Ductless mini-split HVAC systems offer a unique heating and cooling solution that easily installs in virtually any space. If your home or office lacks pre-existing ductwork, a mini-split can be a nearly perfect solution for your HVAC needs. Here’s what you need to know.
A Brief History of Ductless Mini-Split HVAC Systems
Although ductless mini-splits may seem like a recent innovation, they’re not. The first ductless mini-split appeared in Japan in the 1950s. It was the brainchild of engineers at Mitsubishi Electric. They developed it to respond to the unique challenges of providing reliable HVAC in post-war Japan.
When designing the system, Mitsubishi’s engineers had several constraints to consider. First, the post-war housing boom had produced dense, tightly packed neighborhoods. Second, Japanese homes and businesses featured thin walls with poor sound-blocking capabilities and no room for ductwork. Third, a lack of natural resources made electricity the only viable energy source. Those constraints meant the engineers needed a system that ran on electricity, used no ductwork, occupied minimal space, and operated quietly.
Mitsubishi’s first ductless mini-split system met all local requirements. It used heat pump technology to provide both heating and cooling. It featured a sleek, wall-mountable outdoor unit. And it relied on individual, wall-mounted air handlers to produce hot or cold air where needed inside. The solution worked so well that it came to dominate Japan and, later, much of the developed world outside the United States.
How Ductless Mini-Split HVAC Systems Work
Over the years, various manufacturers, including Mitsubishi Electric, improved on the original mini-split design. However, today’s mini-splits still utilize the same basic components and operate in much the same way. A mini-split outdoor unit contains a large fan, a heat-exchanging coil, a compressor, an expansion valve, and a reversing valve. Each indoor air handler features a heat-exchanging coil, a blower fan, a thermostat, and a washable air filter. The air handlers connect back to the outdoor unit via a bundle of refrigerant and electrical lines.
A ductless mini-split in cooling mode operates similarly to any other air conditioner. It reduces the pressure on its liquid refrigerant, causing it to cool. The cold refrigerant then travels to any of the indoor air handlers set to cooling mode. The blower fan pushes warm indoor air across the heat-exchanging coil as cold refrigerant circulates through it. The refrigerant absorbs heat, eventually boiling into a warm gas. The warm gaseous refrigerant then travels outside and through the compressor. That increases its pressure and temperature, releasing heat into the surrounding air. That occurs as the refrigerant passes through the outdoor coil while the large fan pushes air across it.
In heating mode, a mini-split engages its reversing valve to change the direction the refrigerant flows through the system. By running in reverse, it collects heat from the outside air and carries it indoors, allowing the air handlers to produce warm air. Unlike other electric heating solutions, it doesn’t consume electricity to generate heat.
What Are the Benefits of Ductless Mini-Split HVACs?
Mini-splits offer multiple advantages, making them an almost perfect comfort solution. They include the following.
High Energy Efficiency
Ductless mini-splits typically have a coefficient of performance (COP) of around 3.5. That translates into an average energy efficiency of approximately 350%. They’re one of the most cost-effective cooling solutions available at that efficiency level. Except for geothermal HVAC systems, mini-splits are the most energy-efficient heating solution on the market.
Ease of Installation
A ductless mini-split is easy to install in virtually any space. You can mount their outdoor units on an exterior wall or stand them on the ground as necessary. To connect the two, you need to drill a small hole, approximately 3 inches in diameter, through each wall that hosts an air handler.
Zoned Heating and Cooling
Ductless mini-splits provide zoned heating and cooling by default. Each air handler connected to the system functions independently. You can set different temperatures in different rooms or turn off individual air handlers altogether.
Excellent Scalability
Ductless mini-splits come in capacities of up to 5 tons, or 60,000 BTUs. A single system can support up to eight indoor air handlers. As a result, a ductless mini-split can heat and cool anything from a single room to a whole building.
Local Ductless Mini-Split Experts
If you need a ductless mini-split for your Archbold, OH home or office, Fraas Heating & Cooling can help. We sell and install the latest ductless mini-splits from industry leaders Trane and Mitsubishi Electric. We’ve served local homes and businesses for decades. Our HVAC technicians are highly trained and have ample experience in all heating and cooling systems. We also offer financing options for new HVAC installations on approved credit.
If you’re interested in a ductless mini-split installation in Archbold, call Fraas Heating & Cooling today!
