As a homeowner, you have many options when choosing an HVAC system for your home. The most popular HVAC systems today include ductless mini-splits and central AC systems. Ductless mini-splits are AC systems that do not need any ductwork to circulate air throughout your home, while central AC systems use fans and air ducts to circulate conditioned air throughout the building. Keep reading to find out which HVAC system is perfect for your home.
What Are Ductless Mini-Splits?
A ductless mini-split system is made up of two components, an outdoor compressor, and an indoor evaporator unit. Both the compressor and the evaporator are simple to install within your house because they do not require any ductwork. If you live in an apartment or a small home, then a ductless mini-split is the perfect HVAC system for your home. Additionally, mini-splits usually come in single-zone systems or multi-zone systems. This means that each room in your home can have its own ductless mini-split system.
Benefits of Ductless Mini-Split HVAC Systems
A ductless mini-split HVAC system is energy efficient and will help you spend less money on energy bills. As we mentioned earlier, a ductless mini-split system will require you to mount each room with its own mini-split unit. Since there is no ductwork involved, each mini-split unit will use very little energy to control the temperature of the room in which it is installed.
Additionally, you will save more energy with a ductless mini-split system because you can control when to turn the units in each room on and off. Therefore, if there are certain rooms in your home that you do not frequently use, you can turn off the mini-split units in the rooms. This will allow you to save up to about 30% of energy compared to using a traditional HVAC system.
Mini-Splits Are Easy to Install
Unlike central AC systems, ductless mini-splits are easy to install because they do not require the installation of air ducts. The HVAC expert will just drill a small hole in the wall to connect both the outdoor and indoor mini-split units. If you are planning to install an HVAC system in your home on a budget, ductless mini splits are the way to go. Due to their simplified installation process, ductless mini-splits are more cost friendly compared to central air AC systems.
Better Temperature Control
Perhaps you would prefer if your kitchen had a cooler temperature while your bedroom maintains a warmer temperature. With the traditional HVAC system, it is impossible to have different temperatures in different rooms. However, ductless mini-splits make it possible to control the temperature in different rooms because each room has its own unit. You will have the option to vary temperatures for different rooms, allowing your family members to customize their room temperatures for better comfort.
Ease of Maintenance
Another reason why ductless mini-split systems are efficient is their ease of maintenance. Because of their small compact size and few system parts, mini-split HVAC systems are easier to maintain compared to central air HVAC systems.
More Indoor Unit Options
Ductless mini-split systems come in a variety of indoor units to choose from. If you are a homeowner that prefers a wall-mounted unit over a floor-mounted unit or a ceiling cassette over a concealed duct unit, then a ductless mini-split system will fit perfectly in your home.
Mini-Split System Cons
Although the installation cost of ductless mini-splits is friendlier compared to that of a central air system, the overall cost of buying a mini-split system is higher than the cost of a central air system. In fact, ductless mini-splits cost about 30% more compared to central AC systems.
Depending on your home’s décor color, ductless mini-split units can stand out and draw unnecessary attention. Most mini-split indoor units are white in color and easy to spot.
Central Air System
A central AC system circulates air using fans and air ducts throughout your home. The central air system is normally mounted outside the house where it lowers the air temperature before circulating it within the ductwork system in the house. Additionally, a central air system also dehumidifies the air before circulating it within your home. So, are central air systems more efficient than ductless mini-split systems? Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of a central air system.
Benefits of Central Air System
A central AC system will maintain a constant temperature within your home all year long. Whether it’s winter or summer, you can count on a central AC unit to maintain constant temperatures in your home. If you want an HVAC system that will improve the quality of air in your home, then a central AC system with ductwork will do the job. The duct systems of a central air AC system come with air filters that help to reduce allergens in the air thereby purifying the air in your home.
Cons of Using a Central Air System
Compared to ductless mini-split HVAC systems, a central air system uses much more energy and will result in a higher energy bill. You may try to close a vent to one of the least used rooms in your home to save more energy. However, the main unit will still function at full capacity and use up energy inefficiently.
Trying to maintain the ductwork system to keep it functioning properly is a tedious yet necessary process. Failure to clean the air ducts properly will result in the buildup of bacteria and dirt, which may clog the ductwork.
Which Is Better: Ductless Mini-Split or Central Air System?
Although a central air system is quite efficient because it maintains constant temperatures in your home and purifies the air, ductless mini-splits are much more efficient. With a ductless mini-split HVAC system, you can customize the air temperature of each room, save on energy, install the units easily, and maintain the system easily too.
Additionally, a ductless mini-split system is more cost-friendly in the long run, and it gives you multiple options for setting up indoor units in various rooms. We recommend installing a ductless mini-split HVAC system in your home today.
Hire the Professionals
At Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating, we provide a wide array of HVAC installation services to San Antonio and the surrounding areas. We offer AC tune-up, air duct repair, AC replacement, and AC inspection services. We also fix all kinds of heater issues and offer heating system installation, heat pump repairs, and system replacements. You can turn to us for indoor air quality solutions as well.
We have an emergency service available, so you can count on us for those urgent HVAC situations, too. We are a family-owned and -operated company whose main aim is to ensure that we install your AC unit correctly to make your home more comfortable. Our licensed and certified technicians have more than 40 years of experience, and we guarantee you that there is no AC problem that is too complex or simple for us to fix.
Call us today to discuss options or explore our website for more information!
