Ductless air conditioners, also known as mini-split air conditioners, essentially work the same way a central air conditioning system works, except for the most obvious part—just without the ducts. The way that ductless ACs work is that they suck warm air from your home (the room specifically it is installed in) and throw this warm air outside to circulate more cool air. This is what sets ductless ACs apart from traditional systems: they blow cold air directly into one area or room. Although, there is so much more to these ductless AC units that is important to know. We go into the specifics of what makes a ductless AC function.
Parts of a Ductless Air Conditioner
The Blower/Evaporator Unit
The blower and evaporator unit of a ductless air conditioner is the indoor unit that sits on the wall of the room that the unit blows into. This piece is usually small in size, and its main responsibility is to suck in warm air from the room, absorb the heat and moisture from the air, and blow the cold air right back in. As the unit blows cool, fresh air into a room, it also sends all the heat and moisture outside through a conduit.
Conduits
A ductless AC conduit is what connects the blower and evaporator unit to the outdoor unit of the entire system. The conduit is a thin, long cable that shelters the power cable, the refrigerant tubing, and the condensate drain. The conduit’s main purpose is to feed electrical power to the indoor and outdoor parts of the unit. It also acts as the pathway where both heat and moisture from a space exits and relocate to the condenser.
The Condenser
The ductless condenser is the outside unit of these AC systems. Its purpose is to receive all the heat from inside your home, more specifically the room where it takes air and transfers it into the outdoor air. The copper refrigerant tube of a ductless AC unit is what connects the condenser to the indoor parts of the system.
The Many Benefits of Ductless Air Conditioners
Built-In Zoning
Because ductless AC units work to cool one room, they provide what is known as “built-in zoning.” Built-in zoning refers to the idea that each room gets its own remote control to control the rooms at different temperatures. There is always one room in every home that lacks the allocation of cool air, usually due to where the room is located and how the sun hits it. For rooms that lack cool air, a ductless AC is ideal.
Less Costly Option
Compared to the cost of installing an entirely new central air conditioner and ductwork, ductless ACs are rather affordable. These are especially great for older homes that do not have ductwork because if one were to look into a central unit, costs would be pretty high. Ductless ACs are rather effective considering they are designed to cool one room, and all the better, they are priced rather reasonably. For simple cooling solutions, ductless ACs are viable options.
Energy Efficiency
Unlike central unit systems, ductless systems do not waste energy or money by working hard to cool or warm a home. Additionally, ductless systems do not suffer from duct leakage as central systems do. Most ductless AC systems are approximately twenty to thirty percent more efficient than ducted systems, thanks to their size and design to cool one room. On the note of their size, it also makes ductless AC systems much easier and faster to install than central units.
Do These Units Have Enough Cooling Power?
And now to answer the most important question! Some homeowners worry that ductless ACs won’t be able to properly cool a room or a home (if that is what the unit is intended on being used for). Depending on the size of your room, you can find even more powerful ductless AC units! While these individual units may seem small, they effectively cool a room and can sometimes even have enough power to cool various parts of a home. These units are also available in different sizes.
Find the Ideal Cooling and Heating System with Our HVAC Pro
Whether you need a ductless air conditioner depends on how well your central unit works on dispersing cool and warm air throughout your home. If you need help determining whether you need a new unit or simply need to make repairs, you can contact us. We’re here to address all your cooling and heating needs for your home.
