How to Maximize Efficiency with Your Ductless Mini Split System
Ductless mini splits are efficiency powerhouses, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do more to enhance their efficiency. You might enjoy even more effective heating and cooling, so what kinds of changes can you make today?
Here’s what we recommend!
Watch How Much Light You Let In
Sunlight brightens our lives and our moods, as it contains vitamin D which makes us happier. However, sunlight is also warm, and too much of it can generate radiant heat in the house.
This makes your mini split have to work that much harder to keep indoor environments comfortable, especially in the summer.
No one’s saying you have to become a vampire and live in darkness but consider using blinds or curtains to reduce the amount of sunlight during the day.
Maintain Your Mini Splits
The best way to keep your mini splits operational for as long as possible is to maintain them. You can do some maintenance jobs yourself while your mini split technician will have to take care of the rest.
About every month, check the outdoor compressor for debris and clean it up. Your mini split technician should test the unit’s drainage about monthly and give the condenser coil a needed cleaning roughly every six weeks.
Your mini split filter needs replacing about every four to six weeks.
Understand the Mini Split’s Settings
Mini splits don’t have so many controls as to overwhelm you, but you do have options. For instance, you can select from heating or cooling or use the AUTO fan feature.
Read through the owner’s manual to understand what each feature is and how it works. Then set the mini splits to your comfort level within reason of one another.
Adjust the Airflow Rate
You can adjust the airflow direction of your mini split, and this comes in handy throughout the year.
Bearing in mind that heat rises, turn the airflow downward in the winter so the heat can rise and your rooms will feel toasty warm quickly.
Then, in the summer, direct the airflow upward to dissipate the heat.
Don’t Keep Turning the Mini Split On and Off
If yours is a new mini split especially, you’ll want to do all you can to take care of it. You might not want the unit running for too long, so you shut it off and then turn it back on throughout the day.
This can actually do more damage to the components than you would think! The parts have to generate enough juice to turn back on time and again, which can wear them down faster.
You’re better off keeping your mini split on and adjusting its temperature settings.
Keep in mind that because the unit is “on” doesn’t mean it’s running. A mini split that’s left on can reach the desired temperature faster and hold it more consistently than one that turns on and off, so it doesn’t have to work as hard.
