits, especially compared to a central air conditioning system. They're much quicker to install than duct systems, taking no more than a couple of days to be installed.

Aesthetic Value

Ducts can be a bit of an eyesore, taking up significant portions of a room with unappealing colors. Contrarily, ductless mini-splits are much smaller and much easier to hide. You can keep your home cool without having oversized ducts perpetually in your view.

Although some air handlers can look a little drab, you can find ones in sharp colors that complement the rest of your room quite well. With some creative thinking and open-mindedness, your air handler can be a handsome addition to any part of your home.

Efficiency

When you first look at a ductless mini-split air conditioner, you might feel skeptical about its cooling power. However, they're arguably the most efficient type of cooling system, or heating system, for that matter.

Using a heat pump, ductless mini-split systems can help your home during both warm and cold seasons. According to ENERGY STAR, cooling and heating costs can go down 30 and 60 percent, respectively. Just make sure that you're installing an ENERGY STAR-certified device.

Quiet Design

AC window units and central air systems can both be rather noisy. How often have you been watching TV and had to keep increasing the volume in order to hear over your AC?

While ductless mini-split systems aren't completely silent, they're remarkably quiet. Instead of noisy blowing sounds, you can enjoy a gentle ambiance from your ductless mini-split. The reduction in sound is by no means a reduction in performance, either.

Modernity

Compared to ductless mini-splits, central air conditioning units can seem positively outdated, hearkening back to an era where "bigger is better" reigned supreme. These systems are more efficient, more sophisticated, and keep up with the times much better than central air.

The ductless mini-split market is growing year by year, as customers are drawn to these systems and their sophisticated controls. There are ones that don't start the blower until the coil has gotten hot enough. Others have auto-restart features that are great in case the power goes out.

Who knows what the future holds for ductless mini-splits? When you schedule a consultation with 1-800-Plumber +Air of Portland, we'll discuss the best systems and the benefits each one could offer you.

While ductless mini-splits are great, there are also some downsides worth looking into.

Cost

A ductless mini-split can be quite expensive, at least for the initial installation. According to HomeAdvisor, ductless mini-split systems cost roughly 30 percent more than ones with ducts. There's also the cost of additional construction, such as concrete pad and electrical circuit installation. Additionally, the cost can multiply considerably based on how many rooms you have/how many units you need.

The overall efficiency of these systems can provide long-term savings, however. This is similar to how newer, ENERGY STAR-rated washers are more expensive to buy but can reduce your water bills considerably.

Limited Placement Options

As we'll discuss in the next section, there are some limits about where you can put your air handlers. It might be difficult if you have walls with especially large windows. You may need to get creative and find units that can be installed on your floor or ceiling.

Maintenance

Just because ductless mini-split systems don't require the same kind of upkeep as ducted systems doesn't mean you can just leave them be. These systems also have filters that can get clogged with things like pet dander and dust. You'll have to wash the filters out at least once a month.