A ductless air conditioning unit is also known as a split air conditioner. It has two main components: an inside unit that cools the room of your choice, from which you can regulate the temperature via remote control, and an outside unit (compressor) that generates the cold air. A refrigerated copper pipe fuels the inside piece with refrigerant, while another pipe drains condensation from the blower outdoors. In homes that are ‘rigged’ to accommodate a full scale ductless air conditioning system, the pipes are usually installed within the walls during construction. Piping can also be retrofitted to a room of your house. Generally, the unit should be plugged into a dedicated power line.
Ductless air conditioning options
If you live in a hot climate, you can choose from the very beginning to install pipes within the walls of each room to accommodate for ductless air conditioners. This is less expensive than rigging air ducts since only small tubes need to be placed within the walls. Each set of tubes should lead to an area of the room where the inside unit of the split AC can properly cool the room.
If you have a duct system that suits the needs of your home, but want to add an extra room, instead of changing the entire central cooling system, just add a ductless unit to that one room. Ductless air conditioning units come in many sizes. The size you will require depends on the size of the room. The square footage that the unit will comfortably cool should be written on the package. Make sure you buy a piece that is big enough to cool the area you want it to.
Benefits of ductless air conditioning systems
There are many advantages to using ductless air conditioning systems to cool your home as opposed to central cooling. It is rare to find a central cooling system that can be controlled room by room. This causes the system to work harder than it actually needs to. Cooling each room independently can save you electricity. When you are sleeping at night, you can turn off all the other units and just run the one in your room, saving more than 60% on power consumption in the night. This is called the oasis method. You can also accomplish this method with window units.
Why are ductless pieces better than window units?
The main advantage with a ductless piece is that a thermostat automatically regulates the temperature, rather than a window unit that just blows on and off. Additionally, you don’t have to move a ductless piece in and out of the window as the weather changes. You also do not have to worry about the security hazard of an open window.
Installation
The fan unit of the air conditioner can be installed in the upper part of a wall, either cement, or drywall. It can also be hung from the ceiling or in a soffit. The appearance of the actual fan unit differs from brand to brand, but generally, they are small and unobtrusive. If you are thinking of getting a unit installed, professional help is recommended. Many companies offer free installation along with a purchase of their product.
Cost
The cost of the unit varies from dealer to dealer and from brand to brand. Generally, brands like Mitsubishi, Sanyo, LG, and Carrier are good brands that sell units are reasonable prices. The price per unit also depends on the volume of the compressor and size of the unit. The larger they get, the more costly they are. You can save on overall costs by buying a compressor (outdoor unit) that can power two fans (indoor units). A one ton unit will cost you from $450 to $700 and a two ton unit may cost from $1000 to $1300.
Ductless air conditioning can in fact replace central air conditioning systems. It is definitely a better option if you live in a hot climate without a harsh winter. It is a good way to cool your home room by room using the oasis method. This can save you quite a lot of electricity in the long run.
