Will a Ductless Air Conditioning System Save Money?

If you have some familiarity with ductless mini split air conditioning systems, you probably have heard that these systems have superior energy efficiency compared to standard split air conditioners. But is there any truth to this? And if there is, why does a ductless system use less energy than a traditional central air conditioner?

We’ll answer these questions in this post, and help guide you toward answering the big overall question: “Should I have a ductless air conditioner installed?”

Ductless AC energy efficiency

It’s true that, in general, a ductless air conditioner provides better energy efficiency than a standard air conditioner that uses ducts. There are three principle reasons for this:

• Ducts are often leaky and allow air to escape from them before it reaches the vents. Sometimes up to 30% of the air meant to cool down the rooms never reaches them because of ductwork gaps. Without any ducts, an air conditioner can run at much higher efficiency. (And you’ll save money on duct repairs as well.)
• The smaller air handlers in a ductless system that send cooled air straight into rooms use less power than the single large air handler in an AC hooked up to ducts.
• Since the individual air handlers can be turned off separate from each other, you no longer need to send cool air to empty rooms that don’t need it. This is especially a money-saver in a large home.

Ductless air conditioning in your house

Given all these advantages, it’s also important to point out that going ductless isn’t the ideal option for every home. If your current house already has a large ventilation system installed, choosing ductless isn’t a wise idea as a replacement. In such cases, a ductless mini split is best for an add-on room rather than a whole-system replacement. If you are unsure about whether a ductless air conditioner is right for your house, call on installation experts first.

Raleigh Heating & Air offers installation of Mitsubishi ductless mini splits in Raleigh, NC and throughout Wake County and the surrounding areas. Call us today to find out more.