Can A Ductless Air Conditioner Save Me Money?

When most people think of a home cooling system, they either think of a central AC or window units. But there’s a third home option to consider: a ductless air conditioning system.

Ductless (or “mini-split”) systems include two parts: an indoor component (the air handler) and an outdoor unit (the compressor/condenser), which connect via a thin tube through one of your home’s exterior walls. A single outdoor unit can power up to four indoor units, giving you flexibility in matching the cooling load of your home.

The super efficiency of mini-splits

Ductless systems are very efficient, too, with SEER ratings reaching well into the 20s –a level that most central air conditioning systems can’t match. Why the super efficiency? Primarily for three reasons:

• They don’t use ducts – As much as 30 percent of the air cooled by your central A/C unit is lost on the way to the vent due to ductwork leaks. Since a mini-split system doesn’t use ducts, efficiency is higher – and you’ll save money on duct repairs, too.
• Lower power requirements – In a ductless system, air handlers use less power than their counterparts in a forced air whole-house system.
• Greater control – Since individual air handlers operate independently – with each unit having its own thermostat – you can have better control over how you “spend” your cold air. This is a particular money-saver in a large home.

So…what’s the verdict?

So back to our original question: can a ductless air conditioner save you money? The answer is a definite “maybe.”

Despite its advantages, a mini-split isn’t the ideal option for every home. If your current house already has quality ductwork installed, switching to ductless as a primary cooling system probably doesn’t make much financial sense. If you don’t have ductwork, however, ductless is a big step up from window ACs.

Another perfect application for a ductless system is for supplemental cooling – installing AC in a home addition, for example, or in a room that is particularly hard to cool. Add a ductless system to your sunroom, home office, workshop, garage, guesthouse or pool house outbuilding and you’ll have a high-efficiency answer to any cooling challenge.

Not sure if ductless air conditioning is right for you ? Let’s talk! Contact us today to learn more, or to get a FREE, no-obligation estimate on a ductless air conditioner installation in Worcester County, MA!