Palm Desert, CA Affordable Ductless Air Conditioning

It can be both costly and time-consuming to quickly install a central AC in residences without built-in ductwork. While such a system is a convenient way of having cool air in the whole house, there are some homeowners that simply cannot afford it. There are other alternatives available there, if not these.

If you live in a drier climate, one cost-effective solution is an evaporative cooler, also known as a swamp cooler. However, they have a tendency to make a lot of noise and their cooling abilities are also restricted. Many homeowners are moving to ductless mini-split systems as an alternative, which is what so many other countries have been using for years. For homes that may not be equipped to handle central air, these particular systems are easy to install, energy-efficient, and generally pose no zoning issues.

How does ductless air conditioning work?

A ductless system makes use of a condenser that is found outside and air handling units inside each room. It is the refrigerant that makes the indoor air cold and blows it out of the room. The heat from it is moved then by the conduit that is connected to the outdoor unit.

Air handler fans are designed for quiet operation and are no louder than central AC and much less so than a window fan. Fortunately, the loudest system component, the condenser, is installed outdoors, just as it is with central AC.

In a ductless system, air handlers are required in any room to be cooled and may be mounted on or appear flushed with the ceiling or a wall. Controls can be done individually or attained by setting up communications to a thermostat.

If you want to establish different cooling zones in your home you can have multiple thermostats installed. For example, upstairs and downstairs may have their own separate thermostats, or a less-used house space may be zoned off and turned on only when guests are present. Most ductless systems offer the option of programming up to four separate zones.

What are the benefits of ductless systems?

For homes that do not have the infrastructure of ducts then they can easily have a ductless mini-split air conditioning system installed. Homeowners usually have a choice in the type of air handlers that are mounted and where they are located in the house. The ones that appear flushed with the wall or ceiling will have a higher price tag.

It’s usually necessary to cut holes in the walls and ceilings and give up a certain amount of closet space to install the ductwork to retrofit a home for central air conditioning. But with a ductless system only a small hole needs to be drilled.

With ductless air conditioning, the cooled air doesn’t have to travel a long distance, which makes it a more efficient method than central air conditioning. It takes about 30% more energy to cool home when air must travel through ductwork. This is primarily due to gaps in the duct work in seams, cracks, and/or leaks.

Homeowners with ductless mini-split systems can also set different zones so they don’t have to cool the whole house at once. If you have bedrooms in the upper level of your home, you can set that to cool at night and turn off the lower areas until morning. You’ll find that this will help save you money on your power bill.

It is often more advantageous to have a ductless system rather than a window air conditioning unit, as they do not compromise the safety or pest prevention tactics of the home by keeping windows partially opened. With a window AC unit, you have no choice but to put it in the window, but a ductless system is much more flexible and the homeowner has more control of its location. In addition to that, they have a dual function as they can provide warm air during the winter.

Professional Installation

If you decide that a mini-split AC system is the way to go for your family, talk to an AC expert as they can get the system installed in as little as a day. They will gauge your home to decide the necessary number of units that are necessary to cool the space and speak with you about zoning if pertinent.

Homeowners may be tempted to install a ductless system on their own, but it’s far safer to have it done by a professional who knows how to install wiring and safely handle toxic refrigerant. A trained professional will use expert judgment to recommend the best air handlers for your home and where to place them. When it’s time to service, repair, or replace your system, an air conditioning expert can get your home back up running quickly.