Mini Split/ Ductless Installation
Intro:
So you've made the decision or are thinking about exploring the mini split ducted or ductless options, great! Let's get you up to speed on the technology, the options and the benefits!
What is a Mini Split? Ductless? AND Ducted!
Mini Split Ducted and Ductless systems seem so new, but the technology was developed by Mitsubishi Electric around the early 60's. The technology has thus been perfected and developed even more over the years adding more intuitive operating systems and greater performance. So, Mini Split is simply short for a miniature residential split system capable of going below the minimum BTU rating of a normal residential split system. Ductless, is the ability of a having a wall mount, ceiling mount or floor mount unit without having to run ductwork. Ductless options are suitable for rooms that feature open spaces and not additional rooms, due to the lack of ability to move the air into those rooms. So bedrooms, server rooms, garage conversions, offices and so forth are perfect for ductless!
Ducted options are out there in different variations, from typical air handler style, to small and sleek designs to be suspended in the attic. These designs are great for whole house conditioning, multiple room additions, or large area conditioning! With every variation, the SEER rating is capable at being very high!
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The Technology:
These units use Inverter Technology, which means that it uses your standard power at the house or commercial building, either 120VAC 60Hz PH1 or 240VAC 60Hz PH1 and changes it to a DC voltage, where components run at a lower operating voltage. This significantly saves degradation and failure on the systems motors or major loads. Another benefit to this is the fact that it significantly saves electricity (Kw) since it is operating at a lower amp draw or using less power. The compressor is able to ramp up and down based on the load or demand. This means that if your unit is a 9,000 BTU (British Thermal Unit) system, its full capacity is 9K BTU, but it can swing well below due to the variable speed compressor, thus saving power! When the system runs at a lower capacity, they run super quiet! Which is another benefit! Another neat feature they incorporate is depending on your regional location, the distributers carry equipment to comply with regional humidity and temperature swings. So, your contractor will be installing a unit that is best designed for the higher temperatures and higher humidity removal per hour here in South Central Texas.
Options or Configuration:
There are many different options for ductless and ducted out there now. There are also many different brands labeled as DIY kits that are sold online, that do not require a license. These off brand units typically DO NOT use the same technology as the leading brands out there, thus is why they are cheap. Warranty issues pose a problem with off brand units, technical support is not there, and parts become hard to find or cannot be received. I highly recommend sticking with name brand units which are sold by licensed HVACR contractors.
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Options, there are many different variations of ductless and ducted systems out there. They have wall mount, floor mount, and a cassette style that go in the ceiling. The most common installation is the wall mount, being it is the easier option in a lot of cases, and usually the cheapest. Typically if the units are installed in a finished house, an exterior wall is the ideal placement of the indoor unit. This is done because the power, copper lines and drain need to be ran outside through the wall to the condenser. If it is remodel or new construction, there are more options available in terms of wall placement, because we have access to the interior of the wall for running lineset, drain and power.
Benefits:
The benefits of installing a ductless system is the fact that you can condition a single room, and have low operating costs! These units are very efficient and when sized right, have the ability to quietly keep you comfortable even on those hot Texas summer days and those cold nights with the heat pump option. They are sometimes cheaper to install than configuring ductwork options from your main system, and then have to worry about system capacity.
Brands We Install:
We are exclusive dealers of Mitsubishi Electric. These units have great warranties, technical support, and great system performance with many different options on SEER rating.
We can install any brand of Mini splits but we push Mitsubishi. Other brands include but are not limited to, Daikin, LG, Comfortmaker, Trane, Carrier, Comfortstar. We will not touch any piece of equipment that was not purchased through a supplier and not bought through a contractor.
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