Is Ductless AC Better Than Window Air Conditioning? Yes!

Homeowners in New Bern, NC, have many different options for how to stay cool in summer that go beyond traditional central air conditioners. To improve your knowledge of these alternatives, it may be useful to compare two of them. Here are a few reasons ductless AC systems are superior to their window-based counterparts.

Versatility

Ductless mini-splits are multi-functional in a way that window units simply are not. For one thing, window-based AC systems are only good for cooling, while a ductless mini-split system can heat your home just as well as it can cool it.

Additionally, if you use a multi-zone ductless AC system, you’ll have zoning capabilities. This means that the entire system will consist of a group of air handler units, and each will apply to one particular comfort zone. You may split your home into as many such zones as you please, and mini-splits will give you the power to set different temperatures and cooling regimes for each of them.

Window air conditioners, on the other hand, only have the power to cool the room in which they happen to be sitting. While it’s possible to buy multiple window units, install them in different rooms and mimic a ductless AC system’s zoning function, the latter type of system is much easier to use for this purpose. Mini-splits place the powers of both window-based air conditioners and a traditional HVAC system into your hands.

Efficiency

Mini-splits are generally much more energy-efficient than window-based air conditioners. The standard reason for this is that a mini-split typically comes with a variable-speed compressor.

This means that a mini-split’s compressor will heat and pressurize refrigerant as quickly or slowly as the specific climatic needs of the moment require. The rate at which the system pressurizes refrigerant directly affects the rate at which it cools your home. While mini-splits can vary their energy consumption to meet your needs and thus save you money, window units can’t do this.

To maximize this efficiency advantage, you’ll need to take excellent care of your ductless AC system throughout its lifespan. This means, among other things, changing or cleaning the filter in each air handler about twice a month and scheduling maintenance for the entire system at least once a year.

Lifespan

The average useful service life of a ductless mini-split system is about 20 years. By contrast, the typical window-based AC unit will function reliably for approximately eight to 10 years. So, the former is undoubtedly superior in this regard.

Non-Temperature-Related Factors

There are various miscellaneous areas in which you can gain valuable information by comparing mini-splits to window air conditioners. In these areas, the former also tend to come off looking better.

For instance, ductless mini-splits are quite a bit less noisy than the AC units that sit in your windows. The primary reason for this is that the compressor, which is the noisiest component of any AC system, resides in the outdoor portion of a ductless mini-split. On the other hand, in window-based units, the compressor, like everything else, resides in the same compact package.

Secondly, because of where window-based units must sit, they may block sunlight from entering your home. Thirdly, a sneaky burglar or other criminal may take advantage of the placement of the window-based unit to slide into your home. Mini-splits bring no such risk with them.

Finally, ductless mini-splits have a commanding advantage over window-based air conditioners in the area of indoor air quality (IAQ). The former come with advanced filtration systems that can screen out even tiny airborne pollutants like pet dander, pollen and viruses. The latter do have filters, but they’re generally not as powerful.

If you’re searching for simplicity and versatility in home comfort this summer, we strongly recommend that you make the decision to go ductless. Call J & J Mechanical, Inc. to learn more about our ductless AC services that we offer in and around New Bern, NC.

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