If you’ve lived in the Olympia area for even just a year, then you know that it stays pretty consistently cold in our area. Summers tend to be brief, and air conditioning systems don’t get a lot of airtime (pun intended). But when you need your air conditioner, you need one that functions well and isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg to run, right?
This is the reason that many homeowners in our area choose to go ductless for their air conditioning needs. If you’re looking to upgrade your air conditioner this summer, and/or you discovered over winter that you need a new heating system, then a ductless mini-split can be a great option for you. This is because they’re not just air conditioners, they make great heating systems too!
When You’re Considering Going Ductless…
As the name suggests, a ductless system doesn’t require any ductwork in order to do its job. Instead, it utilizes multiple indoor air handlers, that can be installed up on the wall in the rooms that need cooling (and heating). Each outdoor unit can be connected to up to four air handlers, and each air handler can be used independently of the other air handlers, for personalized comfort throughout your entire household.
As far as installation is concerned, there is some construction work involved that a central air conditioner or heat pump doesn’t need for installation. This is because most homes are not already outfitted to use ductless mini-split systems. The construction we mention involves drilling a very small hole in the walls of each room where you’ll have an air handler installed. The way this benefits you is that you don’t have to make room for a huge air conditioner, since the air handlers are mounted up high on the walls.
Ductless systems, also referred to as ductless mini-splits, have a number of benefits due to their setup, including:
- They’re Very Efficient: Ductless HVAC systems are more energy efficient than other types of HVAC systems. This is because they don’t have any ductwork and therefore airflow won’t be impacted by damaged ducts. It’s also because each air handler, as we mentioned above, can be independently controlled from each other. This means if you wanted to, you could cool down just your living room while leaving unoccupied bedrooms untouched.
- They’re Highly Versatile: When you have multiple indoor air handlers that each work independently from each other, you don’t have to worry about household squabbles over the thermostat. This is a benefit in and of itself, but there is a practical benefit to it as well. Let’s say you are cooking on a fairly mild day. The kitchen will heat up pretty fast, while other rooms in your home may be perfectly comfortable. Which is fine, because you only have to use the air handler in the kitchen!
If you’ve gone from considering to deciding that you need a ductless unit during this blog, get in touch today.
For professional Olympia, WA HVAC services, look no further than Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Contact us today!