How Many Zones Can A Mini-Split Have?
If you live in a large home, some areas are probably unoccupied at various times throughout the day. The master’s bedroom is empty while you’re out for the day. The living room may only be busy in the afternoons. The children’s rooms are unoccupied while they’re in school. Central air conditioners waste high amounts of energy controlling the temperatures in rooms that do not need much cooling or heating. Therefore, consider using a ductless mini-split heat pump instead. This significantly improves your home’s efficiency via zoning. However, many homeowners still wonder, “How many mini splits do I need?“ Read on to know everything you need to know about this question.
How A Multi-Zone Ductless Setup Works
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Many homeowners convert to ductless mini-split systems as they get more popular in the United States. The term “mini-split” is derived from the fact that it has two primary parts: the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. They are linked by a conduit that lets the refrigerant travel from one unit to the other. Large air ducts do not need to be installed throughout the house. A ductless mini-split heat pump is also highly versatile in that it offers heating and cooling. The house can also be divided into different zones wherein each zone can be set with a temperature setting based on the occupant’s preferences.
One outdoor unit can typically support as many as eight indoor units. This allows you to put one indoor air handler in each zone. For instance, you can place one air handler per room or floor. Each indoor unit has a remote control so the occupants can change the settings depending on their preferences. For instance, one zone can be cold if the person staying there likes it that way. Another area may have a slightly higher temperature, so the people in the room don’t shiver from the cold. This allows you to have a more peaceful home as there are fewer arguments over the temperature setting of the HVAC system.
Consult a professional HVAC technician to find out how many zones your home needs. They can match the system with your cooling and heating needs. The good news is that you can add more zones later if needed when you have a ductless mini-split system. You don’t need to purchase all indoor air handlers at once.
The Advantages Of Ductless Mini-Split Systems
Here are several benefits you get with ductless HVAC systems.
No Need For HVAC Ducts Installation
Some homes, such as historic homes, aren’t fitted with HVAC ductwork. It may be an old structure that was built before heating and cooling systems were developed. It can be time-consuming, difficult, and expensive to make big holes in your walls to determine how you can fit ducts along the ceilings. A ductless mini-split only requires a small hole where the conduit can pass through. A three-inches hole should be sufficient to fit the drain line, refrigerant line, suction tubing, and power cables. Ductless system installation is easier and quicker. It also ensures that your home’s structural integrity remains intact.
No Energy Waste From Duct Leakage
Ducts can eventually develop cracks and holes. This results in the conditioned air leaking out. An Energy Star article claims that approximately 30% of air leaks occur in the ductwork. Therefore, the HVAC system compensates for this loss by working harder and longer. It also causes higher energy consumption as much of the unit’s work goes to waste. Routine inspections from HVAC professionals are necessary to find and seal these leaks. This is another additional cost. You don’t have to worry about air duct leaks with a ductless system.
Ductless Helps Improve Indoor Air Quality
Ductwork holes cause poor indoor air quality. Dust and dirt can enter via these openings. Having a central air system means these impurities from the surroundings mix with the conditioned air and are distributed throughout the house. People who are sensitive to dust and debris may experience an allergic reaction. Others may also suffer from respiratory problems as time passes. Homes with ductless systems don’t suffer from these issues. These systems also have more effective filters. Switching to a ductless system can improve your indoor air quality, allowing your family to breathe better.
Clever Ductless Design Offers Less Noise
Window units tend to make a lot of noise as they get older. It is primarily because of the compressor directly installed in the unit. It is the part that faces the outdoors. Ductless systems have the indoor air handler divided from the compressor. Therefore, the compressor’s noise cannot be heard inside. The people can sleep peacefully in their rooms and not wake up several times from the loud noise. You can set the fans at high speed, and the sound will remain barely audible. The outdoor unit is also less noisy compared to those in traditional heat pumps.
More Efficient Energy Consumption
Ductless mini-splits run more efficiently than central air systems because there are no air leaks. This means that it consumes less energy but still provides the same comfort level. As each zone allows its own temperature settings to be controlled, you can turn off the air handlers in unoccupied rooms. The system uses significantly less energy if only the zones that require heating or cooling remain active. This is highly beneficial to the environment and your wallet. Ductless heat pumps offer some of the highest SEER and HSPF ratings than other HVAC units on the market.
Lower Monthly Energy Bills
A system that uses less energy helps reduce your monthly energy bills. It can be costly to switch to a ductless system. However, the reduced operational cost covers this cost in the long run. Think of it as a smart investment that will pay dividends over time. It is recommended that you consider the total ownership cost instead of just the equipment price due to the current high charges for energy.
Conclusion
Ductless mini-split systems are highly versatile. These systems let homeowners create zones and have separate temperature controls. One outdoor unit can support up to eight zones, which should be enough for the average household. You can add more indoor and outdoor units if more zones are needed to achieve greater temperature regulation in your home. This HVAC system is an attractive option as it offers better air quality, reduced energy consumption, lower bills, easy installation, and less noise.
Call Wilcox Energy For All Of Your HVAC Requirements
When you need high-quality HVAC services throughout the southern Connecticut shoreline, call Wilcox Energy. We have only the best professionally certified technicians on staff who can provide excellent heating and cooling maintenance, installations, repairs, and replacements. All our friendly techs are equipped with the right tools, extensive experience, and knowledge to conduct correct and timely HVAC services.
Our company has the most competitive HVAC service prices in the locality. Our tune-up services can increase your energy efficiency and home comfort while lowering your energy bills. If you need to replace or repair your HVAC system, we can recommend the best solution within your budget. All our work is guaranteed because your satisfaction is our priority. Call Wilcox Energy today to schedule a service appointment. We offer free, in-home estimates.
For more information about our HVAC services, be sure to contact Wilcox Energy. You can click here to contact us, or you can call us at (860) 399-6218 to find out more. We offer a full line of heating and cooling repairs, maintenance services, and installations.