Written on: July 24, 2023
Have you been thinking about air conditioning options for your South Shore home? If your home uses a boiler for heating, it probably doesn’t have the ductwork required for central air conditioning.
Please note that if you decide to install ductwork for central air conditioning, it could raise the total cost of the project by several thousand dollars.
Until recently, homeowners who did not have ductwork had to choose between paying a considerable amount of money for installing ductwork and central air conditioning or opting for cheaper but less efficient window air conditioning units.
What if we told you there’s a better solution? Williams Energy offers ductless mini-split installation and service!
A ductless mini-split system consists of an outdoor compressor unit and an indoor air handler or evaporator. These two components are connected by tubing that contains power lines, communication lines, and condensate drain lines.
As its name implies, the compressor compresses the refrigerant vapor, making it easier to move into the condenser. In the condenser, the vapor releases heat into the air and turns into a liquid. Then, the liquid goes through an expansion valve that greatly reduces the pressure. After that, it enters the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the low-pressure coolant. When the indoor air passes over it, the cooling process takes place, and the air exits the supply registers and cools your home.
One of the benefits of using ductless mini-splits to cool your home is their cost-effectiveness when it comes to installation, as they don’t require the installation of ductwork, unlike central air conditioners. Here are some other ways installing mini-splits in your home is a great idea.
Fast and easy installation – Installation of ductless mini-splits often takes less than a day, whereas installing central A/C with ductwork can take several days and be a messy process.
Zoned cooling – Ductless mini-splits can help you achieve zoned cooling, saving energy and money on your bills. Simply cooling the parts of your house that you’re currently using is a more efficient and cost-effective way to stay comfortable.
Adding cooled space – Ductless mini-splits can cool (and heat!) additional spaces in your home apart from the main living areas. These spaces can include workshops, garages, guest houses, pool houses, gardening sheds, over-the-garage apartments, she-sheds, and other accessory dwelling units.
Get a longer life expectancy – Regular, professional maintenance can extend the lifespan of mini-split systems to more than 20 years, while central A/C units typically have a shorter lifespan.
Supplement your central A/C – Even if you already have central air conditioning, your home may benefit from adding ductless mini-splits. If you have made any additions to your home, such as a or a home addition, after installing your central air conditioning, it’s worth installing a ductless mini-split to cool those spaces. This decreases the workload on your central A/C and can help it last longer with less wear and fewer repairs.
Each year, homeowners with window air conditioning units are faced with the dilemma of whether or not to keep the units installed during winter. Leaving them installed may cause heat loss, but removing them can be difficult and risky, especially if your windows are above ground level. Getting someone else to remove them could end up costing hundreds of dollars annually.
There are several reasons why window A/C units may not be the ideal option. They are not energy efficient, and tend to be less effective in cooling bigger spaces. They can generate notable noise. Additionally, they might serve as an easy access point for burglars if installed on the ground floor. Moreover, they can block light and let in unwanted things from the outdoors like bugs, dust, dirt, and pollen into your home.
Are you ready to kick your window A/C units to the curb? Get a FREE estimate from Williams Energy for adding ductless mini-splits to your home!