Will a Split AC System Work in My Home?

A split AC system is simply the separation of the cooling coil from the compressor. The names given to these systems seem to vary by brand and by location. But the function remains the same. These units are designed to cool areas that have been traditionally hard to access with standard duct work or where a window AC is undesirable.

It does not matter if we are calling these units a mini-split AC, or split AC, ductless AC, or ductless split AC, mini split HVAC, ductless air conditioner or any of the other terms out there. These names are all referencing a certain type of AC system. that is specifically those units that have separated the cooling coil from the condenser.

Within this article we are going to concentrate on the mini split AC units that are becoming much more widespread here in the United States.

The ease of installation of split AC units and high energy efficiency ratings, along with the ability to cool specific areas of a home or of a commercial building are quickly making these units the top choice for additions, retrofits, or increased load areas.

These units are quickly replacing the old standard HVAC forced air systems which require expensive duct work for remote or hard to fit areas.

For those hard to cool areas on a retrofit there is nothing better from what I have seen on the market. There are mini split AC units available today, with the ability to have from one to up to four separate inside cooling units with a single outside compressor.

This flexibility allows a system to cool, each of the four areas separately and individually giving the user the ability to completely turn off a single room, or to have the room ready for use based upon a certain time of day or night or when the demand needs to be met.

Imagine a home with a room on the east getting hot in the morning and cooling off as the sun rises over the noon hour. Then a separate room on the east getting warmer as the sun crosses its daily path. With separate room controls, as are available with these mini spit AC units, the cooling coil units will take care of each room separately as the day progresses. The economy is just great. And the comfort level is tough to beat.

Another example of an application is in a commercial building. We have all been in a small restaurant where we needed a coat in the summer time and the poor cooks are dying from heat. Not only is this restaurant owner wasting money on AC costs but they are needlessly causing discomfort to their patrons not to mention the cooks. A simple installation of a split AC unit cooling the kitchen area alone could solve this problem. Overall energy conception would decrease markedly.

In short, the thought is to cool the specific areas where there will be human traffic or a need to cool the area such as with a kitchen or of a high electronic component filled room. Make the desired temp a high priority and allow the other areas of the home or commercial building to be less conditioned based upon need and demand.

Another example is a conference room that gets used a couple of times per month. A necessity yes. An AC conditioned area the other 28 days of the month no. This is a waste of money and a waste of energy.

This room could be 85 + for the other 28 days of the month and upon the two days needed, turn down the temp to the desired level a couple of hours prior to the meeting time and you are good to go. With the click of a remote control button and an easy setting you are off to the races.

With the use of these relatively inexpensive split AC units vast improvements are being made to improve living conditions of areas of homes that have been otherwise unusable in the hot summer months. Areas such as remote or added on bedrooms, 3 season rooms, attic renovations, and more. These split AC units make short work when compared to adding on, or in replacing or updating, an expensive and often inefficient traditional HVAC trunk and duck work forced air system.

Other applications are in replacing window AC units that do nothing for the aesthetic value of a home. And the noise. Compared to a window AC unit these split AC units are silent.

As far as installation goes, if electrical wires can be "fished" to the area desired to be conditioned, there is a very good possibility that a split AC unit can be installed.

If you are looking to improve cooling capacity in your home or commercial building, look at the new alternative and the installation of a mini split AC system for economy, lower cost and overall performance.