Why You Should Consider Ductless HVAC Systems

Choosing a new furnace isn’t as simple as picking a new TV, but it’s critical to get it right. Your family’s comfort and safety depend on how well you select the heating system for your home.

Most homes have HVAC systems that deliver heated or cooled air through ducts, which are made of sheet metal inside the walls and ceilings. However, many homeowners experience different issues with their ducts, including:

•                    Humid rooms that never seem to feel comfortable

•                    Rooms that are difficult to heat and cool

•                    Ducts that are located in an attic, crawlspace, or the garage

•                    Tangled or kinked flexible ducts in your system

•                    High summer and winter utility bills

Four Seasons Air Specialists is your preferred heating company in Dellwood MN. We can help you determine whether a ductless or a ducted system is best for you.

Overview

If a ducted system doesn’t work for you, like when there’s no room for ducts in the walls or ceilings, you might want to consider going for a ductless system instead.

A ductless system works like a central heating or cooling system but without the ducts. Ductless systems, also called mini-splits, have two main components - an outdoor compressor or condenser and an indoor air-handling unit. They are connected by a conduit, which houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and a condensate drain.

Instead of heating or cooling the air with a central air handler and distributing it through the ducts, a ductless HVAC system sends air directly to multiple small air handlers installed throughout your home.

Practical Applications

Because of their high-efficiency levels, reasonable prices, and ease of installation, ductless systems are becoming the more popular choice of homeowners.

They can be used in various applications such as:

•                    HVAC Zoning

•                    Home Conversions

•                    Ductless Areas

•                    Home Additions

•                    New Homes

Benefits

One of the main benefits of having a ductless system installed in your home is HVAC zoning. This allows certain rooms to have personalized heating and cooling settings. Each room will have a temperature that suits the occupant’s preferences. This is made possible by having an individual thermostat for each room, making it more energy-efficient and highly economical. Compared to centralized HVAC systems, mini-splits consume 25 to 50 percent less energy.

Ductless HVAC systems can easily integrate with smart thermostats. These state-of-the-art devices allow you to remotely control your home’s heating and cooling systems via a mobile or internet-connected device. This technology makes operation much more effortless, leading to greater temperature control and energy savings.

When looking for an HVAC system, it’s important to determine the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) or AFUE (annual fuel efficiency utilization) rating of each unit. These ratings tell you how much energy your ductless system can save. Typically, a higher rating means the system is more energy-efficient. Ductless systems have a higher SEER rating than their ducted peers, with some units having a SEER rating as high as 30. Certain ductless air conditioners and heat pumps are ENERGY STAR® labeled which may qualify for federal and state tax incentives as well as local utility rebates.

Ductless systems need less power to operate, compared to a traditional setup. They are significantly smaller than forced-air systems, and since the heated or cooled air is delivered directly into a room, there is no loss in efficiency.

Another advantage of ductless systems over conventional air is their ease of installation. While it typically takes days to complete the installation of a conventional setup, a ductless system can be up and running in as little as one day.

In addition, ductless systems use a refrigerant called R410A, which is known for its zero ozone exhaustion potential. A home with a ductless system installed has less impact on the environment throughout its life cycle.

In addition to saving money on energy, you may also qualify for tax credits or utility rebates for the year you install a ductless system. There are certain programs at the federal, state, and local levels that allow you to take advantage of these benefits.

Need Help? Call Four Seasons Air Specialists

If you want to find out more about ductless HVAC systems, give us a call or visit our store. For over forty years, we have been providing high-quality home comfort solutions. We are the top White Bear Lake heating and air conditioning contractor that delivers excellence and customer satisfaction.