Mini Split AC

Here at PowerSave AC, we’re big proponents of ductless mini split systems. However, we recognize the importance of evaluating both sides of the equation, so we’ll discuss the downsides of a ductless mini split system.

Costly

Ductless mini splits aren’t the most inexpensive heating and cooling solution, especially compared with the initial cost of a central air conditioner or furnace.

While you might pay a lot out of the gate for a ductless mini split system, the amount of money you’ll recoup month after month and year after year more than makes up for that initial cost. 

You can’t compare mini splits and traditional HVAC in longevity. The more years a furnace or central AC racks up, the less efficient it becomes. A mini split remains efficient for years, even a decade in some cases.

In 10 or 15 years, you could save hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

Can’t Handle Extreme Temperatures

Mini splits can cool or warm a space with one unit, but it comes at a cost. Extreme temperatures on either end of the spectrum can hinder a mini split’s functioning. The unit can only warm your home so well in very hot climates, considering it pulls out from outdoors to work.

Likewise, the mini split is at a greater risk of freezing in the winter, which can stop the unit in its tracks. 

You needn’t give up on ductless mini split systems if you live in a warm or cold climate. However, you must do more research to ensure you buy a unit capable of withstanding the weather.

You might also need to invest in supplemental cooling or heating. 

Requires More Space

A furnace isn’t a small unit, but it’s one piece that goes down your basement. It’s an out-of-sight, out-of-mind situation. A central air conditioner goes outside. It too isn’t small, but it’s relatively unobstructive in your yard.

On the other hand, a ductless mini split system has at least two parts, the outdoor condenser and the indoor air-handling unit. A multi-zone mini split can have two to eight indoor units, which means you need a lot of space in your home to handle an entire mini split system. 

There is no way around this, either. Mini splits are smaller than furnaces and air conditioners but still generally come in one size. They take up the space they take, and switching between brands won’t make a tremendous difference. 

Not the Most Attractive

We also have to discuss what many agree are the worst parts of ductless mini splits: their looks. The indoor units are large and box-like. You can be crafty in where you install them, but at the end of the day, they’re still there.

Fortunately, you will forget about them eventually, or at least, the presence of the unit won’t bother you as much as it once did.