When you live somewhere that is as consistently hot and humid as the Canton area, chances are you want to do all that you can to save on your energy bills–and this includes using your HVAC systems as efficiently as possible. So you may be wondering if you even have the right HVAC system in place. If you’re considering the installation of a ductless system, you’ve come to the right place!
But the question is, is a ductless system more efficient than a traditional HVAC system? The short answer is, “In most cases, YES!” But it truly depends on a few factors, which we’ll get into below. For many homeowners, a ductless system is absolutely worth the investment. Here’s why!
All About Ductless
First, it’s important to understand what exactly makes a ductless system different from a traditional forced-air cooling system or heater.
A ductless system operates on heat pump technology. If you’re unfamiliar, a heat pump works very similarly to a central air conditioner. In the summertime, it pulls heat out of the home. That heat flows over the evaporator coil of the system, where refrigerant helps the coil absorb the heat. From there, the refrigerant gets condensed in the outdoor unit, bringing it to a very cold temperature. The chilled air is then returned to your home through the vents, and the air conditioner runs until the desired temperature is met on your thermostat.
What makes a heat pump system different is that the refrigerant process can be reversed. This means that you not only get effective and efficient cooling from this system, but you can heat your home with a ductless HVAC system too! Actually, heat pumps and ductless heat pumps are often highly recommended in climates like ours, with hot summers and relatively mild winters.
Taking it a step further…
Ductless technology takes the heat pump process a step further. As the name implies, there is no ductwork involved. A ductless system is a heat pump system that has one outdoor unit connected to no more than 4 indoor air handlers. These air handlers are typically mounted up high in the rooms where you need them. However, there is such a thing as ceiling mounted and floor mounted ductless air handlers.
Each air handler has its own thermostat. This means that you can cool or heat a room based on preferences, without conditioning the entire home. Maybe you have a member of your household who likes it colder than the rest of your family. They can turn their thermostat down in their bedroom. Or perhaps your kitchen gets really hot while the rest of the home is okay on a pretty mild day. Then you can turn on just the air handler going into the kitchen.
The boost in efficiency and decrease in energy costs comes from the fact that you don’t have to pay to cool or heat your entire home if you don’t need to, plus when in heating mode, the transfer of heat is a lot more efficient than the generating of heat.
So, When Are Ductless Systems Less Efficient Than Traditional HVAC?
At this point, you’re probably wondering if there are any cons to having a ductless system installed. There aren’t necessarily cons per se, but if you have a small, one-bedroom home, a ductless system may not be necessary. They are costlier to install than a traditional system, so you’ll want to compare the money you’d be saving over time to the difference between the purchase of a ductless system or a more traditional model. Fortunately, our team is here to help you make an educated choice!
For professional ductless HVAC services in Canton, GA and beyond, look no further than Dayco Systems. Contact us today!
