When it comes to investing in an air conditioning system for your home, you have two main options. The most traditional is central air conditioning and a fairly newer option is the ductless mini-split system. We’re going to discuss some of the pros and cons of each system below to help you better understand which one is the ideal option for your home.
What Is Central Air Conditioning?
Central air conditioning is a ducted HVAC system that has both an indoor air handler unit as well as an outdoor condenser unit. The indoor unit contains a blower fan that’s responsible for distributing cold air throughout the ductwork in your home. Many times, a central air conditioning system is used in conjunction with a furnace, where it relies on the furnace’s built-in air handler unit.
A central air conditioning system relies on a substance known as refrigerant to transfer heat from inside your home to the outdoors. The indoor air handler will force air into your ductwork and over its evaporator coil. Heat from the air will naturally move into the low-pressure refrigerant inside of the evaporator coil. The compressor pump in the outdoor condenser unit will circulate the refrigerant from the indoor evaporator coil to the outdoor condenser unit.
As refrigerant enters the outdoor condenser coil, the blower fan in the outdoor unit will pass outdoor air over the coil. Heat will move from the refrigerant to the outdoor air and be dispersed. The refrigerant will then be pumped back into the indoor handler unit to restart the process all over again. Refrigerant will cycle between your indoor air handler unit and your outdoor condenser unit until your home reaches your desired temperature.
Integrates With Existing Furnace
By far, one of the biggest benefits of opting for central air conditioning is that it can seamlessly integrate with your existing heating system. You don’t need to have new ductwork installed, which can save you a bundle. Your AC unit will even run off the same central thermostat that your furnace runs on, making the process of using it very easy.
Cheaper Upfront Cost
When you simply look at central air conditioning systems and ductless mini-split systems, there is a stark difference in price. Central air conditioning systems are going to be the cheapest of the two to have installed in your home. This mainly comes down to the fact that they can integrate with existing ductwork.
Great Air Filtration
Because central air conditioning relies on a ducted system, it’s going to be more effective at filtering your air than a ductless system. This is because a ducted system is more powerful at circulating air, which makes it more capable of handling filters that can filter out more contaminants. The more contaminants a particular filter can remove, the more powerful the air circulation system must be to pull air through the filter. Ductless systems are only powerful enough to handle a certain size room, which reduces their ability to handle higher-rated filters.
Expensive if Ductwork Installation is Required
One of the drawbacks of a central air conditioning system is that it has to have ductwork to operate. If you don’t have ductwork already installed in your home, it can be very expensive to have it put in after the fact. This is because ductwork has to sit behind walls and underneath flooring. With drywall and flooring already in place, it has to be ripped out and reinstalled in order to put in new ducting. This invasive process isn’t overly ideal for homeowners.
What Is a Ductless Mini-Split System?
A ductless mini-split unit works very similarly to a central air conditioning system. The main difference is that it doesn’t use ductwork. Rather, it uses multiple mini-split units that get positioned in the different rooms of your home. Each mini-split unit is its own indoor air handler, complete with its own thermostat. All mini-split units connect to the main outdoor condenser unit via copper tubing.
Works Without Ductwork
One of the most significant advantages of a mini-split setup is that you don’t need ductwork for it to work. This is ideal if you have an existing home that lacks ductwork infrastructure. The only type of installation that is necessary is mini-split units being hung on the wall or the ceiling of each room of your home. Each one of these units will need a small three-inch hole to be placed in the exterior wall so that copper tubing and electricity can be run to the outdoor condenser unit.
Very Energy-Efficient
Another benefit of ductless mini-split units is that they’re extremely energy efficient. In fact, you’re not going to find a central air conditioning system that has as high of a SEER rating as some of the ductless mini-split units offered. The more energy efficient your air conditioning system is, the more money you can save on your summertime cooling bills.
Offers Heating Too
Because ductless mini-split units rely on a heat pump to cool your home, this means that they’re also capable of heating your home. These units are particularly effective at heating homes in mild climates that don’t experience temperatures that drop below freezing. By investing in a ductless mini-split system for your home, you only have to worry about buying that one unit to meet your comfort needs throughout the entire year.
Zone Temperature Control
Due to the way that mini-split units operate, each unit is able to have its own temperature settings. This gives you the benefit of zone temperature control throughout your home. You can enjoy setting your bedroom thermostat a few degrees lower than your living room thermostat to make each room as comfortable as possible. You can even help to maximize your energy efficiency by simply turning off units in rooms that you’re not currently using.
Higher Upfront Cost
One of the drawbacks of a ductless mini-split system is that it does come at a higher initial upfront purchase price than a central air conditioning system that’s going to be installed with existing ductwork. However, it’s important to note that many ductless heat pumps will make you eligible for a federal tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Homeowners can receive a tax credit in the amount of up to $3,200. Even some state governments and local municipalities are offering homeowners who invest in these energy-efficient HVAC systems tax incentives.
More Visible
Another drawback of the ductless system is that its components are more visible to the eye than with a central air conditioning system. With a central air conditioning system, you will only see air vents on the walls of your rooms. With a ductless mini-split system, you’re going to see the conduit hiding the refrigerant lines running on the exterior of your home. Additionally, if you opt for a floor or wall-mounted unit, you’ll be able to see the unit in each room.
Expert AC Installation Service
Cozy Home Services offers expert AC installation service for the whole Vacaville, CA community. Our technicians can help with all your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, indoor air quality, ductwork, air purification, home performance analysis, and solar needs. Contact our friendly staff today to book your next service appointment.
