Monthly Archives: February 2020

This time of year, as winter is about over and the spring will soon arrive, you can’t help but think of the warmer months to come. You typically use a window air conditioning unit to beat the heat, but this year, you’re thinking of doing things differently. One other option that has interested you is a ductless mini split system. Is this really more efficient than a window unit? Let’s explore.

Window Air Conditioning Unit Efficiency

We’ll begin by talking about window units. These are sized for a standard household window. You position the unit in the open window and then set it to cool that room only. You can add more window units for more cooling power, but is this necessarily efficient?

According to Energy.gov, most window units can cool a room at 12,000 BTUs. They’re somewhat efficient, but not very. There are some window units on the market today that are designed for greater energy efficiency. These have an energy efficiency ratio or EER of

For about as long as you can remember, you’ve had central air conditioning in your home. Whether it’s the noise of the AC each time it kicks on and runs, the leaky ductwork, or something else entirely, you’re beginning to look at your other cooling options.

One of those options that has really captivated your attention is a ductless mini split system. The zoned cooling seems like it might be a good solution for your home (and even your office), but you’re still not sure which to choose. Should you stick with what you already have or make the move to a mini split system? Is it true that central air is really better than going ductless?

To answer that, we’ll review both systems, including the pros and cons for each.

Pros and Cons of Central Air Conditioning

Central air conditioning is a common cooling method for many a homeowner. That’s because it’s advantageous in the following ways:

• Air conditioning units, as they tend to

Ductless mini split systems provide heating or cooling by room, also known as zones. Since your mini split system can include as many as five zones, sometimes even more, you may wonder if it’s possible to have too many mini splits through oversizing.

In today’s post, we’re here to explore that very topic so you can make a smart, energy-efficient choice for your home or office.

Can You Oversize a Mini Split?

Some mini split systems might not be as hulking as the furnace in your basement or the air conditioning unit in the backyard. This may give consumers the impression that you can’t oversize a mini split system.

As it turns out, that’s very much not the case. Mini splits can indeed be oversized. If you’re of the bigger is always better mentality, then you may wonder how this could be problematic.

To answer that question, we’ll look at an ex

You’ve invested in a ductless air conditioner for your home or office. The system runs very well for now, but you know that to keep it in optimal condition, you need to maintain it. The only problem is you have no idea where to start.

Luckily, in today’s post, we’ll provide some handy tips and pointers for keeping your ductless AC in the best running shape! Here’s what to do.

Take Care of Your Compressor

The compressor is the lifeblood of your ductless unit. Without it, you can’t enjoy air conditioning, so you must take care of it. If you have a team of ductless AC technicians that you already use, you can schedule them to come out every week or so to clean the compressor. You can also check the compressor yourself between cleanings to ensure it’s not obstructed by any debris.

Keep the Exterior of the Air Conditioner Clean

If dirt, dust, or debris gets into your ductless air conditioner, the unit may malfunction or fail alt

You’ve decided that you’d like more adequate heating or cooling in your garage, as currently, this is one of the most uncomfortable spaces in your home. In the wintertime, it’s freezing in there, and in the summer, it feels like sitting in a sweatbox. You’re miserable either way, which is a real shame if you use your garage as a workshop or a recreational space. Even if it’s just where you store your lawnmower, beach chairs, and holiday decorations, you never want to be in there for more than a few minutes.

That can all change with a mini split system in your garage. On its own, the system will cool the heated garage and warm up a cold space in the winter. By combining the mini split with insulation, you can trap this air in even longer so you can finally use your garage the way you want to.

Just which size mini split should you use for your garage heating and cooling endeavors? That will depend on how big your garage is.

For example, let’s say you have a smaller g

You’re planning to switch to a ductless mini split system in your home or office for the coming year. Before you make the jump, one thing you want to spend some time doing is creating a sufficient budget. To do that, you need to know how many rooms or spaces you would need a mini split for heating/cooling purposes.

This is where you’re running into a problem. Is it better to get a mini split in every room of your home or office, or should you only opt for this heating/cooling solution in certain rooms?

The answer will vary for everyone, but very rarely do you need a mini split in every single room. Not only is this excessive, but it could be costlier for you, since you’re paying for a mini split unit in each room of the house or commercial building. If this is more than five or six units, you could easily blow through even a well-planned budget.

That’s a shame, since a ductless mini split system rarely costs more than traditi

Groan, grumble, rattle, hum. Your air conditioner makes a lot of noise each time it kicks on. Sure, it cools your home, at least adequately enough for now, but you worry when you hear it do its thing. Are those noises normal or is your AC unit struggling to start up and keep running when you need it most?

These aren’t necessarily questions you want to answer, but you likely will have to sooner than later when your air conditioner breaks down. Whether it was because of age or an undiagnosed problem, you’ll know.

Instead of investing in another traditional air conditioner, you were thinking of perhaps making the switch to a ductless air conditioning system instead. However, you don’t want to hear all that noise, even if the AC is running optimally. How much noise would a ductless air conditioner make, anyway?

Once you make the changeover to mini-split style air conditioning, you probably won’t ever want to go back. M

You’re always interested in learning new ways to increase the value of your home. It’s not that you plan on moving anytime soon. Rather, you’re all about the peace of mind in knowing that, should you move, you could likely earn more on your home resale than what you spent on it.

In making decisions conscious of driving up your home’s value, you may wonder about making the switch to ductless air conditioning. Could this change increase your home value or will that value take a hit?

Chances are adding or upgrading your A/C will increase your home value. While having any form of air conditioning always beats having none at all, there are certain types of cooling that might make the better choice for your home long-term.

For instance, take ductless air conditioning. This form of AC is comprised of a compressor that goes outside as well as one or several units mounted inside to a wall, ceiling, or even a floor in some instances. These u