Ductless Mini-Splits: Myths vs. Facts
There are many situations where a ductless mini-split system can be a great alternative to central HVAC. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation and things people don’t fully understand about ductless mini-splits that lead some to think that a mini-split isn’t a good option. That’s why we’re about to debunk some of the most common myths about mini-splits and explain a few facts about these systems as well.
Myth: Ductless Mini-splits Are Only for New Homes
It’s true that ductless mini-split AC and heat pump systems are most commonly installed when building a new home. Many people also choose to install a mini-split when putting an addition on their house instead of connecting the addition to their central HVAC system. Nonetheless, these aren’t the only situations where a mini-split system can be a great choice.
A single-zone ductless system is ideal if you have a room that’s usually too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer. This is also the case if you want to add heating and air conditioning to your garage. More and more people are also opting to ditch their central HVAC system when renovating their home. They switch to mini-split systems instead since a mini-split has many advantages that central HVAC can’t compete with. Upgrading to a mini-split heat pump system is a great choice as well if your home has electric resistance heating, such as baseboard and wall heaters.
Fact: Mini-splits Are Highly Efficient
One of the most important things to note about mini-splits is that they are extremely energy efficient compared to central HVAC. Part of the reason is that central HVAC systems have issues with heat loss and heat gain as the conditioned air moves through the ductwork system on its way to each room, which results in decreased efficiency. Ductwork leaks are also a common issue in many central HVAC systems and can sometimes lead to as much as a 20%-30% decrease in energy efficiency.
Another reason that a mini-split can save energy is that you don’t always need to have all of your air handlers turned on. You usually don’t want to shut them off on cold winter days, but on milder days you may only need to heat or cool the rooms that are currently occupied. You can also just adjust the temperature in the unoccupied rooms so that the air handlers in those rooms don’t run as often and use energy unnecessarily.
One last thing to consider in terms of energy efficiency is that a ductless heat pump will typically use half or even two-thirds less energy than a furnace or electric resistance heating. As a result, your heating bills will be far lower than they would if you had any other type of heating.
Myth: Ductless Mini-splits Only Work Well in Warmer Climates
Another common myth is that ductless mini-split heat pump systems can only heat effectively in places where the winters aren’t ever that cold. While that was true about heat pumps in the past, advancements in technology have resulted in cold-climate heat pumps that can work effectively even in below-zero weather. The best models can even continue heating until the outdoor temperature drops below -22 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just below the record lowest temperature ever recorded in the Detroit area. While the efficiency of a mini-split heat pump decreases a bit in temperatures below 0 degrees, you generally won’t ever have to worry about the system not properly heating your house.
Another advantage of cold-climate or low-ambient heat pumps is that they have a variable-speed compressor. This type of compressor can adjust how much heat the system provides by running faster or slower as needed. This works to ensure the temperature always stays consistently warm without the system using more energy than necessary.
Fact: Mini-splits Provide Better Temperature Control
A multi-zone ductless system will always provide you with much greater control over the temperature throughout your entire house than a standard central HVAC system. Each of the system’s air handler units is independent. That means you can turn the temperature up or down in each room instead of having to just set one temperature for your entire house.
Myth: A Mini-split System Can’t Cool and Heat an Entire House
The fact is that a multi-zone ductless system can cool and potentially heat every room in the house just as effectively as a central HVAC system. In truth, a ductless system often works more effectively since it provides zoned temperature control. That means each air handler will run as much as needed to maintain the correct temperature in that room. You can also adjust the temperature at each air handler to keep every room as warm or cool as you want. That is without impacting the temperature throughout the rest of the house. This enables you to eliminate hot and cold spots in various parts of your house, which is a common issue that occurs with central HVAC systems.
Fact: Mini-splits Have Limitations in Terms of Space
While you can heat and cool your house with a mini-split, the only thing is that you’ll usually need to install two separate systems if you have a large home that’s more spread out. You’ll also need two systems if you have more than eight rooms since eight is the maximum number of air handlers a system can run. The reason that larger homes need multiple systems is that there is a maximum distance each air handler can be from the outdoor unit. This distance can be anywhere from 25 to 150 feet, depending on the specific system and how powerful the outdoor unit is.
Myth: Ductless Mini-splits Require More Maintenance
This myth is partially true in that you need to regularly wash or replace the air filter in each air handler unit. This is instead of just having one filter like most central HVAC systems do. Other than that, though, the maintenance requirements for a mini-split and a central HVAC system are nearly the same. With either type of system, you’ll want to have an HVAC technician perform a full inspection and tune-up every year. If you have a ductless heat pump system or both central air and heating, you should have the tune-up performed twice yearly.
One of the most important parts of maintaining a ductless mini-split or a central AC or heat pump system is cleaning the condenser coil and evaporator coil. A mini-split system has an evaporator coil in each air handler, which technically means the technician has to do a bit more work. Nonetheless, the evaporator coils are easier to access and also easier to clean since they aren’t nearly as large as the coil in a central system.
Reliable HVAC Experts
C & C Heating & Air Conditioning is the company to turn to if you need any home comfort service in Macomb County or the Greater Detroit area. We carry a wide selection of mini-splits, central ACs, furnaces and heat pumps from trusted brands, including Trane, Carrier and Lennox. If you’re considering a mini-split, our team can evaluate your home and ensure you get the best system for your needs. We also service and repair all makes and models of ductless and central HVAC equipment. We offer expert indoor air quality and water heater services as well. To schedule a consultation and learn whether a mini-split is the right choice for your home, contact us today.
