Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Ductless Air Conditioning’

How Do Those Wall-Mounted ACs Work?

Monday, June 20th, 2022

ductless-system-sending-out-snowflakesThis is a question we often hear. People look at an object mounted on a wall that’s sending out cool air and which looks like a slimmer window AC. But it’s only hanging from the wall, it doesn’t actually go through it. If you understand the basics of air conditioning, you’ll know that an AC has to exhaust heat outside or it can’t work. So how is that unit on the wall doing the job of sending out powerful cooling? 

Those wall-mounted ACs are part of a system known as a ductless mini split heat pump, and they’ve become more and more popular for households over the last two decades. If you’re interested in using a wall-mounted AC in Burlington, VT, either as an addition to your current HVAC system or to provide comfort to your entire house, our technicians are happy to talk to you about them and answer all your questions.

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When Does a Ductless HVAC System Make Sense for a Home?

Monday, August 19th, 2019

ductless-mini-split-on-the-wallDuctwork is what originally allowed air conditioning and heating systems to spread conditioned air throughout a house, rather than concentrating it in one place. The earliest ducted systems were nothing more than metal pipes extending from basement furnaces (or even just fireplaces) that allowed heat to rise to different rooms in a building. Today, forced-air central AC and heating systems use powerful air handlers and efficient ducts to see that comfort is sent throughout a house.

But technology has also developed ductless HVAC systems. Also called ductless mini split heat pumps, these HVAC systems operate like standard heat pumps (cooling and heating air through circulation of refrigerant), but the single outdoor unit connects through walls to separate air handlers placed around the house. Each air handler has its own fan and refrigerant coil so it can blow the cooled or heated air directly into the living space—no ductwork required.

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Is Ductless Air Conditioning Right for My Home in Essex, VT?

Thursday, August 7th, 2014

Ducts are no longer a necessity for central air conditioning a home. The development of ductless mini split heat pumps, which were originally installed for commercial use, allows a homeowner to install a central AC without using space-consuming ductwork. Instead of a ventilation system, a ductless mini split uses a series of blowers mounted in different parts of the house. These blowers connect to a single outdoor unit, and they send conditioned air directly into the rooms.

Ductless air conditioning in Essex, VT has a number of benefits. Since these systems are heat pumps, they also work well for heating. The individual blowers allow for zone control of temperatures. And the lack of ducts means there is less dust and dirt contamination in the air.

However, ductless mini splits are not ideal for all homes. Before you commit to installation, call the experts at Red Rock Mechanical. We’ll help you decide if going ductless is the best way to cool and heat your home.

When is going ductless a good choice?

Ductless mini splits are excellent for the following situations:

  • New home construction – If you are planning on building a new home, a ductless configuration for your HVAC system is one of the best options available. You’ll save space without the need for ductwork, and you will also have greater design freedom since you no longer need to build around the requirements of a ventilation system.
  • Home remodeling – For a large-scale remodeling for your home, you can have the old ductwork taken out and replaced with a ductless system. As with building a new home, this allows you increased freedom for the redesign as well as additional living space.
  • Add-on rooms – When you decide to expand your home with an extra room, such as a den, game room, or new bedroom, you won’t have to worry about hooking it up to the current ventilation system or replacing your current air conditioner because it cannot supply enough cool air for the additional space. Instead, you can hook up a separate ductless AC for the room.
  • Old and historic homes – If you live in an older home that lacks ducts and does not have the space to install them, then ductless mini split heat pumps will allow you to have central air conditioning rather than needing to rely on inefficient window units.

However, if your home already has an extensive and effective ventilation system and you aren’t planning to remodel, there usually isn’t a reason to install a ductless system. It’s more cost-effective to install a central air conditioner (or heat pump) and hook it up to the pre-existing ductwork.

Whatever type of air conditioner or heat pump you eventually have installed, you can count on the team at Red Rock Mechanical to handle the work. If you think that ductless air conditioning in Essex, VT is right for your home, contact us today.

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3 Things to Consider Before Installing Ductless Air Conditioning

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

Ductless mini split heat pumps entered the residential air conditioning market after years of providing businesses with an effective alternative to standard central ACs. More and more consumers have chosen to have ductless systems installed because of the advantages they offer. Without ducts, these systems take up far less space in a home and do not adversely affect indoor air quality because of dirt and dust contamination. Because ductless heat pumps work through multiple indoor blower units, they also allow homeowners to control temperatures in separate parts of the house, and that means energy savings thanks to no longer needing to cool down unused rooms.

However, before you decide on installing ductless air conditioning in Burlington, VT, you should ask yourself a few questions. Don’t worry if you don’t have the answers at the moment; you can always rely on skilled installers, like those at Red Rock Mechanical, to assist you with making the best choice.

1. Is ductless the ideal fit for your home?

Ductless mini split heat pumps are best for new home construction and for older homes without sufficient room for a ventilation system. However, if you live in home that already has ducts, the advantages of going ductless may seem a bit reduced unless you plan for major renovations. Despite the many benefits that ductless air conditioning can provide, factors can outweigh them and make a standard system a better option. Talk with HVAC installers to find out if a ductless system matches your home’s requirements and your budget.

2. How many indoor blower units do you need?

Some small homes may only need one blower to effectively cool them down. Others will need multiples installed in the rooms. Depending on your comfort needs, the number of rooms that rarely need conditioning, and the layout of your house, you will need to adjust the number of blowers up and down accordingly. Professional installers are an important resource to help you figure out the right number of blowers that will give you the comfort and energy savings you want from a ductless air conditioning installation.

3. Will the system work well for heating?

Keep in mind that installing a ductless mini split heat pump means that you are also making an investment in heating your home during the winter; a heat pump can move heat either inside or outside a home. Heat pumps work at the same level of cooling power as an air conditioner of equal size, but can have difficulty with efficient heating during extreme lows. In some cases, you may need to have a back-up second heater in your house to make sure the heat pump can manage the winters you might experience.

Our team at Red Rock Mechanical is ready to help you with selecting and installing ductless air conditioning in Burlington, VT. We have over 20 years of experience helping people keep their homes comfortable year round. You can trust us with your important HVAC system installation. Contact us today to schedule an installation appointment.

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