Find Answers To Frequently Asked HVAC Questions
Have questions about ductless heating and cooling? We’ve got answers! With more than 15 years of experience working with ductless systems of all kinds, Dr. Ductless is the trusted ductless expert. Browse answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we see about ductless mini-split systems or, if you need ductless heating and air conditioning services in Los Angeles, call us today and request a free estimate!
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What are Ductless Mini-Split Systems?
Ductless mini-split heating and air conditioning systems provide heating and air conditioning without ductwork. These systems comprise two parts: an indoor and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit, known as the evaporator, is mounted on the wall inside your home. The outdoor unit, or the condenser unit, is placed in an inconspicuous spot outside your home. The two units are connected via electrical wiring, copper tubing, and the refrigerant line through a small, three-inch hole drilled into the wall near where the indoor unit is mounted. The entire system works together to provide whole-home heating and cooling without ductwork.
How do They Work?
Ductless mini-split systems operate in much the same way as a traditional central heating and cooling system. However, instead of locating the evaporator unit in the attic, basement, or another area of your home, the small, sleek, wall-mounted indoor unit serves as the evaporator. This eliminates the need for bulky ductwork while still providing your home with complete comfort control. The indoor unit pumps refrigerant from the outdoor unit to blowers located right inside the indoor unit where it is then distributed throughout your home. During the colder months of the year, this process is reversed as the system brings warm air into the home and removes cold air outside.
What is Home Zoning?
Home zoning is a professional term for room-by-room temperature control. In other words, by placing multiple indoor units in different areas of your home, you can selectively heat and cool certain parts of your home. This allows you to only cool rooms you use without wasting energy on climate control in unused parts of the house. This is essentially the same concept as turning off the light when you leave a room and, ultimately, it can save you a lot of money.
What are the benefits of Ductless Systems?
Ductless mini-split systems offer countless benefits. For one, they do not require ductwork so, if your home doesn’t already have ductwork, you don’t have to worry about the costly and time-consuming process of having it installed. Secondly, ductless mini-splits are highly energy efficient, meaning it takes less energy to heat and cool your home. This ultimately means you’ll see increased cost savings as your monthly utility bills go down. Ductless systems also allow for home zoning and customized comfort control. If one member of your family prefers to keep their bedroom cooler than the rest of the house, it can be done—without a fight over the thermostat. Ductless mini-split systems also offer additional features like programming, remote control, super quiet mode, and they can improve indoor air quality with built-in air filtration. Learn more about the benefits of ductless mini-split systems here.
Won’t the Indoor Unit be an eyesore?
This is a fairly common, understandable concern. However, modern, sleek designs have made it so that the indoor unit of your ductless mini-split system is barely noticeable. Additionally, these units can be mounted just about anywhere in your home at varying height levels to suit your aesthetic preferences. Our team at Dr. Ductless is happy to help you find a completely custom solution for your home.
Do Ductless Mini-split Systems require maintenance?
Yes, like all HVAC systems, ductless mini-splits require some maintenance. A regular cleaning and tune-up (we recommend once a year or once every other year) can help you ensure that your system is working properly and that you’re getting the most for your money. Regular maintenance is the best way to avoid unexpected breakdowns and other issues, and it is also the best way to ensure that your system lasts a long time. You should also change or clean the air filter on your system regularly. Most professionals recommend that you change or clean the air filter for every 400 hours of use, or about once every month to once every six months to once a year, depending on how much you use your system.
Do I need to clean the Outdoor Unit?
The outdoor unit should be clear of debris, including fallen branches, leaves, weeds, and trash. It’s a good idea to take a look at the outdoor unit about once a month to ensure that it is clean and free of any obvious debris. For a more thorough cleaning of the outdoor unit, you should rely on a professional. These are complex systems and it is best to have a professional take care of any in-depth ductless mini-split maintenance.
How do I choose a Ductless Mini-split System?
There are a lot of factors involved in selecting the right system. You will need to keep in mind the size of your home, your comfort preferences, how much energy you use and how much energy you want to use, as well as numerous other relevant factors. Each system has a different BTU (British thermal unit; used as a standard for measuring heating and cooling capacity) and it is important that you choose the right BTUs for your space. Additionally, a system that is too big or too small will not be as effective. Our ductless HVAC contractors can come out to your home for an educational consultation and free estimate. We’ll take a look at your home and the various other factors involved before providing our honest, professional recommendations. We offer custom solutions for homes of all sizes.