Summer is just around the corner. While most people bust out the sunscreen and beach outfits, some people prefer to ride out the heat wave in the comfort of their own home. While it’s great to bask in the heat while at the beach getting a tan, it is a different story when you’re trying to sleep comfortably at night or even squeeze in a snooze for an afternoon nap.
Nothing else makes your house an oasis in this heat than a great air conditioning system. However, for most people, choosing the right cooling system to invest in can be a daunting task. Window-type or Split-type? How about centralized air? Not only is there the question of price, that is, how much is needed to buy the unit and to install it, but there is also the question of will it fit my home and lifestyle?
Mini-split vs Centralized Air
Two of the most common air-conditioning systems are the split type and centralized air systems. The main advantage for both types is that they can fit your home’s style and furnishing and not be an eye sore. Centralized air systems in particular use air ducts that run inside the walls of the house, funneling air through air vents to cool your entire house, while the cooling unit itself sits outside the house itself. Split types also have the cooling unit outside the home, with the unit itself serving as the “vents”. The mini-split type, a more compact version of the split type, can easily be hidden from view using design elements like drop ceilings and paneling.
Existing home design. Centralized air requires more investment as it needs air ducts as pathways for the cool air to flow. If your home is not previously equipped with air ducts and vents, it would take some investment to install these. If you are still in the process of building your house, making provisions for the ducts and vents is a must. Mini-splits, on the other hand, can work with any style, as long as there is a wall or ceiling it can be mounted on, and more units can be added on at a later time, without the need to modify the house structure.
Need to customize temperature per room. If people in your home have different tolerance for cooler temperatures, the split type will work better for you, since every room with its own unit can be customized. Better control of the temperature on a per room basis can result in more efficiency and power savings versus a centralized one.
Ductless Mini Splits
Unlike central air conditioners, ductless mini splits do not require ductwork. These systems have an outdoor condenser and one or more compact wall- or ceiling-mounted blower units (“mini-splits”), each with its own set of controls to provide cooling exactly where it’s needed.
In our area, where heating is also a concern, you can get more than just cooling from your whole house heat pump or mini split system. Air-source heat pumps have both seasonal heating and cooling ratings.
To get the most efficient unit for your heating needs, you need to consider the Coefficient of Performance (COP, the rated efficiency of the energy usage of the unit in heating mode) and the Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF, the overall heating efficiency of the unit over the course of a heating season). The higher the COP and the HSPF, the more efficient the heat pump is for heating.