Ductless

Ductless Air Conditioning Mini-Split for Total Comfort

Ductless mini-split or duct-free system HVAC units can be a useful alternative to cool and heat homes and businesses. Through a variety of sizes and capabilities of controlling the air temperature in individual zones or rooms in the building, they offer both economic and environmental advantages.

HVAC companies like Total Comfort are installing them in multifamily housing, renovations of older single-family homes, as well as businesses’ server rooms, waiting rooms and office spaces. They also have a money and energy savings advantage when some areas of office space are used infrequently or not at all (such as a build-out waiting for occupancy), by only conditioning the space that is occupied.

Duct-free systems, as the name implies, have no ductwork and consist of an outdoor condenser and an indoor air-handling unit. These are linked together with tubing that houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, and a drain tube for condensation. In many ways, they operate in a manner quite similar to a standard air conditioning system.

Bruce McConnell, Operations Manager of Total Comfort, noted that the main advantages of duct-free systems are ease of installation, cost savings, energy savings and flexibility in locating the system for cosmetic concerns and sound control as well as logistical applications.
“The benefits are often overlooked by customers, but we like to point out that duct-free systems can be installed in places where conventional ducted systems simply can’t go. Options for interior design include ceiling and wall mounted units, drop ceiling applications and even a picture gallery unit that allows the owner to customize the look of the space,” he said. “Floor-standing models are also available. Most indoor units have profiles of about eight to eleven inches deep and have a range of aesthetically refined designs suitable for any home or office. All models offer a remote control to easily make adjustments to the system’s airflow pattern or temperature and on and off when it’s positioned high on a wall or suspended from a ceiling.”

Duct-free systems can also help to keep your home safer because there is only a small hole for the tubing to pass through the wall. Window-mounted and through-the-wall room air-conditioners, unfortunately, can provide an easy entrance for intruders.

“For many of our customers, the unique advantages of this type of system are important. Our installers are highly trained, they attend hands-on training as well as up-to-date factory training and testing,” Bruce continued. “I would caution against using a company whose technicians are not proficient in this type of installation, as each unit must be correctly sized and placed. An error here could result in wasted energy, improper temperature or humidity control, and greater long-term operational expenses.”

Dan Hucks, President of Total Comfort, encourages home and business owners replacing existing systems, building new or remodeling to consider duct-free systems.

“The cost savings can be significant in terms of installation and energy use without compromising the comfort level of the rooms or occupants. Our professional technicians are continuously trained to help customers determine the best options for cooling and heating your home or business.”