Two-Zone Mini Split Applications

A two-zone ductless mini split system is a heating or cooling solution intended for more than one zone. If you need a refresher, a zone is an area of your home–not necessarily a room–that has different heating and cooling needs than other zones.

Anything more than single-zone heating or cooling is known as a multi-zone ductless mini split system, and that includes a two-zone unit. If you’ve decided that your home needs more than one air-handling unit to stay comfortable, where should you put the second unit in conjunction with the first?

Here are some two-zone mini split applications we see quite often.

One Unit Upstairs, the Other Downstairs

It’s no secret that heat rises. If your home has more than one story, the higher story will always be somewhat warmer than the lower one. In the wintertime, this extra bit of warmth can be refreshing, but in the summer, the excess heat makes staying upstairs unbearable. Considering many homeowners have at least one bedroom upstairs, you could be in for some uncomfortable nights.

A ductless mini split unit upstairs with its own thermostat and then a second unit downstairs lets you set the cooling somewhat higher upstairs where it’s already warmer. Downstairs, where the heat isn’t quite as sweltering, you can turn the thermostat lower and still be comfortable.

One Unit for a Cooler Room, the Second for a Warmer Room on the Same Floor

Some homeowners opt for both indoor air-handling units on the same floor, such as the first floor or the second floor. For instance, let’s say you recently had a baby. You don’t want the baby to be cold and fussy, so you’d prefer that room is warmer.

However, for you and your partner, you’d like your own bedroom to not be quite as hot. One ductless mini split unit in the baby’s bedroom and a second for your bedroom would let you set the ideal temperatures in these two rooms even though they’re both on the same floor.

One Unit in a Sunnier Room, the Other in a Draftier Part of the House

Even downstairs, the presence of a lot of windows can heat up a room to a higher degree than other rooms on the same floor with fewer windows. Sometimes it’s not even about how many windows you have, but rather, the angle of the sun and how intensely it’s beating into a room.

If you have a room that’s often very sunny and just as hot, an indoor mini split unit will let you combat the sun’s rays with cooling power. You can then opt to put the second indoor air-handling unit in a draftier room, even the attic in some cases.

One Unit in the Kitchen, Another in the Living Room or Entertainment Room

Our last suggestion is to put one of the mini split indoor units in a room that generates a lot of heat, such as a kitchen where you’re always cooking. You can maintain a cool, comfortable temperature in the kitchen with a ductless mini split. Then, you can add your second indoor air-handling unit in a space like the living room, home office, or den.