What is a Ductless Air Conditioning System?

A ductless AC unit is a cooling system for your home that can be installed without ductwork. It is excellent for older homes that do not have the space for ducting.

The ductless system connects an outdoor unit through a cooling refrigeration unit and electrical wiring to internal units in your home.

Installation simply requires a small hole in the wall to connect the units. The indoor units are commonly wall mounted but can also be installed on the ceiling or as a console unit.

The units allow for both heating and cooling of your home. Each indoor unit provides temperature control for the room or space it is installed in. You can have up to five indoor units connected to an outdoor unit (depending on the ductless system you choose this may change).

How Do Ductless AC Units Work?

The ductless system works by pulling warm air from your home into the indoor unit. The unit has evaporated coils inside. These coils carry refrigerant or coolant.

The warm air blows on the coils and cools then is released into the room. The coils continuously circulate new refrigerant into the indoor unit from the outdoor compressor. This means your system won’t need to expel any gas into your home.

The Pros And Cons of Ductless AC Units

There are pros and cons to everything and a ductless AC unit is no exception. Here are the top pros and cons of getting a ductless AC unit installed in your home.

Pros

1. They are energy efficient
2. They are energy efficient
3. They give you more control over individual room temperature
4. Easy to add to new additions (can be used on top of a central AC unit)
5. They are quieter than stand-alone units
6. They offer filtration for Allergy and dust control
7. They can heat and cool your home (depending on the unit you choose)
8. They can heat and cool your home (depending on the unit you choose)
9. They can be integrated with a smart home system and come with individual remotes for each unit
10. They can be integrated with a smart home system and come with individual remotes for each unit

Cons

1. They have a high cost of installation especially since you may need multiple units
2. They are visible in your home
3. Maintenance is required on the system and filters should be emptied often (monthly)
4. The system can sometimes struggle in extreme temperatures

Learn more about the costs you may incur when installing a new AC unit.

Ductless Vs Central Air

A ductless system is a good option for people who can not install a central AC unit or for homes that need to add extra cooling to an addition or room that is not being served by the central AC unit.

When compared directly ductless AC units often have higher system costs than a central AC units. That is before you add in ducting. The cost of central AC when your home has pre-existing ductwork is not comparable.

The difference comes in for homes that cannot add additional ductwork or need to extend their system in some way.

The systems work in a similar fashion. The major difference is a ductless system gives you greater individual room temperature control. A central AC unit will be able to work better in more extreme climates as the central outdoor unit has a larger compressor.

The other reason a ductless system may be better for your home is that ductwork can lose up to 30% efficiency. With the lack of ducting and temperature controls ductless systems are some of the most energy-efficient options on the market for cooling your home.

If you are unsure about upgrading your AC unit check out our recent article.