South Central Iowa Affordable Ductless Air Conditioning

If your home doesn’t already have ductwork built-in, installing central AC could easily become an expensive and time-consuming undertaking. While such a system is a convenient way of having cool air in the whole house, there are some homeowners that simply cannot afford it. Fortunately there are many alternatives available now to these homeowners in cooling their homes.

If you happen to live in a dryer climate, evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers could be a worthwhile option. But they need to know that these tend to produce loud sounds and have limited cooling ability. Other countries have been using the ductless mini-split system as a substitute for ductless air conditioning for a long time, and a lot of people are now going with that option. These systems have a lot of benefits for homes that are ill-equipped for central air conditioning, including zoning, easy installation, and energy efficiency.

How does ductless air conditioning work?

In each house, ductless systems use an outside condenser and air handling units. The refrigerant cools indoor air that reaches the device and blows it back into the room right away. The heat is expelled into the outdoors via a conduit.

The air handler fans are designed to be silent, so they are no louder than central air conditioning and much quieter than a plug-in fan. Similar to the central AC system, the condenser is its loudest part.

Installing a ductless system requires air handlers to be installed in every room, either mounted on the ceiling or wall or recessed into the ceiling or wall if you prefer them to be flush with the surface. All these features can be set up to a thermostat with communications or controlled individually.

To create different areas of cooled air, numerous thermostats can be mounted throughout the home. For example, this is great for cooling guest areas of your house only when guests are present. You can program ductless systems to have up to four different zone settings.

What are the benefits of ductless systems?

A ductless mini-split air conditioning system is fairly easy to install for a home without ducts. The homeowner typically can choose the type of air handlers they want to have installed and where they go in the rooms. Slightly more expensive are those who lay flush with the ceiling or wall, but can be more esthetically appealing.

Usually, many holes need to be made to be able to install a central AC system at home. But with a ductless system, there is only one small that is required to make.

Ductless air conditioning systems tend to be more energy-efficient as they don’t use any large pathways for air travel. With an AC system, it is typical to get a higher power bill because the ductwork involved in it tends to have a 30% waste in energy. This mainly happens from gaps in seams, holes, and/or leaks in the ductwork.

Homeowners can set different time zones with ductless mini-split systems if they don’t want to cool the entire home at once. For example, if bedrooms are upstairs, homeowners can set the temperature upstairs for comfortable sleeping without having to set the temperature downstairs. Such a feature of the ductless mini-split system will allow the homeowner to have a lower power bill.

A ductless unit can be superior to window air conditioning units, as they are often safer and keep pests away by keeping your home windows closed when you want, rather than always partially open. Ductless systems are safe and keep pests from entering your home. They may also be switched to a warm setting in the winter, providing dual functionality for all-year-round comfort and convenience.

Professional Installation

If you decide that ductless mini-split air conditioning is right for you and your home, a professional air conditioner can help you install the system in as little as a day. Prior to installation, they will take measurements to determine the number of units needed, and address zoning requirements as necessary.

Even though a ductless system is simpler than a retrofitted ductwork installation, it should still be handled by a professional since it involves electrical wiring as well as the use of toxic refrigerants. An expert can also advise on the better placement of your air handlers and the best style of units suitable for your home. When it is time to repair, service, or replace your system then an AC professional can do all those things for you.