Summers in Norcross, Georgia can get very hot. And although the winter does not get as cold as it might in a place like Minnesota, it can still get chilly. For your home to feel comfortable, you must have a good heating and cooling system.
Many Norcross residents have opted to ditch the traditional heating and cooling system that uses a furnace, central air conditioning, and ductwork for mini-split ductless systems. Here are some pros and cons of using a mini-split system you should consider.
The Basics of How Mini-Split ACs Work
Before fully understanding whether a mini-split system is right for you, you need to have a basic understanding of how it works. Similar to a forced air heat pump that can cool and heat your home, a ductless mini-split air conditioner comprises two components.
The first is the outdoor condenser unit. This is where the compressor is housed. The second is an indoor air handling unit, also called the evaporator. This is where tubing for refrigerant is housed. You will also find the condensate drain in this unit. Depending on the make and model of your mini-split, you could have up to four indoor air handling units for each outdoor condenser.
A mini-split will cool or heat your home by pulling hot or cold air inside a room. That air is then run over cool refrigerant or warm coils, and then it is pushed back into the room. The refrigerant travels to the outdoor unit, expelling the cold or heat.
A mini-split has a higher efficiency rating than an AC window unit. They are drastically safer than space heaters and are an excellent option for homes that are impossible or extremely difficult to install ductwork in.
In Norcross, you may see a mini-split in a multi-family home with individual apartments or a new addition or renovation of a house. They can also be used as a supplement heating or cooling source in homes with non-ducted heating, like space heaters or radiators.
Pro: Mini-Split Systems Are Easy to Install
If you live in an older home or a home that does not have ductwork, mini-split HVAC systems are relatively easy to install, especially compared to the work and expense of installing the ductwork needed for a forced-air system. When you install a ductless system, you can connect the outdoor unit with the indoor unit by running tubing through a small 3-inch hole.
Mini-splits are more secure than a traditional window AC unit. Window units are easy to install, but they require your window to be open. This makes it easier for intruders to gain access to your home.
Con: Cost
The initial purchase of a ductless system is around 30% more expensive than a forced air HVAC system, providing that you already have the ductwork installed in your home. The amount you will pay for a mini-split system will vary based on the number of rooms you want to be cooled, how efficient the system is, and the size of the system.
Mini-split units with the Energy Star label are energy efficient, saving you money on your monthly bills in the long run. However, it will take a considerable amount of time before the amount you save on electricity compensates for your initial purchase of the unit.
Pro: Improved Efficiency and Air Quality
With a mini-split system, the cooling or heating action occurs in the evaporator unit that is located in the room it is treating. This means that conditioned air is not lost through leaky ductwork.
With a traditional HVAC system, ductwork can tear or separate at the joints. This means that some of the areas you are paying to heat or cool in your home won’t receive conditioned air because the air will leak out before it reaches the area you want it to. This causes your unit to run harder to make up for the lost air.
Many ductless AC unit providers offer a cleaning feature in the system that filters the air several times, thereby reducing moisture in the air and keeping the air cleaner. With a forced air system, you will need to purchase an additional air filtration system to improve the air quality beyond the basic filtration offered by the HVAC unit.
Con: Appearance
You need an evaporator, or indoor unit, in every room you are going to cool or heat. These units hang on your wall or ceiling, disrupting the room’s aesthetic. While it is true that modern indoor handlers are not huge and have been designed to look appealing, they can feel intrusive.
With a forced-air HVAC system, discrete vents are installed in the wall or the ceiling. These vents sit flush against the wall and can even be painted the same color as the wall, making them virtually invisible. With a ductless AC option, you are limited in color options.
Pro: Complete Zone Control
Each mini-split unit is designed to cool or heat a small area. If you are going to be in your home office all day, you can decide to only heat your office without wasting energy heating parts of the home you are not going to be in.
With a forced-air system, you must heat or cool the entire home, even if you are not using it. Of course, you can close vents and registers, but this isn’t recommended and some of the conditioned air will still find its way into these areas.
A ductless mini-split gives you increased flexibility in treating individual areas in the home, which can help save money on utility bills. For example, if one part of your home gets more direct sunlight or is cooler than others, you can raise or lower the temperature of the air created by the evaporator unit in that room without impacting the rest of the home.
Pro: Perfect for Additions and Renovations
Mini-split systems are great for new additions like sunrooms, garages, or other areas that might not have ductwork. If you do have a traditional forced-air HVAC system but notice that certain parts of the house, like upstairs bedrooms or the basement, are struggling to stay cool or warm, adding a mini-split is a great way to increase the comfort level of these areas without impacting the temperature in the rest of the house.
HVAC and Plumbing Professionals Atlanta Residents Can Trust
At Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, our team of experienced technicians is ready to address any HVAC or plumbing need you have. Our goal is to make you feel comfortable in your home regardless of the season. As a family-owned company, we have been working in the area since the late 1980s. We are home to NATE-certified technicians and are proud to boast an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Our services include HVAC installation, maintenance, service, and replacement. We offer duct cleaning, plumbing repair, installation, and maintenance. We proudly provide our customers with tankless water heaters, traditional water heaters, and sump pump repairs. Contact Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today to see how we give each job our full attention to ensure that the work is done right the first time.
