Pros and Cons of Ductless Heating and Cooling System

317

Air conditioner gives you much needed thermal comfort during a scorching summer. Moreover, it helps in maintaining the room temperature at an optimum level. This also helps in removing airborne particles and humidity from the room. The Ductless heating and cooling system are becoming more attractive today. The ductless units in this system consist of components that are split between interior and exterior units and are often referred to as mini-split systems. As the name suggests, this system is duct-free making it easy to install. The decisions to install these Ductless heating and cooling systems at home may be different for every homeowner according to their convenience.

Pros and Cons of mini-split systems

The ductless heating and cooling system may work similarly to the conventional split system. Several different types and styles of this system are available depending on the best application for you. The ductless mini-split systems would have a condensing unit on the outside connected by a lined duct to an air handler on the inside. There are different types of units available in this system like ceiling-mounted units, wall-mounted units, floor-mounted units, ceiling cassettes, etc of which the wall-mounted units are very popular in the market. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of ductless heating and cooling system are listed below.

Pros of ductless heating and cooling

1. Easy to install

The installation of ductless heating and cooling system is quite simple. The ductless system eliminates the ductwork involved in the installation of the air conditioners. The ductless system just requires a few small holes that are used to accommodate refrigerant lines. The installation process of a ductless system takes a day or even less for a qualified and experienced HVAC technician. This also reduces energy and manpower making the ductless system a convenient choice.

2. Improves efficiency

Ductless systems are highly efficient heating and cooling system. It is the best option for electrically heated homes. Installing a ductless system is most likely to save 25-40 per cent of power depending on your home. Unlike conventional air compressors, ductless systems do not shut down completely rather they modulate the output by speeding up and slowing down. Ductless mini-split systems run continuously thus they avoid the start-up surge and maintain the temperature more evenly inside the room.

3. Eco-friendly

Ductless air conditioning and heating systems offer homeowners the ability to heat and cool specific places of their homes according to their desire. This provides consistent and customized comfort for the homeowners to meet their needs. The ductless system uses R410A refrigerator which is a hydrofluorocarbon compound. This refrigerator lacks oxygen depleting chlorine atom that makes it eco-friendly compared to the conventional system that uses R-22 refrigerant.

Cons of the ductless system

1. Cost

Nowadays, the utility costs across the country have skyrocketed. Though a ductless system operates on less power when compared to the conventional system, the cost of single indoor units which ranges from $ 3000 to $ 5000 may not be suitable for customers who cannot afford the sustainable upfront investment. Luckily, there is no loss in efficiency since ductless heating and air conditioning system works on less power. Installing this system would cost two to three times as much as installing a ducted system if you live in a place where a whole house mini-split system is practicable. Variables such as climate and local electricity matters to a large extent when it comes to the installation of ductless systems.

2. Increased maintenance

An important disadvantage to be noted in the case of ductless heating and cooling system is the maintenance cost. The components in the ductless systems can be more expensive to maintain and service. The filter in the system requires monthly maintenance like removing and cleaning to keep the air exchangers to operate properly.

Final thoughts

Ductless heating and cooling systems are energy-efficient, eco-friendly, safe, and quiet. This makes them stand unique among all the other types of air conditioners available in the market.