Mini-split systems, sometimes called ductless air conditioners, are great additions to homes that have a room or two that just don’t seem to cool. A mini-split may be an ideal solution to a south-facing room, a sunroom, a backyard casita, or a garage used as a hobby room or additional living space. Mini-splits also provide heating during the winter months.
Mini- split units can efficiently cool a warm space without having to run ductwork to distribute the cooled air. Because the mini-split has its own thermostat, you can cool the space only when needed.
Mini-splits have two main components: an outdoor compressor/condenser and an indoor air handling unit. Conduit, usually only about 3 inches in diameter, is passed through the wall to house the electrical cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing and drain for the condensate.
Because there are no ducts connecting the mini-split to the HVAC system, there’s no energy loss from cooled air passing through the ducts to reach the space needed. The Energy.gov website estimates that 30% of energy used for cooling can be wasted, particularly if the ducts pass through unconditioned space like an attic that gets very hot in the summer.
A mini-split can cool the space more efficiently than a window air conditioner but the unit does install inside the room, so it’s visible, unlike the built-in look when a swamp cooler or refrigerated air system provides the cooling.
In our warm New Mexico summers, mini-splits can fill a gap in cooling your home or for a casita or in-law suite that’s not connected to the main home’s cooling system. It’s important to properly size the unit to the area it needs to cool; it’s not a “one size fits all”. An undersized mini-split will short cycle, wasting energy and not providing the proper temperature. An oversized unit is more expensive, both to purchase and for its operational costs.
At Affordable Service, we’re happy to provide a free estimate to install a mini-split in your Albuquerque or Rio Rancho area home. Our customers love the convenience and energy-efficiency of a mini-split A/C unit and the comfort it adds to the home. If we can help with the installation of a Carrier mini-split or repair of any brand of mini-split in your home, give us a call!
