Erin Doman on May 25, 2016 5 Comments If you live in an older home, you may not have central air conditioning. Adding air conditioning to your home is especially important if you live in an area where it gets uncomfortably warm or humid in the summer. There are many different styles and options available for air conditioning, but one great option for retrofitting in particular is ductless air conditioning, also known as mini-split air conditioning. However, there are several ductless air conditioner myths circulating around, and you should be aware of the truth. There are many reasons a ductless air conditioning unit may be best option for your home and family. Things to Consider As a homeowner, you will probably have to consider replacing or updating your heating and cooling system at some point. There are many choices out there when it comes to air conditioning. It is important to weigh all of your options before making an investment of this size. You want to be sure you’re making the choice that is right for your home, your family and your pocket book. There are several things to consider when looking for a cooling unit, including: The size of your home Where duct work currently exists in your home, if at all How difficult it would be to install duct work into an older home or a new addition to your existing house The price of the air conditioning units upfront and their energy efficiency When you have considered all of your options and how each choice would affect your home’s climate control and your budget, then you will be ready to choose the right air conditioning unit. Myth 1: Ductless Air Conditioning Units Are Only for New Construction There is a lot of confusion out there about which homes are ideal for ductless air conditioning. You may believe that you can only put these units into new construction. While mini-split ductless air conditioning units are great for well-insulated, newly built homes, they can also be used in existing houses. These units are easy to install and require very little space, making them an excellent choice for homeowners who wish to upgrade or add a brand new cooling system without installing duct work. This is great for homeowners who have built a room addition that does not have duct work or whose home does not have centralized air at all. If you own an especially old home or you live in specific parts of the country, there may be no centralized cooling in the house at all. Retrofitting your house with a whole-home air conditioning system can be difficult in older homes and can also be costly. If you want more control over the climate in individual rooms in your home, smaller units can help. You can make your home — no matter when it was built — a more comfortable place to live with a mini-split air conditioning unit. Myth 2: Ductless Air Conditioning Units Provide Uneven Cooling If you are looking at a ductless air conditioning system, you might have heard they provide uneven cooling in your room or home. This may be true for window units, but it is not so for mini-split ductless air conditioning units. They may work differently than a traditional system but they still distribute air evenly throughout your home. When you install a window air conditioning you may notice a large discrepancy between the temperature near the unit and several feet away. This is not the case with a ductless system. You should be able to enjoy the same level of comfort throughout your home when you opt to install one of these units. Myth 3: Mini-Split Air Conditioning Units Are Bad for Air Quality Another example of ductless air conditioner myths is the belief that these types of units are bad for the air quality inside your home. Many people believe that ductless air conditioning units collect and circulate bacteria or spread dust into your room or home. This myth is particularly harmful because these units actually contain filters and other self-cleaning functions to purify the air. The filters collect and trap dust, dirt, spores and anything carrying bacteria and other contaminates. Some mini-split air conditioning units even clean the air better than traditional ducted systems or window units. With a traditional system, cleaning contaminates out of the duct work can be complicated and expensive. You can easily clean your mini-slit unit’s filter with soap and water. Myth 4: Ductless Units Eliminate Energy Losses There is a myth that the absence of duct work in a mini-split unit eliminates energy loss. When you consider installing a ductless air conditioning unit, you should know that while there are no duct losses, other types of energy loss may occur. However, these losses are usually significantly less than the duct losses in a traditional system. This makes mini-split units an energy efficient alternative to installing or upgrading a whole-home cooling system. If your older unit is broken or inefficient, or if your home has no air conditioning at all, it can be cost effective to install a mini-split air conditioning unit instead of a traditional system. The smaller, newer unit will usually be more efficient than ones that are older or original to the home. This can equal monthly savings on your energy bills. Myth 5: Installation Costs of Ductless Units Are Significantly Less One of the more prevalent ductless air conditioner myths is that installing mini-split ductless air conditioning units is cheaper overall than updating or installing a traditional whole-home air conditioning system. While this may be true if you live in a smaller home or only wish to add air conditioning to a room addition or a modified part of the home that has no duct work, if you have a larger home, you may not be saving as much as you think, if any at all. If your home 2,000 square feet, you may find that it costs more to install multiple mini-split units than it would to replace your ducted air conditioning system. Before you decided on the air conditioning system for you, you must assess the needs of your home in particular. No matter if you choose to replace your traditional heating and cooling system or you decide to install mini-split air conditioning units throughout your home, it is important to be well-informed first. Doing your research and asking questions will make you more comfortable with whatever purchase you make.
Maggie says September 27, 2016 at 8:46 am It’s good to know that mini ductless air conditioning units have filters to prevent the spread of bacteria and dust. My husband and I take air quality very seriously, so we weren’t sure whether the mini-split air conditioning was a good option for us. However, if it does provide good air quality, then I think we’ll consider it more seriously for our home. Reply
Melinda Taylor says August 21, 2019 at 9:29 pm I have 8 in my home. I also run 4 dehumidifiers and 5 air purifiers. They do not filter anything but dust. You can see right through the filters. It I’d fine to have one in a hard to cool part of your home, Having these had been the worst experience if my life. The contractor AC company failed to do a load calculation. A 6 ton unit was installed in a 3 1/2 ton home. I suppose if it were the right application for the home it would work. You have to make certain it is done right, there’s not very many AC companies you can trust, and they hold your life in there hands, they will promise you everything to get your money. I’ve witnessed these units actually installed correctly and the right application, and tonnage, I did not get that, only a lot of lies and description. So be very very careful, and know your product. I thought I did, but I was also trusting in the wrong company, who made themselves out to look like a 5 star company, but mostly just money mongers. Ive never been so mentally dnd physically ill by these systems, they’ve ruined my life, and my health. Reply
Connie Newell says July 27, 2017 at 1:23 pm Mini split systems are as expensive as conventional a/c systems and they are short lived like a window unit. Reply
John says July 22, 2018 at 4:51 am The dust accumalation stops the pump. Then water leaks out the pan. Then your hardwood floor is damaged. If you like taking the coverr off, claeing the filters every two weeks, get one of theses contraption. A one dollar part stops a $ 1,000 system in its tracks. Reply
Charlie says August 6, 2019 at 10:21 am Your installation was not performed correctly. I bet your drainline was kinked during installation Reply
