Which Ductless Air Conditioner Style is Right for You?

“Mini split air conditioners have gained their popularity by their quiet operation and ascetic value.”

So you decided to purchase a ductless air conditioning system, but which system fits your needs? In the United States there are varying styles and shapes of ductless air conditioners. Below I have listed the most popular styles.

Window Air Conditioner: If you are over the age of 10 I’m sure you have seen this style of air conditioner sticking out of a window of your local apartment complex or main street store. There popularity comes from the inexpensive price and ease of installation. These are self-contained systems that just plug and go.

Through Wall Air Conditioner: These air conditioners are usually higher quality than the window units mentioned above. They are manufactured with a metal casing around the unit so that it can be built into a new or existing wall. Many units are a chassis system that let the customer pull out the guts of the unit while leaving the case securely attached in the wall. Through wall units will usually be deeper in size so there is adequate venting outside the exterior of the building. A through wall unit will most likely be stronger than a window air conditioner and can still hang out a window if a customer wishes.

Mini Split Wall Mounted: These air conditioners have been the bread and butter of the ductless revolution in the United States. Mini Split air conditioners consist of an outdoor unit (condenser), an indoor unit (evaporator), remote control and a refrigerant line-set. The indoor unit comes in many shapes and sizes, but the most popular size is an elongated rectangle. The outdoor unit of a mini split system resembles a medium size suitcase with a fan grille. The condenser and evaporator are connected with electrical wiring and insulated refrigerant line-sets. The outdoor condenser sits on a slab or plastic pad and the indoor evaporator mounts on an interior wall approximately 10 inches from the ceiling. Mini split air conditioners have gained their popularity by their quiet operation and ascetic value.

Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC): PTAC’s have gained their notoriety in the motel/hotel industry. If you have ever slept in a motel and enjoyed lovely hum of a PTAC you are not alone. These are self-contained air conditioners usually with large buttons or dials to either turn the temperature up or down, hot or cold. Through the years PTAC manufacturers have worked to lessen the decibel output of the units but self-contained air conditioners will always make noise because the compressor is working a few feet from your bed.

Ceiling Cassette Air Conditioner: Cassettes have the same components and operate similar to mini split wall mounted units with one exception; cassettes mount in the ceiling. Many businesses and offices will use cassette air conditioners because they fit in between ceiling panels and force air out in four directions. While most ductless air conditioners have a maximum of 24,000 btu.’s, ceiling cassettes can be manufactured over 60,000 btu. With the addition of line-sets, a ceiling cassette air conditioner will require an installer.

Ceiling Floor Air Conditioner: These ductless air conditioners haven’t had the success in the United States as the other units. Ceiling Floor units derive their name because they can be mounted horizontally hung from a ceiling or vertically against a wall near the floor. They are over twice as large as an indoor mini split system, but they can be manufactured at higher btu. sizes. The little popularity has been obtained from commercial applications. Ceiling Floor units will also require an installer.

These are basic styles of ductless air conditioners. I tried not to go too deep into each unit to give you a general overview of what is available. If you have any additions or comments please leave them in the forum for others to enjoy.

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Wall Mounted Mini Split Savings for Higher SEER Air Conditioners?

“Does saving $30.00 a year justify the increase in price for higher SEER air conditioners?”

In January 2007, the federal government raised the minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) for split system air conditioners from 10 SEER to 13 SEER. Any equipment manufactured after 2006 for sale in the United States must be at least 13 SEER. The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is working on special certification grouping for ductless mini split systems, but until that happens ductless equipment has been thrown into the same group as central air conditioners.

Since the minimum SEER has been increased manufacturers are using more expensive components to reach higher efficiency. Thanks in large part to inverter compressors, ductless mini split equipment has become available in efficiency numbers surpassing 21 SEER. The increase in the component costs are passed directly to the customer and mini split systems have risen in price dramatically. Ductless mini splits have also increased in physical size to house the larger compressors. So how much money does an increased efficiency air conditioner save you?

I have broken down one example of the savings between a 13 SEER and 16 SEER mini split air conditioner.

Operating Hours: 1600 annually or approximately 4 hours a day
Operating Temperature: 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating: Increasing from 13 SEER to 16 SEER
British Thermal Units (btu): 12,000 or 1 ton

Survey Says:
Ding…..

Yearly savings: $42.00

Seeing that most ductless split system air conditioners are used for cooling smaller additions and rooms, a 12,000 btu. system is the most popular size sold in the United States. $42.00 is nothing to shake a stick at, but that is at 1600 hours. What about all the other areas that use the ductless systems seasonally? Does saving $30.00 a year justify the increase in price for higher SEER air conditioners? Not to mention the fact that high- efficiency compressors run hundreds more for replacement.

Many consumers are paying an average of $500.00 more for a more efficient 16 SEER air conditioner instead of a 13 SEER unit. With the efficiency saving air conditioner it could take 15 years to break even.

Many consumers like the idea of monthly savings and reducing energy usage. My hat is off to you, but my wallet is staying put.

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