When we bought the air conditioning system for our place, we were posed with many problems since it was not pre-decided and let me tell we live in an apartment so making some kind of structural changes was impossible. So then the obvious choice was Ductless Split-System Air conditioners. That is when I did all the research and reached the conclusion, which is something to this effect.
Ductless or split-system air-conditioners, often called mini split sir conditioners have innumerable potential uses in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. The most frequently used applications are in those houses or buildings where more than one family lives or as retrofit add-ons to those homes which have ductless heating systems as well, such as hydronic or hot water heating systems, radiant panels, and space heaters that used wood, kerosene, propane. They can also be a wise choice for rooms that are just like add-ons and were thus unplanned and small apartments, where extending or installing distribution ductwork, suddenly for a central air-conditioner or heating systems is not practicable at all since these structures are planned and do not allow much work once the construction is done.
Differences in the workings of Central Air Conditioning and Ductless Split-System Air Conditioning
In case of a central air conditioner the furnace’s blower is used to draw the air in the room into the unit through return-air ductwork and a filter that helps to get rid of the dust, hair and lint. The air inside the room moves past a chilled indoor coil that is the evaporator so that the heat is released. The cold air moves on to the enclosure, which is usually a large metal box at the top of the furnace, where it is transferred to the air supply ductwork and then the air is returned to the rooms.Split air conditioners, like central air conditioners have two main basic parts which are an outdoor compressor or condenser, and an indoor air-handling unit. A passage, which connects the outdoor and indoor units, also consists of the power cable, the refrigerant tubing, suction tube, and a condensate drain.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Split Air Conditioner
The primary advantages of the split air conditioners are as follows:
- They are small in size and flexibility in regards to where it can be placed or which room it should heat or cool.
- Most of the models have as many as four indoor air-handling units, precisely for the four zones or rooms connected to one outdoor unit.
- The number of units depends on the degree of heating or cooling that is required for the building or zone, which is again dependant on the insulation of building.
- Since every zone would have it’s own thermostat, the only need is to condition the place when somebody is there. This actually saves some energy and money.
- Ductless split air conditioning systems are also often easier to install than any other kind of conditioning systems.
- The added advantage is that most manufacturers who make such air conditioning system do provide a variety of lengths of linking passages so that it is possible to cool rooms on the forepart of a house with the compressor in a more advantageous or inconspicuous position that is on the outside of the building.
- The main disadvantage of Split Air Conditioner is their excessive cost. It is like 30% more than the Central Air Conditioning.
- The appearance of the indoor part of the system is also a disadvantage. They do not have the built-in look of Central Air Conditioning Systems.
- There also has to be a place to drain the condensate water next to the outdoor unit.
- It is very difficult to find skilled installers and the size also has to be right otherwise there is wastage of energy and leads to inefficient work. The humidity and temperature control also fails to work.
Though there are various disadvantages of a ductless air conditioners but given the “minimum space and maximum utility” theory, they seem to be the ultimate solution for people now.
For more information call JCJ Mechanical today at 416 967-0717 or visit www.jcjmechanicalinc.com.
You may also find additional information about Air Conditioners at www.jcjairconditioning.com.