#console mini split

There are really two parts to a ductless mini split system: the indoor air handler(s) and the outdoor heat pump condenser. We have a few recommendations on where to install each of these system components.

Indoor Mini Split Unit(s)

You can install your indoor mini split units, or air handlers, anywhere you need targeted comfort — a hard-to-condition bedroom, a new addition that doesn’t have ductwork, your living room and kitchen, etc. Depending on your home comfort needs, you might install just one indoor unit, or you might end up installing several units. Wherever you choose to install your mini split(s), keep in mind that every mini split installation location does need to be on an exterior wall — that is, a wall that runs along the exterior of your home. There should also be at least two inches of accessible space above each indoor unit.

Outdoor Condenser

Typically, the best location for a heat pump condenser is a shady area, away from direct sunlight. The condenser also needs to be installed directly on the side of or behind the home, away from any shrubbery or vegetation (which could interfere with airflow.) It may also be an option to mount the outdoor unit to an outside wall with stand-off mounting brackets. If you take this route with your condenser unit, you must ensure that there is at least five inches of space between the wall and the unit and at least 20 inches of space above it. Your Air heat pump installation technician can help you determine the best option for your mounting your new outdoor condenser.

Mini Split Placement Considerations

A mini split installation is a cost-effective way to cool or heat a room or home. Installing a mini-split is relatively easy, but homeowners must consider some key details. Mini-split placement in each room can impact how well it functions, and it’s essential to have enough space for the unit. Mini-splits should be placed away from doors and windows to protect against airflow interference with the unit. The essential factor to consider is which rooms you use the most. If a home addition isn’t connected to your existing AC system, this space may be a good candidate for a mini-split.

Accessibility

Both indoor and outdoor components must be accessible to allow for routine maintenance, including regularly changing air filters. Mini-split outdoor unit placement should allow for plenty of clearance from landscaping and other potential obstructions. In some instances, installing a condenser on an exterior wall or rooftop may be the best option.

Symmetry

One aspect of mini-splits that some homeowners don’t like is their visibility. But when energy efficiency and comfort outweigh appearance and having a unit on the wall makes sense, it’s crucial to maintain symmetrical placement. Mounting brackets should be centered within a window frame (if installed above a window) or in a location that allows for a balanced home design.

Airflow

Mini splits enhance your home in various ways, from providing a more eco-friendly heating and cooling method to maximizing comfort levels. Their myriad of benefits makes them some of the most popular HVAC systems to invest in and install. They work for your home and a range of spaces spanning from apartments and office buildings to storage units and RVs. However, can mini split systems bring fresh air into your home?

Do Air Conditioners Bring in Fresh Air From Outside?

As the weather outside starts to heat up, you’re thinking about all the fun summer activities. If you’re like most people, a necessary part of summer is having a nice, cool air-conditioned home. While you may know how to turn on your air conditioner, there may be many questions that you have about how it works.

A common question that people have about air conditioners is if they take in fresh air from outside. The simple answer is that they don’t. You do have outside components to your air conditioning system. But, there is no direct opening for air from the outside to enter your home. The air that you feel coming out of the vents inside of your home is air that was already inside of your home. That existing air has recirculated throughout your AC system.

How Mini Splits Improve Air Quality?

So if mini splits aren’t ventilating fresh air, how do they improve your indoor air quality? All mini splits contain a filer in the AC unit. The AC’s filters trap any impurities in the air collected as the system takes in the room’s heat energy and releases the hot or cold air back into the room. On top of using filters, adding additional air purifiers like UV disinfection further improves and refines your air quality.

How To Get Fresh Air Into Your Home

Breathing in fresh air provides many benefits, especially to your mental well-being, such as improved mental clarity and stimulated positive emotions. Opening your doors and windows allows the outdoor air to circulate through your space, providing you with some of the perks of spending time outdoors. However, keep in mind that fresh air can also bring in pollen, pollutants, and other irritants.

With so many options for HVAC systems, it can be challenging to sort through them all and decide which one is right for your business. Every commercial space has different heating and cooling needs and therefore is best suited to a different system. For many of our commercial customers, ductless mini-split systems are an efficient and effective solution for their space.

What commercial space is a ductless mini-split best suited?

Ductless mini-splits work best in small commercial spaces or those that have many rooms within a larger building. If you are looking to cool a large, open structure such as a warehouse, a ductless mini-split is probably not the best choice. Also, if there is already a traditional ducted HVAC system in place, it is usually most cost-effective to stay with that set-up.

Many of the business owners we work with who use offices favor the ductless mini-split due to its ability to allow each room to be heated or cooled at a different temperature, accommodating for individual needs. For more information about how to save money on heating and cooling bills for your office, click here. Also, many restaurant owners choose ductless systems, installing units in buildings that lack ductwork, on screened-in patios and enclosed decks. If you are unsure if a mini-split is the right choice for you, give us a call or book a consultation.

Why Ductless HVAC Air Conditioners Are a Good Alternative

Better cooling control. Ductless mini-split air conditioners work through a series of individual blowers installed in different parts of your building. This means that you can shut down cooling and heating in some areas of your building when not needed and save on your electric bills.

It also provides heat. If you’re planning on getting a new air conditioning unit for your business, it’s important to note that ductless mini-split systems also work as heat pumps, so they can keep you cool during the summer and warm during the winter.

Better indoor air quality. Ducts are a natural place for dust and other contaminants to collect. This may not seem like a big deal, but it can actually be harmful to your employees. If you opt to go ductless, you’ll be eliminating the problem completely.

More space. An entire network of ducts can take up a lot of precious space in your commercial building. With a ductless system, you won’t have this issue. If you’re constructing a new building from scratch, going ductless will also afford you more design freedom.