Can I Add a Ductless System to My Home?

Michigan’s frigid winters and hot summer days are no match for today’s ductless mini split. 

This reliable heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system delivers year-round comfort.  A ductless mini split can handle our climate here in Clinton Township and nearby communities without the need for ductwork, a second heating source, or fossil fuel. 

It may be your best solution for heating and cooling an addition to your home, whether it’s a detached building on your property, renovated areas, an enclosed porch, or a living space with uneven temperatures—anywhere without air ducts. 

Call us at Great Dane Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. to take a closer look at ductless mini splits. We can help you sort through the pros and cons and choose the best system for your budget and comfort goals. Our expert team will correctly size and install it, answering any questions you have about the installation process.

Ductless mini splits benefit many homes but may not be a good fit if your ductwork is in good condition. If you want to replace an aging furnace or air conditioner with more efficient equipment, consider investing in an air-source heat pump and pairing it with your existing ductwork. You will benefit from the same technology as a mini split without having to air ducts. 

A ductless mini split makes the most sense where ductwork does not exist or is not repairable. 

What Is a Mini Split?

A ductless mini split is a compact air-source heat pump that connects to one or more indoor air handlers rather than ductwork. The outdoor unit consists of a compressor, condenser coils, and a fan, which you also would find in a full-sized heat pump. 

The indoor unit, which contains a fan to blow conditioned air into the surrounding living space, and evaporator coils, mounts to the wall, hides from view above the ceiling or sits on the floor inside a console. 

Refrigerant tubing, electrical wiring, and condensate drain connect the outdoor and indoor units. 

The system works like an air conditioner in the summer. In cold weather, a reversing valve changes the direction of the refrigerant flow, enabling the ductless system to blow warm air into the living spaces of your home. 

Like ducted heat pumps, ductless mini splits run on electricity and transfer heat rather than use fuel to create heat, as furnaces do. They extract heat from your indoor air and exhaust it outdoors when in cooling mode. The process reverses in winter, with heat extracted from outdoor air and sent to the indoors. 

Multiple Air Handlers

Need heating and cooling for more than one room? Great Dane Heating & Air Conditioning has you covered. We can install up to eight indoor air handlers and connect them to one outdoor unit, creating zoned heating and cooling. 

Ducted systems heat or cool your entire Clinton Township home at one temperature. In a ductless system, each air handler operates independently. You can satisfy your family’s individual temperature preferences by setting different thermostat settings from room to room. You also can turn the system off in a rarely used room and save energy and money.  

A ductless mini split provides heating and cooling flexibility you will not find in a ducted system. You would have to purchase a separate zone control system to achieve similar customized heating and cooling.

Energy Efficiency

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), more than 30 percent of the energy you use for heating and cooling can escape through ductwork. Ductless mini splits avoid those losses because they have no ducts. 

Ductless mini splits typically score higher with heating and cooling efficiency ratings than ducted equipment. Most outdoor units have an inverter-controlled variable speed compressor that adjusts the heating or cooling capacity needed rather than just operating at capacity. 

Ask the Experts About Mini Splits

Ready for efficient and customized comfort? At Great Dane Heating & Air Conditioning, we can design the best system ductless mini split for your Clinton Township, MI, home. Call us at 586.422.1259 or request service online.