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Have you been hearing about ductless mini splits, or noticing that friends or neighbors have systems like this? Or perhaps you’ve only heard about it from people who don’t live in our area. Montana’s weather is certainly different from what folks experience in many other parts of the country. It’s understandable that, even if you like the sound of a ductless mini split, you’ve got some serious questions.
We’d like to help you get some things sorted out. How exactly does a ductless mini split work? What climate control can it provide? Will it be good for your Montana home? Let’s get you some answers.
The Scoop on Mini Splits
When you’ve got a central air conditioner or heat pump, it consists of an outdoor unit and a single indoor unit. All the cool air is generated in that one indoor unit, and from there, it gets distributed throughout the rest of your house. This means the air must pass through ducts and out vents.
But a mini split uses the term “split” because when the refrigerant comes into your home from the outdoor unit, it splits and heads to separate indoor wall-mounted air handlers. Each air handler has its own evaporator coils, where the air is cooled (or heated) immediately before being pushed out the vent. Each air handler has its own thermostat for precise climate control.
Benefits of Mini Splits
When you can set the temperature for individual zones in your home, you can use just the heating or cooling power that you need, cutting down on energy use. This lowers your utility bills and also limits wear and tear on your HVAC equipment, reducing repair needs and increasing the length of time your system will keep working. And of course, everyone in your home can enjoy ideal comfort in their own zones!
Ducts are a big risk for energy waste as well. The average American home has such old, deteriorated, damaged, or leaky ducts that it’s estimated that about 30% of the precious, expensive heated or cooled air that passes through them is lost! It escapes into places like the attic where it isn’t needed. With a ductless system, that loss is eliminated.
Additionally, it’s easy to save a ton of energy (and thus money) with the heating power of a ductless heat pump. How well will that work in your home in this climate? Well, that depends on a variety of factors, like the size and layout of your home and how well-insulated it is. There are also cold-weather heat pump options and hybrid dual-fuel systems with backup heaters available.
The only way to know for sure exactly which system will be ideal is to consult with a qualified professional. An expert in air conditioning installation in Lakeside, MT can tailor recommendations and give you options that will work perfectly for your home. We’re always happy to provide information and help homeowners find the perfect solutions for their homes and budgets.
For all of your HVAC needs, contact Bill’s Superheat, Inc. today! Here to Save the Day!