Think about how many styles of homes you see when you’re driving around different neighborhoods. Homes come in myriad styles and sizes to accommodate families of different sizes and compositions. Families tailor our homes and spaces to meet the needs of all who dwell within our walls, and our homes often change over time. For example, basements are finished, garages converted, additions are built, and even separate living spaces are created to adapt to changes in the families’ needs.

No matter the size or style of your home, we all have a common need for clean, comfortable air perfect air. On top of changes to our homes as we age and our children grow up, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to spend more time in our homes and set them up for new purposes. People who used to work in offices now need remote workspaces at home, and their children probably also need to reconfigure parts of the house for remote learning activities. Also, we’re about to enter the colder months in Western Pennsylvania, which also means additional time spent indoors.

As we adapt to the changing seasons and other circumstances that 2020 has brought to us, it’s time to rethink our air. You want to be as comfortable as possible yet expanding your existing HVAC system isn’t always a practical answer when you have a space that lacks adequate heating and cooling. The good news is that a mini-split might be the solution for meeting the household’s changing heating and cooling needs.

What Is a Ductless Mini-Split?

A ductless mini-split is an HVAC system that provides an efficient and flexible solution for heating and cooling specific areas of the home. Mini-splits can be used as a whole-home solution in some regions, but ductless mini-splits are more commonly utilized for heating and cooling specific areas of homes. Most often, they’re used in situations where you’ve expanded or repurposed part of your home that your HVAC system doesn’t deliver air to, but not you need comfort control in that area.

You won’t be shocked to learn that ductless mini-splits do not use ducts as your traditional forced-air HVAC system does. In most homes, the conditioned air from the air handler is forced into each room in your home through your house’s ducts. With a ductless system, separate air handling units are installed in each area the current HVAC system doesn’t reach, and these units are typically placed in the wall or ceiling. Ductless mini-splits all you to easily control the heating and cooling output in each area, as each air handler connects to a single outdoor air conditioner or heat pump.

Why Choose a Ductless Mini-Split?

You might think that you could “add” the new space you want to heat and cool to your existing forced-air HVAC system. However, this isn’t always a practical or cost-effective solution for a couple of reasons:

• HVAC System Size: The HVAC system you have was installed in your home was selected based upon the size of the areas of the home to be heated and cooled. Trying to add space for heating and cooling to your existing home means the load on your HVAC system increases drastically. In short, your existing HVAC system is unlikely to have sufficient capacity to accommodate this, which can lead to much higher utility bills or even a breakdown of your system.

At the same time, if your HVAC system is old and about due for an upgrade, it might be smarter to install a new, higher capacity system that can handle the additional space to be heated and cooled.

• Ducts: Your new space doesn’t have the ducts to receive the heated and cooled air from your HVAC system. If it did, your HVAC system was likely selected to handle the capacity of the new areas, even if you hadn’t been using those spaces. When you create a new, special place in your home, you want to be as comfortable there as you are everywhere else, so you’ll need a different solution if the ducts don’t reach that space.

On the other hand, if you renovated your unfinished basement, you may be able to bring heated and cooled air into that space because ducts often sit just below the first floor of the home. The ducts can be modified to force air into the basement.

If your new area does not have ducts, give us a call to learn about expanding your current duct system to the area so the existing HVAC system can service this space.

Ductless Mini-Split Options

So, where do ductless mini-splits come in handy? Here are a few common examples:

• In an attached or detached garage for year-round comfort when working on projects.
• A newly finished basement, whether it’s used for a playroom, theater room, or workout space.
• Home additions, like new master suites, family rooms, or even all-season rooms.

For cooling all-seasons room additions, a ductless mini-split air conditioner is a good choice. A mini-split air conditioner delivers quiet, efficient cooling for any room. Using a 20 SEER cooling efficiency delivers perfectly comfortable air without wasting energy. Plus, the variable-speed design further boosts efficiency by constantly and precisely adjusting the air based on cooling demand.

For finished basements and new room additions, a mini-split heat pump provides the combination of heating and cooling your home needs. A mini-split heat pump also offers efficient heating and cooling ideal for add-on spaces.

Learn More About Ductless Mini-Split Heating & Cooling Solutions

Get the precise and efficient heating and cooling you need in any area of the home with a ductless mini-split HVAC system. Explore your equipment options and receive expert installation for long-lasting performance and enjoyment of your new ductless mini-split. Contact Arendosh Heating & Cooling today to add more comfort to your home.