A mini-split system is a type of HVAC system that can provide cooling or both cooling and heating. These are split systems, which means that there’s an outdoor unit as well as equipment indoors. They may also be multi-zoned, which means there’s the potential for two or more indoor units. Mini-split systems are an increasingly popular choice for home HVAC systems in San Antonio, TX. Let’s explore why it may be a good choice for your home and why it may not.
Con: Higher Installation and Equipment Costs
Whether the cost of a mini-split system will be high for you depends on the size of your home and the scope of the zones. In smaller homes with only one or two zones, it can be a lot cheaper. For the average installation, labor and equipment costs are going to be higher. There are just more individual components in a mini-split system. The installers also must install and configure the indoor units independently.
Pro: No Ducts Required
The caveat is that the mini-split systems don’t require ducts and have very few installation requirements in general. The average price for central systems doesn’t account for ducts. Most homeowners reuse theirs. If you’re in an older home without ducts or need new ducts, the mini-split system will be a lot cheaper.
Con: Higher Maintenance Costs
Mini-split maintenance costs are typically higher because the process is more involved. With a central system, your technician services the blower and a singular heating or cooling system. With a mini-split system, your technician has to service the units in each zone, which all have their own blowers and evaporator coils.
Pro: Better Energy Efficiency
The minimum SEER rating for an air conditioner in the Southeast is 15. Most mini-split systems have SEER ratings well above that, and the majority have a rating in the 20s. That means that the mini-split system will be significantly cheaper to run day in and day out. A big reason for this is the ducts. Ducts can cause heating and cooling losses as high as 40%.
Con: Aesthetics and Footprint
A big advantage of a central system is that it occupies space you don’t really use. A mini-split system does. It’s common to install indoor units on walls. That takes up usable space and is an eyesore to some. For rooms with low clearance, you may need a floor unit, which takes up even more space. Suspended ceiling units can free up space but may still diminish aesthetics. The cassette units that we install in the ceiling may be the ideal option, but they can increase your costs a lot.
Pro: Inherent Zoning
Another way that a mini-split system saves you money is through zoning. You can adjust the temperature independently in each zone. Turn the cooling or heating up in the zones you’re using and down in those you’re not. That can save you considerable money, particularly at night when you’re sleeping. Zoning is possible with central systems, but it’s a lot more expensive to implement.
Con: Limited Coverage
Mini-split systems blow conditioned air directly into the living space, and there are limitations to that. In larger living rooms, for instance, it’s difficult to provide air to the entire space evenly. There are potential solutions, such as a secondary unit that augments the primary. That solution, which is probably the most affordable, is going to drive up the labor and equipment costs for that zone. Other potential problem areas that are challenging to account for practically and economically are large foyers and hallways.
Pro: Better Air Quality
All forced-air systems have the potential to negatively impact air quality, but mini-split systems have advantages that make them less likely. The dirt that accumulates in central systems is difficult to reach. You’ll generally have it cleaned once a season at most. The accumulation in the ducts may go uncleaned for years. Some homeowners never clean their ducts, which may have mold and other odor-causing buildup. With a mini-split system, everything is right there in the indoor unit and easily accessible. If you keep the louvers and filters clean, you’ll experience dramatically better air quality than with a central system.
Con: Filter Cleaning
While improved indoor air quality is a pro, it can become a con if you don’t keep the filters cleaned. Dirty mini-split systems will blow allergens into your immediate space more than a central system would. Central systems have an air filter that you must discard and replace once a month at most. Mini-split systems have a filter in every zone. You often need to wash those filters every two weeks, wait for them to dry, and then reinstall them.
Pro: Remote Control
Most mini-split brands include a remote control with each indoor unit. If you opt for Wi-Fi capabilities, you can control all indoor units with just one remote. Many brands also offer an app so that you can trade your remote in for your phone. Voice activation is an option, too. These are all possible with the central system as well, but you’ll often need to purchase an expensive smart thermostat.
Con: Multiple Drainage Points
Central air conditioners and heat pumps require one condensate drain line. Mini-split systems require a drain line for each indoor unit. That can increase the chances of repair issues. Some indoor units may not be able to drain through gravity alone. In those cases, a condensate pump will be an additional expense.
Pro: Quieter Operation
A mini-split system is directly in your living space, which leads many to think it will be louder. That usually isn’t the case. The modern mini-split system is whisper-quiet. Central systems are a lot louder because of the large blowers. They’re also louder because the air going through the ducts causes them to rattle.
Con: Hybrid Heating Setups Are Challenging
Mini-split systems that provide heating and cooling are heat pumps. A downside to air-source heat pumps is that they become less efficient when temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This may not be an issue where you live. If it is, there are a couple of solutions. Some mini-split systems have electric heating strips, but those can get expensive to run for long periods. The more economical option is hybrid heating. While you can do it with a mini-split system, it’s better suited to a central heat pump and furnace pairing.
Pro: Suitable for Disconnected Living Spaces
The flexibility of separate indoor units opens up a lot of possibilities. An installer can easily add cooling and heating to a home addition. You can also provide mini-split units to garages, garage apartments, finished basements, finished attics, workshops, and other satellite buildings. You can even add a mini-split system to a central system as an affordable way to upgrade it with HVAC zoning.
Would You Like to Install a Mini-Split System in San Antonio?
If you’d like to install a mini-split system in your home, Rosenberg Plumbing & Air can help. We’ve completed many cooling-only and heat pump mini-split installations throughout the Greater San Antonio area. Our company installs, maintains, and repairs central heating and cooling systems as well. We’re available for emergency repairs, installing and repairing ductwork, and we specialize in UV lamps and dehumidifiers. Our company also has a plumbing team that performs camera inspections, cleans drains, and fixes slabs and other leaks. We pipe and repipe water, sewer, and gas lines. Our plumbers also install and service fixtures, tank and tankless water heaters, water treatment systems, sump pumps, and septic tanks.
Call Rosenberg Plumbing & Air today with questions about our products and services, or request service online.
Tags: ductless system, mini split system