How Do Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners Keep Homes Cool In the Summer?
Summer is in full swing, which means it’s time to fire up the grill, whip up some cold drinks, and invite friends and family over for a good old-fashioned cookout. The 4th of July may be the summer’s biggest holiday, but it’s only the beginning of barbecue season!
And of course, it’s also AC season - summertime in Oregon may be mild compared to some places, but things can get pretty uncomfortable indoors without a good air conditioner. Especially with a gathering of guests inside and lots of cooking going on in the kitchen, a home can warm up fast. For many homeowners, the solution is a ductless mini-split AC system. These have a few key advantages over traditional central air systems, which is why they’re becoming so popular. Read on to learn all about ductless mini-split cooling.
Ductless Cooling - What Is It and How Does It Work?
Ductless cooling systems are air conditioners that deliver cool air directly to a room or space without air ducts. This means each room to be cooled needs its own unit installed. Fortunately, the units are fairly small and are installed in an inconspicuous location like the top edge of one wall.
Much like most air conditioners, ductless mini-splits use a system of copper coils filled with a chemical refrigerant to capture indoor heat and release it outdoors. This requires an indoor unit to absorb the indoor air’s heat and an outdoor unit to transfer it to the outdoor air. But instead of blowing the cooled air through a series of ducts, the indoor unit blows it straight into the room.
Advantages of Ductless Systems Over Central Cooling
Delivering cool air directly to the intended space means that nothing is lost - in central cooling systems, the air needs to travel through the home’s air ducts, which are typically outside the home’s insulated envelope. The result is that the air has become slightly warmer when it gets where it’s going. That’s one key advantage of a ductless system, but it’s not the only one.
When a central air conditioner unit is running, it’s pumping air into every room in the house. If half of the rooms are unoccupied, the system essentially expends twice as much energy as it needs to be. In a home with ductless mini-splits, only the units in the occupied rooms need to be turned on.
This principle goes beyond efficiency to include the personal comfort of everyone in the house. If one person likes their room ice-cold at night, but the person in the next room likes it warm, they can both have it their way. Each room can be operated independently of the rest, so everyone is free to choose what’s right for them - and isn’t that what the 4th of July celebration is all about?
Indoor Air Quality and Ductless Mini Split Systems
Ductless air conditioning can also help improve indoor air quality. Air ducts tend to collect dust, dirt, and dander over time, particularly if a section has become loose or damaged, causing a leak. In some cases, mold can even grow inside the ductwork. These pollutants can cause respiratory issues or illness, especially with prolonged exposure. Ductless mini-split systems have air filters that need to be cleaned regularly, but they provide less contamination than central air systems.
And since they don’t share a duct system, mini-splits are perfect for insulated garages or man-caves to prevent contaminating the rest of the home’s air with smoke, paint fumes, or other pollutants.
About Gresham Heating and Air Conditioning
Gresham Heating and Air Conditioning have been proudly serving the Gresham, OR, community since 1992. Their courteous expert technicians always show up on time, put safety first, and provide honest, personalized recommendations. They offer up-front, competitive pricing, financing, and membership perks. Give Gresham Heating and Air Conditioning a call today for more information about ductless mini-split AC installation.