Did you know that the majority of the typical Orlando electric bill is spent on cooling? Running an air conditioner for long enough to beat the Florida heat can be quite expensive.
Fortunately, new air conditioning designs are helping to address this issue. Ductless mini split systems have a revolutionary setup that can help to save a lot of energy. Is this style of AC right for your home?
Keep reading to learn how much you can save with a ductless air conditioner.
Key Takeaways
- Ductless mini splits are a new style of AC that can save you up to 30% on cooling bills each year.
- The main way these systems save money is by eliminating the typical AC duct system that wastes cooled air.
- You can also save energy by only cooling the parts of your home that you actually use.
How Do Ductless Mini Splits Work?
A ductless AC system works a little differently than central air conditioners. The standard air conditioning unit you’re probably used to consists of an outdoor condenser that cools your refrigerant, an indoor air handler that blows cold air, and a set of ducts that distribute cold air all around your house.
Mini splits do away with the ducted portion of the system. They still have an outdoor condenser unit, but this runs individual lines of refrigerant to small air handler units. These units look almost like little window ACs and can be mounted inside your home on the ceiling, wall, or floor. Each air handler uses its refrigerant line to produce cold air on demand and blow it directly into your house.
Are Mini Splits More Efficient Than Central Air?
Overall, a mini split AC is much more efficient than a central air system. The exact amount of energy you’ll save depends on how many air handlers you have set up and how cold you’ll keep your house.
However, on average, a mini-split system uses between 400 to 1,500 watts of energy per hour. Meanwhile, the typical central air conditioner uses somewhere between 2,000 to 3.500 watts per hour.
Once you take into account the difference in running patterns and usage, the Department of Energy estimates that a ductless mini split system saves you roughly 30% on your annual energy bills.
Pros and Cons of Mini Split Efficiency
To get a better idea of whether or not a mini split will save energy for your house, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of these types of systems.
Pros
There are several ways that a mini split can help you to improve energy efficiency in your home:
- A ductless AC system eliminates the need for leaky air ducts that waste up to 40% of your cooled air.
- You have built-in zoning, so you don’t have to spend energy cooling unused guest bedrooms.
- Many mini-splits use advanced inverter technology which lets you adjust compressor speed without inefficient cycling on and off.
- If you have a two-story home or other unusual layout, mini-splits can address hot and cold spots without needing to run for hours.
- With smart thermostats, you can easily adjust mini splits to use less energy when you’re away from home.
Cons
While there are a lot of perks to mini split ACs, there are some potential cons homeowners need to be aware of:
- A mini split does cost more to install, so it’s not necessarily going to save you a bunch of money as soon as you get it.
- If you get a mini split with a heater, it may be less efficient at warming your house in the winter than other types of heating systems.
- For homeowners with newer central air systems and environmental concerns, it might not be eco-friendly to get rid of a functioning AC system to replace it with another new model.
Can a Mini Split Cool or Heat More Than One Room?
A common misconception is that you need a mini split unit in every single room you want to cool or heat. While this might be true in particularly huge houses, it’s not the reality for most residential spaces. The mini air handlers used for split systems are quite powerful. Usually, they can send cold air into multiple connected spaces. For example, a mini split in your living room may also be able to cool a nearby hallway and dining room.
The exact number of mini split systems you’ll need depends on your home’s size, your home’s layout, and the power of the units you select. Some very small homes will only need one or two air handlers. The typical 1,700-square-foot home usually needs around four to five air handlers. Keep in mind that to get the full benefit of a mini split system, you may want an air handler unit in every bedroom. This lets you avoid overly cooling bedrooms that are unused or occupied by people who prefer warmer temperatures.
Choose One Hour Orlando for Mini Split AC Services
If you’re thinking about a mini split installation, turn to One Hour Orlando. We’re the premier mini split provider in the region. Our team has a lot of experience working with these newer systems, so we can help you find the ideal mini split AC for your home.
In addition to our expertise, customers turn to us for our excellent service. We prioritize customer satisfaction no matter what we do. We’re always on time or you don’t pay a dime. You can count on us to offer convenient scheduling, friendly technicians, and quality work. We provide all sorts of HVAC assistance including repairs, replacements, permits and installations on mini splits and other systems.
Interested in learning more about One Hour Orlando? Contact us today to schedule a service visit.