Why Buy a Ductless or Mini Split Air Conditioner?

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What is a ductless or mini split air conditioner?
Much like central air conditioner units, ductless or mini split air conditioners, such as the Soleus RT-135, have two main components: an indoor air handling unit and an outdoor compressor/condenser. A conduit, which houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and a condensate drain, links the outdoor and indoor air conditioner units through a small hole that is drilled in the wall of the building. The main advantages of ductless air conditioners are their small size and flexibility for zoning or heating and cooling individual rooms. Some ductless air conditioners can have as many as four indoor air handling units (for four zones or rooms) connected to one outdoor unit. The number depends on how much heating or cooling is required for the building or each zone (which is also affected by how well the building is insulated). Since each of the zones/rooms will have an individual thermostat, you only need to cool an area when someone is present, to save energy and money.

How does a ductless air conditioner work?
Evaporative cooling systems, including ductless air conditioners, operate by a simple method of drawing a large amount of air through a water-saturated membrane. The resultant underlying heat exchange produces a beneficial temperature fall of up to 59°F (15°C.) in dry air settings. It is worth remembering that evaporative cooling systems are not suitable for use in humidity controlled environments while a ductless air conditioner would be perfect there.

Why choose a ductless air conditioner?
A ductless air conditioner, such as the Amcor UCHW-H12AF2, is a cost effective alternative to central air conditioning. It is typically more expensive than a wall or window air conditioner and needs to be installed by a professional. Since the ductless compressor sits outside, the mini split air conditioner is very quiet and efficient.
Since these air conditioners have no ducts, they avoid the energy losses associated with the ductwork of central forced air systems. Duct losses can account for more than 30% of energy consumption for space air conditioning, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic.

Ductless air conditioners are also sometimes easier to install than other types of air conditioning systems. For example, the hook-up between the outdoor and indoor air conditioners generally requires only a three inch hole through a wall for the conduit. Also, most manufacturers of this type of ductless air conditioner can provide a variety of lengths of connecting conduits. So, if necessary, you can locate the compressor as far away as 50 feet from the indoor evaporator. This makes it possible to cool rooms on the front side of a building or house with the air conditioner compressor in a more advantageous or inconspicuous place on the outside of the building.

In comparison to other add-on systems, ductless air conditioners offer more flexibility when it comes to interior design options. The indoor air handlers can be suspended from a ceiling, mounted flush into a drop ceiling, or hung on a wall. Floor-standing ductless air conditioners are also available. Most indoor units have profiles of about seven inches deep and usually come with sleek, high tech-looking jackets. Many ductless air conditioners also offer a remote control to make it easier to turn the system on and off when it's positioned high on a wall or suspended from a ceiling.

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