Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioning
Ductless mini-split air conditioning is taking South Florida. What is a mini-split? If you have ever traveled south of the border, the Caribbean, Asia, or Europe you have probably seen them. A mini-split system is an air conditioning system which does not require any ductwork. The system is comprised of an indoor air handler and an outdoor condensing unit just like a traditional air conditioning system common to most every home in South Florida. The difference is the air handler is located within the living space, not in the attic, closet or garage. The air handler is located on an interior wall. The dimensions of the air handlers available vary, but most are very compact about 2 feet long by 1 foot high by 9 inches deep. The come in various colors, but the most common color is white.
The advantages found with a ductless mini-split are many but the most important advantage is efficiency. Because a mini-split system only cools the space it is located in, it is capable of delivering cooling or heating to only occupied spaces. A mini-split air handler located in each room or cooling space of your home allows you to only heat or cool where you want, when you want. Unoccupied bedrooms or other spaces can be shut down easily with a handheld remote control. The remotes can also be programmed to turn the system on or off during desired times of the day or not. With a traditional system, it runs full capacity throughout the home or business regardless if half the space is empty. This feature also allows for greater temperature control. A person occupying one space may like the temperature cooler or warmer than another person occupying a different space. With mini-split systems each zone can be set to differing temperatures.
Because a mini-split system does not require ductwork, you no longer have to cool or heat the duct system each time the machine turns on. This of course saves you money.
Another advantage over most traditional central systems is the ability for the mini-split compressor to ramp or down based on the load. This is called inverter drive technology. A mini-split system has the ability to ramp up or down based on the cooling or heating load. This saves you a lot of money because the compressor does not use as much electricity during the periods when the cooling or heating load is very light.
Mini-splits are a perfect option for garage conversions, server spaces, or older homes where it is difficult to install ductwork. In South Florida, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and many other South Florida cities there are plenty of older homes where it is impossible to install ductwork without ruining the beauty of the home. In this case, a ductless split will do the job and save plenty of money in the process.
Some homes in South Florida had traditional systems installed which were not properly designed. Perhaps there are cold areas or warm areas throughout the home. A mini-split system can be installed in each zone to correct this problem.
There are many brands available on the market, my favorite happens to be Fujitsu. This product has been on the market for many years in very harsh climates and has performed excellent. My experience is that Fujitsu is a robust and durable product. Other reputable brands include Mitsubishi, Daikin, Sanyo and Lennox.
Many units are available online. Beware of unknown reputable brands. It’s common for someone to buy an unknown name online and find out in a short period of time that the system is not durable and it is impossible to get parts if it breaks down. I have seen this happen over and over.
If you think a mini-split system might be a good choice for you contact us.
Call us at (305) 863-1830 or Schedule a Free Estimate Online Now
