Ductless Air Conditioner Systems for Room Additions

Summer is often the best time of year to take on big home projects. The weather is clear, you might have some extra time off, and there are more hours of daylight in which to work. If you’re thinking about adding a room, sun room, or garage to your house this summer, you need to think about climate control in your new addition. For these types of additions, a ductless air conditioner system can be an ideal option for a cooling system.

The Basics of Ductless Air Conditioner Systems

Ductless air conditioner systems, also known as mini splits, consist of a wall-mounted indoor unit and an outside compressor. They are good for room additions and garage conversions because, when adding on to a larger building, running ducts can be a major hassle. Plus, ductless air conditioner units are easy to install, so they won’t contribute significantly to the summer workload for your new addition.

Comparing Ductless Air Conditioner Systems to Window Air Conditioner Units

In many cases, the only feasible alternative to a ductless air conditioner system is a window air conditioner unit. There are several key advantages that ductless air conditioner systems have over window units:

• Less air leakage. Window air conditioner units are notorious for air leakage. By allowing warm air to enter into the room or garage, they can make it harder to keep the space cool, leading to an increase in energy usage. In contrast, to install a ductless air conditioner, it is only necessary to drill a small hole in the wall, making climate control much easier.

• Limited Noise. Another common complaint about window air conditioner units is that they are loud and annoying. Ductless air conditioner systems are relatively quiet, so they can improve the ambience in your home addition.

• Aesthetics. Some people worry about the aesthetics of ductless air conditioners, since they are mounted on the wall and cannot be covered. But if a window air conditioner unit is your only other option, a ductless air conditioner tends to be less noticeable. Plus, it won’t block the view from your window.

• Greater security. No one wants to have to worry about home break-ins, and window air conditioning units are a potential point of vulnerability that can be exploited. With a ductless air conditioner, this risk disappears.

Energy Efficiency

As mentioned above, ductless air conditioner systems are typically more energy efficient than window units. They also have an efficiency advantage over the duct-based air conditioner system that cools the rest of your house, since about 25 percent of the energy required to run a standard AC system is lost to duct work. When choosing between ductless air conditioner systems, you will notice that different models have different cooling efficiencies, indicated by different Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings (SEER). While all ductless air conditioner systems are highly efficient, those with higher SEER numbers can save you more on your energy bill in the long run. For most ductless air conditioner systems on the market today, cooling efficiency typically ranges between 15 SEER and 21 SEER.
National Air Warehouse offers a variety of ductless air conditioner options. If you are thinking of installing a mini split in your home addition this summer, contact us today to learn more about what we offer!