Mini split air conditioners are sometimes more feasible to install than central air conditioning units. These air conditioners work great for a variety of different spaces such as apartments, offices, and more because these air conditioners work without any type of duct system. In other words, minis are ductless, making installation easier.
The advantages of mini-split a/c units are not only their small size but also their flexibility. These air conditioners can be installed to target a certain space such as individual rooms or for zoning purposes. These systems operate off of both an outdoor system and an indoor system; however, the hook up between the two systems is easy as it only requires a 3 inch hole in order to connect the two systems together through conduit. The outside unit can be placed up to 50 ft away from the connecting unit on the inside as most manufacturers offer different lengths of conduit to connect the units. One system can have up to four individual air handling units on the inside that can be used to cool individual rooms.
With mini split air conditioners and the fact that no ducts are required, it helps to save on energy through energy loss. Forced air systems, like that of central air units require ducts and loose connections of holes in the ducts can cause loss of cool air which will result in higher energy costs for the owner in order to cool off the space required. Mini split air conditioners are more efficient in this sense and are also for better for "green" living.
On the inside of the structure where the mini split air conditioners are placed, a person has more options because these systems are flexible in terms of mounting. They can be suspended from the ceiling, positioned high on a wall, etc. The options are endless when it comes to mounting the inside air handling units for the mini split air conditioners. Besides the ease of mounting and the flexibility that these systems provide, they also provide a higher level of safety for the owner of the structure where they will be installed versus that of window air conditioning units or through the wall a/c units. How? Mounting air conditioning units in a window or through the wall provide easy access for intruders. Since the mini split air conditioners only require a 3 inch hole in order to run the conduit through to connect to the outside system, there is no chance of an intruder breaking in to the structure through this means.
On the other hand, the main disadvantage can be their cost. They range from anywhere between $1500-$2000 per ton, which is higher than other air conditioning systems such as window units, through the wall units, etc, and are actually about 30% higher in terms of cost as compared to central air conditioning units. Another disadvantage to these units is that the inside part of the mini split air conditioners can be a bit unsightly as because of the way that they are typically mounted, they do not appear to be "built in" to the rooms or blend with the d矇cor. Even though they can be suspended from the ceiling or mounted high on a wall, there must also be a drain available for the condensate to drain through, which can be another unsightly object in the room.
Although split a/c units may cost more than other cooling systems they are better for energy savings and can provide the owner with lower energy costs. Many times though, installers of air conditioning systems may not recommended these ductless mini split air conditioners because they have the training and expertise on duct systems and get paid accordingly; however, most of the time, the mini split air conditioners will only be recommended when installing ducts is not an option.
In the end, it is only up to the owner of the structure on what type of system they should install, even though they will probably take recommendations of contractors/installers. If you are leaning towards or are even curious about mini split air conditioners, contact a manufacturer of these systems and ask questions and learn about the many advantages and disadvantages of the systems besides the ones that are listed within this article. Informing yourself with the information needed will help you to make a wise decision on whether mini split air conditioners are right for you, or not.
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