Ductless HVAC Mega Guide

At N.E.T.R., Inc. we get a lot of questions about ductless HVAC systems. Check out our mega guide below for everything you need to know about mini-split heating and cooling.

Benefits of Ductless HVAC

Ductless HVAC offers several benefits for home and business owners who make the switch. While lower operating costs are a major consideration for most people, the advantages don’t stop there. Heat pump owners also enjoy consistent temperatures, remote control operation, and a lower carbon footprint.

Ductless System Components

Ductless units consist of a few basic components. Just like a traditional air conditioner, they have an outdoor condenser. They also have one or more indoor air handling units. A conduit runs between these two units with refrigerant, electrical wires, and a drain for condensate. Finally, these units have remote controls that allow you to adjust the settings at the touch of a button from wherever you are in the room.

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How Ductless Systems Work

Ductless systems work by moving warm air from one space to another. In the summer, heat is extracted from indoors, which passes over the cold evaporator coils inside the unit. The refrigerant in the coils absorbs the heat, which then travels through thin pipes to the outdoor unit where it can be released. The cooled refrigerant goes back to the indoor unit where it will be used to lower the temperature of the air blowing into your space.

During the winter, this process happens in reverse and heat is pulled from the environment to warm the air that blows into your space. In both cases, ductless units use variable speed compressors that adjust the temperature by small increments as needed. As a result, the system doesn’t cycle on and off, helping you to avoid uncomfortable highs and lows associated with central HVAC.

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Ductless Air Conditioning

Ductless air conditioning offers superior cooling during the summer for much less per kilowatt hour than you would pay to operate a central or window AC. Mini splits also provide humidity control, which helps to make your indoor air feel cooler by reducing the amount of moisture in it.

These quiet but powerful units can easily take on even the hottest days and keep you comfortable indoors regardless of the weather. Plus, heat pumps use eco-friendly refrigerants and significantly less power.

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Heating With Ductless

When you own a mini split, you can go from cooling to heating with just the flip of a switch. Ductless heaters can extract warmth from outside even in temps as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit, so you’re never chilly indoors even during Boston’s cold, unpredictable winters.

Heating your space with ductless also eliminates hazards that come with other forms of heating, such as the risk of fire with an electric space heater or the risk of a carbon monoxide leak with a gas furnace.

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What Is Zoning?

Ductless systems allow you to create individual temperature “zones” that can be controlled separately from one another. Depending on your needs, you may have a single outdoor unit with a single indoor unit. This is known as a single-zone system and is a great option for supplementing heating and cooling or keeping a room comfortable that isn’t connected to the rest of your HVAC system.

Alternatively, you may have one outdoor unit with multiple indoor units. This is called a multi-zone system and allows you to have two or more “zones” with different temperature settings. A single outdoor unit can support up to 8 indoor air handling units, but larger applications will require a second outdoor unit.

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Efficiency Considerations

Thanks to zoning, ductless systems are instantly more efficient than traditional HVAC systems because you don’t have to heat or cool areas that aren’t in use. You also never have to overheat or cool one area just to keep another area comfortable. With traditional HVAC systems, you often end up with areas that feel too cold or too warm because all the rooms are connected to a single thermostat.

They also use significantly less energy than central HVAC, window ACs, and gas furnaces. Not only does this trim your electric bill, it also reduces the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere.

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Air Quality  

Home air quality is a lot more important than most people think. Did you know that the EPA says humans spend about 90% of their entire lives indoors? That means that the majority of the air you breathe is indoor air.

Surprisingly, air in your home or office has the potential to be significantly more polluted than outdoor air due to smoke, incense, candles, furniture off-gassing, and more. Ductless can help reduce dust, allergens, and other harmful particles from your air so you can breathe easier.

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The Cost of Ductless 

The cost of ductless varies depending on the equipment you select and the type of installation you’re having done. Rebates may be available to help reduce upfront expenses while tax credits save you money later. That said, operating costs for ductless systems are incredibly low and the savings will eventually cover the cost of the system over time.

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The Installation Process

Installation of ductless units is very straight forward. A ductless professional helps you assess the number of indoor units you need and the right capacity for your outdoor unit. Then, they install the outdoor unit, drill small holes in the walls to run the lines through, and connect the indoor unit.

For a small residential job, this project often can be completed in half a day or less, and even for a large commercial job, installation is relatively quick. For a multi-unit installation, you can opt to have the installation work done zone by zone. For instance, you can do a floor of your building every week until the entire system is installed, or you can install ductless units where they are needed immediately and then install the units in other areas as desired.

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Where to Put a Ductless System

Mini splits are ideal for heating and cooling:

  • Attics
  • Basements
  • Entire homes
  • Office buildings
  • Retail spaces
  • Data centers
  • Gyms
  • Restaurants
  • Commercial buildings
  • Apartment buildings

And more!

Ductless is designed to be outfitted in nearly any residential or commercial space and can be configured to meet a wide variety of different needs. Whether you have a small apartment that needs reliable heating and cooling or you want to upgrade a multi-unit condo with individual comfort controls, mini splits can give you the reliability and efficiency you’re looking for.

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Mounting Options

There are several ways you can install a ductless unit in your home or office. Here are the most common options: 

Wall-Mounted

Most ductless units are mounted on an exterior wall about six inches from the ceiling. This provides optimal airflow in and out of the unit and helps to create a cooling or warming effect that is immediately noticeable. Wall mounting promotes efficient operation and also makes it easy to clean and maintain your unit.

Floor-mounted units are also placed on the wall, just nearer to the floor like where a traditional radiator would be. These cover more wall space but are narrower and don’t jut out from the wall as much.

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Ceiling-Mounted

Ceiling-mounted ductless units are common in commercial buildings but can also be used in homes to provide airflow directly downwards. While the outdoor units of a ceiling-mounted system are the same as any other, the indoor air handler is recessed into the ceiling and looks similar to a central HVAC vent since it sits flush with the surface.

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Ductless and Your Electrical System

One major benefit of switching to ductless heating and cooling is how little electricity mini splits use. Since heat pumps move heat from one place to another instead of generating it, they require very little energy to provide you with superior comfort in every season. Plus, ductless works great with solar power and is easier on old electrical panels that are common in Massachusetts charming colonial homes.

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Ductless Maintenance and Repairs

Because ductless HVAC systems work differently than a central system or window AC, they also tend to require fewer repairs over time. Maintenance is easy and can be completed annually by your technician in just a few hours.

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Additional Resources

Save More With Ductless HVAC Today

Have questions? Ready to learn more? Curious about installing a ductless heating and cooling system in your home? Contact us today. At NETR, we have the experience and knowledge you need to make your home or commercial space more comfortable and more efficient.