Has the time come for you to invest in a new air conditioner? This can be quite overwhelming due to the numerous brands, makes, and models out there these days—and that’s not even taking cost into consideration! At Carter Services, we can’t stress the importance of professional installation enough, but with this comes selecting a unit that works best for your property. From helping our customers pick out a brand-new cooling system to handling the installation, we’ll be with you every step of the way.

In recent years, there has been more and more discussion of ductless mini-split systems. However, these units aren’t for everyone. Read on to learn how you can tell if a ductless mini-split would make a great addition to your property.

How Does a Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner Work?

A ductless mini-split air conditioner is a unit that, like the name implies, works just like a central air conditioner but without the need for ducts. These units have two main components: an indoor wall vent and an outdoor air compressor.

The indoor unit takes in warm air from your home and blows it over cold condenser coils to cool it, dispersing the freshly cooled air. The indoor unit is small and can generally be attached to your wall or ceiling.

The outdoor unit is responsible for dispersing all of your warm indoor air outdoors.

The Benefits of a Ductless Mini-Split AC Unit

Because they don’t rely on ducts to work, these types of cooling units come with many advantages.

Some of their benefits include:

• Easy installation: Because the indoor units are small, don’t require ductwork, and are independently controlled by their own thermostats, you can install multiple indoor units in your property—all working to cool a specific room or zone. There’s no need to tear into walls to access existing ductwork or install more.
• Elimination of air loss: When your ductwork has leaks, it can result in you losing anywhere from 20-40% of your home’s cool air in the summer. Because there are no ducts with possible leaks for cool air to escape through, you’ll have better temperature control throughout your property.
• Greater energy-efficiency: Because there’s no air loss, your ductless unit won’t have to work as hard to keep your property cool. This means it won’t require as much power and can save you money on your energy bills. Additionally, the ability to have an indoor unit for each rooms means that you won’t have to waste energy cooling rooms not in use.
• Less required maintenance: Because you don’t have to worry about duct cleaning during maintenance, and because there are fewer overall components, maintenance is less involved and a much simpler process for ductless cooling systems. You just have to ensure they do not become clogged with debris.

The Downsides to Ductless AC Systems

While there’s no doubt that ductless systems have their plus sides, they also are not for everyone. These units tend to be more expensive than central cooling units, and some people aren’t ready for such a large upfront investment. Additionally, if you have a larger property, you’ll have to buy more than one indoor unit because they can typically only handle up to four rooms at a time. At this point, it will come down to a matter of preferences and budget.

Additionally, some people think that the indoor units, which stick out from the walls or ceilings, can be eyesores.

So, Is a Ductless Mini-Split AC the Right Choice?

Typically, we see those who are remodeling or retrofitting their homes and don’t have preexisting ductwork opt for ductless cooling systems. However, if you’re okay with the higher upfront cost and want to start spending less on utility bills or wasting energy, a ductless mini-split AC may be right for you.

We are currently offering $85 off the installation of a ductless mini-split cooling system in Torrance for the month of May. Just give us a call at (310) 872-1898 or contact us online to schedule service.