Best Way to Air Condition House Without Ducts

All air-conditioning uses the same outdoor components to produce the cold refrigerant that cools the air inside a abode. The divergence with a ductless AC system (see illustration) is where that air is cooled and how information technology's distributed.

Central-air systems ship refrigerant to a bulky fundamental air handler that then blows cool air into the house through a network of ducts. Ductless systems pump refrigerant to meaty indoor units within individual rooms. Each split Air-conditioning unit operates like a miniature air handler, delivering cold air into its own zone only when it's needed.

The Cool Difference

Illustration by Arthur Mountain

Because there are no ducts, these systems don't accept the air leaks, heat gains, or pressure imbalances that can undermine the efficiency and comfort of a cardinal-air setup. And installation is a snap. It's far easier and faster to fish a narrow bundle of insulated refrigerant lines through a house than to retrofit bulky HVAC ducts.

Measuring Ductless vs. Central-Air

You're likely to salve thirty% of electricity by replacing window Air conditioning units with a ductless system. Coincidentally, that's also about how much cooling is typically lost in fundamental-air systems, thanks to leaky, poorly insulated ductwork.

What to Know About Ductless Air conditioning

• Toll: A single-zone system with one indoor unit starts around $3,000, including installation. A four-zone organisation costs most $12,000, installed.
• Installation: Yous'll need a pro to mount the indoor and outdoor units and connect the 2½-inch-wide bundle of refrigerant lines and electric cables.
• Maintenance: The filter on each indoor unit should exist removed and cleaned every calendar month. Once a year, have a technician check refrigerant force per unit area and flush condensate lines.
• Racket: Indoor units have whisper-placidity squirrel-cage fans driven by long-life DC motors. Decibel ratings run at well-nigh 25, roughly the same as rustling leaves.
• Warranties: Coverage ranges from 5 to 12 years, only you lot can expect this sort of mechanical equipment to terminal fifteen to xx years before information technology needs to be replaced.
• Rebates: A few utilities offer rebates for installing ductless AC systems. Many more incentives are bachelor for heat-pump systems. To meet whether yous might be eligible, go to energystar.gov/rebate-finder.

Size Matters

Beware of installers who size a split Air conditioning unit of measurement using a rule-of-pollex estimate. By and large, the event is oversize equipment that's costly to operate and tin can't finer reduce humidity levels. Instead, insist on a "Manual J" estrus-load calculation. It figures system size based on math and factors such as climate, insulation levels, and sun exposure.

Efficiency vs. System Toll

Nautical chart Arthur Mountain

All cooling systems carry a Seasonal Free energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating, which compares cooling capacity with the amount of electricity used over the course of a typical cooling season. Ratings on today'southward systems range from 13 to 33 SEER. As the graph beneath shows, the higher the rating, the more than yous'll pay for your system, and the lower your electricity bills will exist come summer. To see what outcome SEER ratings have on estimated operating costs in your expanse, go to the primal AC life-cycle cost reckoner at energystar.gov. Organization prices come up from acwholesalers.com.

* Based on a ane-ton system in St. Louis at 12 cents per kWh

** Calculated from 1-ton pricing

What's a Ton?

In the parlance of air-conditioning, a ton is non a measure of weight; it's a measure of cooling capacity. One ton of cooling extracts 12,000 Btus per 60 minutes from a space. That's enough oestrus to melt one ton of water ice inside 24 hours, hence the connectedness between weight and condolement. The capacity of ductless systems ranges from 3⁄4 to 4 tons.

Amend Air Quality

Illustration by Arthur Mount

All indoor split Air-conditioning units include mesh filters that collect dust. Merely some, such as Mitsubishi Electric's, besides offer filters treated with enzymes, to break down allergens like pet dander and dust mites, as well as ceramic filters embedded with platinum catalysts that neutralize odors.

Whole-Business firm Cooling

At first, ductless systems were elementary, single-room affairs, oftentimes installed every bit replacements for window air conditioners. But at present some outdoor units, like the ones made by Carrier, accept grown and so powerful they tin can supply refrigerant to every bit many equally nine divide indoor units. Amazingly, each unit in 1 of these "multi-dissever" systems notwithstanding operates independently. When it comes to customized zoning, this selection is difficult to top.

Heat Pumps: the All-Flavor Option

Illustration by Arthur Mount

Ductless systems tin can produce both hot and cold air if you get a heat pump for the outdoor unit. Its cardinal component is a reversing valve, which switches the direction of refrigerant flow to conform the season.

Install FAQs

• Who does the work? Manufacturer websites can pinpoint experienced installers in your surface area, and are a skillful place to start your search.
• Where should the outdoor unit go? It will perform best in a shady location—the north side of a house or under a deck—every bit long equally there's enough clearance for airflow and maintenance.
• Where should the indoor units become? Wall-mounted units are easiest to install when located on an outside wall near the outdoor unit. It's more challenging to connect the refrigerant lines to units mounted on interior walls, just since those lines run as much as 165 anxiety in length, it's not incommunicable.
• How long does it accept? A arrangement with one wall-mounted unit tin exist installed in most four hours. Each boosted unit adds another 2 hours. Ducted and ceiling units are more time-consuming.

Heat Pumps Move North

Time was, estrus-pump systems made sense merely where temps didn't dip below freezing on wintertime nights. But with contempo advancements in compressor technology, units like those made by Fujitsu are able to operate downwardly to −15°F, proving their worth in frigid states from Maine to Minnesota.

Cull Your Indoor Unit: Wall Mounted

Photograph by Hero Images/Getty Images

The easiest to install and least expensive unit of the group, it is too the most mutual type. Best for cooling single rooms. Motorized vanes at the lesser of the unit control direction of airflow. Operates at 26 decibels (dB).

Shown: Unico

Cull Your Indoor Unit of measurement: Ceiling Recessed

Photo by CaiaImage/Getty Images

Sends air in iv directions at the same time, making it a good pick for large, open floor plans. Also called a cassette, information technology requires nearly x inches of clearance in a higher place the ceiling. Operates at about 36 dB.

Shown: Lennox

Choose Your Indoor Unit: Floor Mounted

Photo by Hero Images/Getty Images

Resting on or nigh the floor, this type directs air toward the ceiling. It's the easiest unit to maintain, due to its location. (Some units can also exist suspended from the ceiling.) Operates at about 35 dB.

Shown: Daikin

Choose Your Indoor Unit: Concealed

Photo past VoStok/Getty Images

This least obtrusive option sits above a soffit or ceiling and feeds air to different rooms through as much equally 12 feet of hidden ducts; y'all run across only the grilles. The unit of measurement must exist accessible for servicing. Operates at most 30 dB.

Shown: Mitsubishi Electric

Key Upgrades

Courtesy of LG

Wireless controls: There's no need for a separate wall thermostat with ductless units—you regulate them with a line-of-sight remote. Some systems, such as LG's (shown), have Wi-Fi links that put your smartphone in control no matter where you are.

Variable-speed compressor: Also known every bit inverter-driven compressors, they calibrate refrigerant menstruum to precisely meet indoor cooling needs, putting an end to the uncomfortable up-and-down temperature swings of unmarried- or ii-speed units. Variable-speed compressors, similar those from Trane, likewise use less power and concluding far longer than their fixed-speed counterparts.

Sensors: A built-in occupancy sensor, like the ones from Panasonic, maximizes free energy savings by ramping upwardly the indoor unit when you enter the room and turning information technology down when you leave.

fallistryalk.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/heating-cooling/21018989/read-this-before-you-buy-ductless-ac

Share this post