What Are Mini Splits?
Mini-splits are the ductless evolution of air-conditioners. They are called "splits" because they are designed into two different parts, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. These two split the traditional cooling process of window units into two. What the outdoor unit comprises of are condenser coil, compressor and fan and while the indoor unit consists of a fan and an evaporator coil. These two units are linked by electrical wiring and a thin copper tubing to carry the refrigerant. For the system to work, the compressor located in the outdoor unit pushes the refrigerant through the copper tube to the indoor unit. Here, the cold copper tube exchanges the heat in the indoor space with cooler air which the fan blows into the space. Through this exchange, the refrigerant heats up and changes to a gaseous state and is then cycled back to the outdoor unit where it is cooled back to a liquid form. This cooling process takes place as the coil in the outdoor unit removes the heat absorbed from the indoor unit. Having been cooled, the compressor pushes it back inside and the cycle repeats over and over again.The Pros And Cons Of Mini-Splits
Having described how these ACs work, we want to look at some pros and cons associated with their use. Like most things in life, regardless of how good they may be, it’s almost impossible not to have a few cons. Let’s start by looking at some of the ProsPros
There are obviously a lot of positives to using mini-splits for cooling your space. Some of the more common ones include the following:Ease Of Installation
The design of this system makes its installation pretty easy. All you need is a small hole through which to pass the wiring and refrigerant tube. You then need to mount the indoor unit where you need it to be and do same with the outdoor unit. This is something that air conditioning services can send a single technician to install with ease, unlike the central cooling type that will require a lot of work and ducts.Quiet Operation
Another benefit that you can enjoy with these ACs is their quiet operation. With the compressor and main fan located outdoors, its operational noise is drastically reduced. All you will hear indoors is the soft humming of the indoor fan spinning as it circulates the cooled air.Effective And Precise Cooling
With the positioning of these mini splits, their cooling function is precise which is why it is usually positioned in strategic positions across the space. This allows different sections of a space to be cooled effectively.Energy Efficiency
The power consumption of these units is far lower than what traditional HVAC units will consume. The savings you make from this can in the long run offset the initial high installation cost, giving you a great ROI.Health Benefits
Every indoor unit has a filter installed. This filters the air, making it cleaner than it was. In addition to this, modern units come with ionization function that removes bacteria from the air, making it purer and healthier.Cons
Now that we’ve looked at the benefits that these ACs offer, let’s also look at some of the cons that may come with their use. These include:Installation Cost
The first con that you may come across is the initial installation cost. Unlike central systems, you will need to install these mini units in every space where you need the air cooled. The cost can add up, but like we noted above, the savings you will make from energy savings can make up for this initial cost over time.Aesthetic Value
While these units are not necessarily unsightly, they have to be mounted where they are visible unlike the central variations that can be more discrete. There are however different designs that are marketed to make up for this. In fact, some have a frontal space where artwork can be mounted, making it look like a piece of artwork rather than an indoor cooling unit.Conclusion
We’ve taken some time to explain what mini splits are and how they operate. We’ve also looked at some of the pros and cons that they offer. With this information, you can now decide if this is something you will love to install in your home or office space.Read Also :
