Mini-split heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems offer a convenient climate-control solution for small indoor spaces. Maybe you want to cool your garage during the summer, or perhaps you have an upstairs bonus room that needs cooling. As their name suggests, mini-split HVAC systems are small and compact. Below are some common myths and misconceptions about mini-split HVAC systems.
Requires Ductwork
You don’t need ductwork to install a mini-split HVAC system. Mini-split HVAC systems, in fact, are distinguished from central HVAC systems by their lack of ductwork. They feature an outdoor component and an indoor component. You’ll need to install these two components, and you’ll need to connect them together, but you won’t need to install traditional ductwork.
Only Cools
A mini-split HVAC system can certainly cool individual rooms and other small spaces in your home, but many of them offer heating as well. They are known as mini-split heat pumps. Like traditional heat pumps, they offer both cooling and heating. Mini-split heat pumps can transfer heat from the outdoors to your home’s interior during the winter, or they can transfer heat from your home’s interior to the outdoors during the summer.
Same as Window AC Units
While some people use the terms “mini-split air conditioner” and “window air conditioner” interchangeably, they aren’t the same. Even if you choose a cooling-only mini-split HVAC system, it will feature different components than a window air conditioner.
Window air conditioners consist of a single unit that’s installed in a window. Mini-split HVAC systems, on the other hand, consist of two components – an indoor component and an outdoor component. The indoor component is typically installed on a wall, whereas the outdoor component is installed directly outside of the home nearby.
Difficult to Install
Installing a mini-split HVAC system is easier than you may think. Since they don’t require ductwork, they are far easier to install than traditional HVAC systems. And you can always hire an HVAC technician to handle the installation process. HVAC technicians know how to properly install mini-split HVAC systems for maximum performance.
Poor Efficiency
Another common myth about mini-split HVAC systems is that they aren’t very efficient. Efficiency represents how much warm or cool air an HVAC system can produce through the consumption of energy. Mini-split HVAC systems with the ENERGY STAR label are said to be 60% more efficient on average than electric radiator heaters.
