If you and your family spend a majority of your free time in a specific area of your home, or you are always looking for new ways to lower your monthly energy bills, then you may want to look into an alternate heating and cooling system known as a ductless air system. B&J Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. owner Mark Wethington explains the relatively innovative system and why it is one of the most efficient ways to provide heat and cool air in your home.
The ductless air systems are great for one-room applications, says Wethington, as they are mini-split systems that can be installed without having a central air system. The systems do not rely on ducts in the floors or walls to distribute hot or cold air to the room, and each unit has its own thermostat so that it can be controlled independently based on need.
What are ducts?
A duct is basically tubing that works as a canal running from the central air conditioning system outside your home to the individual rooms of your home.
Who would benefit?
Virtually anyone would benefit from ductless air systems. They are great for family rooms and play rooms, notes Wethington, pretty much any room that is used frequently, so that only one room needs to be heated instead of the whole house. The systems are also great for rooms that can’t be reached by a central air system already in place. Many businesses and schools have also switched over to this system so that only areas which are in use are being temperature controlled, which in turn saves a lot of money on energy bills.
How is it installed?
Another great feature about the systems are that they are especially easy to install and don’t disrupt your home because there is no need to run pipes inside the walls and from room to room. And, unlike an air-conditioning window unit which many people use to cool one room at a time, it does not use any window space. The component is mounted on the wall or ceiling with the compressor placed on the outside of the home. This also means that there is no loss of energy from windows or in ducts like is normally associated with other heating and cooling systems.
Additionally, because of the concentrated effects of the unit and the placement, it is both quiet and efficient. Some units, says Wethington, are so silent that you have to put your hand in front of it to feel the air coming out to know that it’s on.
How much does it cost?
The system’s cost varies from unit to unit, but Wethington says you can expect to pay more than you would for a window unit, but less than you would for a duct system. Plus, if you factor in the money you will be saving on your bills month to month, the system essentially pays for itself. Most homes with a ductless system do have central air units as well because the ductless systems are only used on a room to room basis. But, in times when you don’t need your entire house heated or cooled, you can turn off the larger system and operate only the wall-mounted ductless units. In Europe, explains Wethington, the ductless system run the entire home’s heating and cooling systems, but few American homes are constructed that way .
