Given that the typical American household spends 30%-50% of its energy budget on heating and cooling, HVAC tends to be a prime target for efficiency and savings. To that end, many people install a ductless mini-split system. Does a ductless mini-split lead to meaningful savings, though? Here is a look at how a ductless mini-split works and why it’s likely a good choice for efficiency.
How a Ductless Mini-Split Works
As the name implies, a ductless mini-split dispenses with the ductwork that you see in a traditional HVAC system. Instead, it runs insulated refrigerant lines from an outdoor compressor unit to an air handler. Typically, the air handler sits high on a wall in a room or hangs down from the ceiling. To provide heating and cooling throughout a house, our technicians simply install air handlers for as many rooms as you want.
Three Ways to Save on Operation
Most ductless mini-splits help you save money in three ways. A ductless mini-split avoids energy losses through ducts. It uses a variable-speed compressor, and each air handler effectively acts as an HVAC zone for each room.
Energy Losses in Ductwork
In a traditional HVAC system, heating and cooling air and then pushing it through ductwork induce significant energy losses. As the air travels through your home’s ducts, it quickly dissipates due to natural thermodynamic processes where temperatures even out.
The idea in the traditional model is to use a powerful blower motor and fans to get the air to you as quickly as possible before it loses all of its heating or cooling value. Houses with extensive ductwork can see energy losses as high as 30% through this process.
Variable-Speed Technology
Variable-speed technologies in ductless mini-splits prevent the aggressive on/off cycles that make traditional HVAC systems inefficient. Rather than ramping up for one big cycle of cooling during a heat wave, for example, a mini-split might provide close to near-constant cooling. Once it achieves the target temperature, it operates at a reduced level to maintain it.
Notably, variable-speed technologies are available for traditional HVACs. However, they tend to be more expensive. Conversely, variable-speed operation is a standard part of the inverter system in a ductless mini-split.
Zoning
Thanks to the fact that each room has its own air handler, a ductless mini-split system creates HVAC zones by default. Zoning allows you to treat every room differently. If you have a low-use craft room, you might set it to a higher temperature to use less cooling on hot days during the summer. Likewise, you might add more cooling in the rooms that are facing the sun versus the shadier rooms. Using zones to target heating and cooling where they’re needed prevents waste.
Expected Reduction in Operating Costs
If you’re using a ductless mini-split with heat pump capabilities, it will likely outperform electric baseboard heating by 50% or more. Likewise, it will be about 40% more efficient than a gas furnace or an oil-heated boiler.
On the cooling side, the efficiency gains tend to be close to 30% compared to central air. If you’re replacing a traditional window-mounted AC unit, the savings should be closer to 40%.
Savings Through Maintenance
All HVAC systems benefit from maintenance, and that includes maintaining their efficiency. Something as simple as dirty condenser coils can harm the system’s efficiency significantly. Also, lack of maintenance tends to compound efficiency losses over several years.
The upside with a ductless mini-split is that there are fewer components to maintain. You don’t have to worry about cleaning ducts or lubricating a large central HVAC’s blower motor, for example. Filter replacements happen at the air handlers, and that makes keeping up with them simpler, too.
KW Lang Mechanical serves Cleveland, OH, and the surrounding areas. Our company has been in business since 1927 and earned a reputation for integrity and hard work.
We handle HVAC installations, repairs, and maintenance, and our technicians would be happy to put in a ductless mini-split in your home. Financing is even available upon credit approval if you wish to install a system. Both commercial and residential customers are welcome to ask for our technicians’ assistance.
If you’re thinking about adding a ductless mini-split to your Cleveland home, contact KW Lang Mechanical today.
