Mini splits: Should you invest in ductless air?
Mini splits can cool arguments about room temperature in your house. Thermostat fights are a struggle for many households. A survey found that 75% of couples argue about thermostat settings. Personal preference is only one factor; temperatures can also vary throughout the house.
A traditional AC system connects to ductwork that runs between different rooms and channels air through each room. Furthermore, climate control is generally handled by a single thermostat. But one thermostat does not mean one temperature throughout the house. Different rooms of a house can vary in temperature.
Different temperatures can be due to many reasons. Your house may have poor airflow. Having a lot of windows or sun exposure on one side of the house can make rooms hotter and colder. Long ductwork can contribute to the loss of hot or cold air. Heat rises, so a second story can be much warmer than the first story.
One solution to avoiding heated arguments or getting the cold shoulder from your spouse about temperature settings is to install one or more mini splits.
What is a mini split?
Mini splits are also called heat pump mini splits or ductless mini split heater and air conditioners. Basically, a mini split consists of an outdoor unit, one or more indoor units, and smart comfort controls. The system functions by moving heat to and from an outdoor unit to one or more indoor units. Refrigerant lines connect the units, which extend into the house through a three-inch hole in the outer wall. Within the pipes connecting the units is refrigerant, a substance that absorbs heat.
When cooling a room or zone within your home, refrigerant absorbs heat inside the home. It produces colder air by moving refrigerant from indoor units to the outdoor unit, thereby expelling the heat outside. When heating, the process reverses and the refrigerant absorbs heat outside of the house. It provides warmth inside through transferring the refrigerant from the outdoor unit to indoor units.
Electricity powers the mini split system. Unlike systems that burn fossil fuels for heating, mini splits are environmentally friendlier . An inverter in the outdoor unit allows the mini split to change power usage and the amount of refrigerant moving to and from the indoor unit. The inverter ensures that the outdoor unit only uses the exact amount of power necessary to reach each zone’s preferred temperature.
Maximize efficiency and cut energy usage
Conventional heating systems and air conditioning run at full power until they reach a set temperature. It turns off and on again, sometimes within an hour. Starting up the noisy outdoor unit uses more energy than when it stays running. Mitsubishi’s mini split system always stays active. This allows it to adjust to even subtle changes with its temperature sensors. Mini splits regulate energy usage by only using the precise amount of energy needed to keep a room at a specific temperature. This process can reduce energy consumption by up to 40 percent, making mini splits greener and more sustainable. Learn more about our energy saving products on our online store.
Single zone or many zones?
If you only need heating and cooling in a single space, like a garage or an addition, you should consider a single-zone system mini split. Single-zones can also be great for keeping a high traffic area like a kitchen or living room at a comfortable temperature. If you have a little one, you may want to consider a mini split for the nursery for some additional temperature control.
Installing a mini split to keep a bedroom cooler can be a relief for someone suffering from night sweats. Deeper and restorative sleep is associated with cooler temperatures. Plus, mini splits are quieter compared to window air conditioners. In the Southwest, keeping an entire house at 65° in the summer would result in an exorbitant electric bill. By keeping a bedroom cool and the rest of the house at a moderate temperature, you can keep your electric bill reasonable while catching some high quality zzzs.
If you are interested in cooling and heating multiple spaces, multi-zone equipment is the way to go. One outdoor unit can connect up to eight indoor units. This option is ideal if you need to cool and heat multiple spaces with different functions, such as a kitchen, nursery, or home office. Controlling temperatures in different rooms will keep everyone comfortable while saving energy in rooms that need less heating or cooling.
Mini Splits offer comfort and energy efficiency
Mitsubishi’s state of the art mini-split air conditioners and heat pumps can offer ideal comfort while lowering energy costs. It provides ultra-quiet heating and air conditioning in any climate. If you are already producing clean, sustainable solar energy from your home, a mini split could further maximize your energy savings by lowering your cooling costs during the summer. Using them to heat your home will also cut your dependence on natural gas or propane. Solar Smart Living is a Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer and can provide up to a 12 year warranty on system equipment and installation. Check out our store to learn more about our energy saving products. We would be happy to help you with a free personalized assessment and get you started.
