How to Choose the Best Mini-Split Air Conditioner

No one should have to sweat while simply sitting in their own home, but the cost of running a central air conditioner has the power to make many people question whether they might be better off just dealing with sweat and discomfort.

For those who want to avoid high monthly energy costs and a complicated installation process, mini-split air conditioners offer the solution. Learn what makes ductless AC a great alternative (or supplement) to central AC and what details to look for if you’re shopping for one.

What Is a Mini-Split Air Conditioner?

Ductless air conditioners, often referred to as mini-split air conditioners, have a few primary components:

1. An outdoor condenser that pumps cool air to the indoor components
2. An indoor unit that you can mount somewhere on the wall or ceiling that releases the cool air into the house
3. A conduit that connects the two, which includes the power cable, tubes of refrigerant cooling, and a condensate drain

The end result is a cooling unit that works a lot like central air but doesn’t require the installation of ducts in your walls or attic. If you know it’s time to invest in a new air conditioner but live in a home where ductwork has never been done—or you’re ready to switch to a cooling solution that provides more energy efficiency—then mini-splits are the most logical choice. But those aren’t the only reasons to go with this type of air conditioner.

The Benefits of Ductless Mini-Splits

While the upfront costs of a mini-split tend to be higher than those of a central air conditioner or window AC unit, there are a few key reasons that many people prefer them.

Better Energy Efficiency

Ductless air conditioning performs better than other AC options in terms of energy use. In fact, if you buy an ENERGY STAR® certified system, you can save up to 30% on your overall energy bills.

Easier Installation

While many homeowners will still need to call in an HVAC professional to help with installation, mini-split air conditioners are far easier to install than central AC units that require ductwork. You may be able to install your ductless unit on your own, but carefully check the manufacturer’s warranty before starting—you might have to hire a professional for installation to keep warranties valid.

Better for Allergies

Dirt, debris, and moisture from condensation can build up in ducts over time. This may lead to some serious health concerns for allergy sufferers. Getting your air ducts cleaned is a complicated and expensive process, but you never have to worry about that with a mini-split air conditioner.

Quiet

While central air is pretty quiet, window air conditioners are known for having a louder decibel level when running. Ductless air conditioners, on the other hand, cool just as well as a central AC and without adding much noise to your life.

Greater Temperature Control

Central air cools the whole house, while window units cool just the room they’re put in. Mini-split air conditioners can cool either one room or several, based on your needs, but you also have the flexibility to control the temperature of specific rooms.

If different people in the house have different opinions on the best temperature, a mini-split can help quell arguments and save on cooling all at the same time, something that you can’t do with central AC units.

Some customers who already have central air choose to install a ductless mini-split air conditioner as a supplemental solution for using less energy to get comparable results. And for anyone who wants to skip dealing with the ductwork central AC installation requires, ductless AC is the obvious choice.

What to Consider When Buying a Mini-Split Air Conditioner

If you’re coming around to the idea of investing in a ductless mini-split air conditioner, there are a few main factors to keep in mind during your search to ensure you get the best unit for your needs.

Cost

The upfront cost is the main downside of buying a ductless air conditioner. The most affordable mini-split systems can be around $800, while a high-end system with advanced features and heating capabilities could be more than $12,000.

If you want a ductless air conditioner that’s powerful enough to cool a large room or a multi-zone unit that can handle multiple rooms, expect to pay closer to that high end of the price range. If you want a mini-split with a heat pump for the winter, that will add to the cost as well.

In addition to the sticker price of the unit itself, you have two main additional costs to factor in—installation and ongoing energy costs.

Some ambitious DIYers may have the skill to install a mini-split air conditioner themselves, but that may not be an option, especially if the manufacturer warranty requires professional installation. Before purchasing a ductless AC unit, call around to your local HVAC companies and get an idea of how much installation will be adding to the cost and how the pricing may vary for different types of models.

Ongoing energy costs with a mini-split air conditioner will be lower than with any other type of air conditioner providing the same amount of cooling. Of course, a cooling unit will always use more energy compared to not using an air conditioner at all, and one with more power and more zones will use more energy than others. If you haven’t been using anything for cooling before installation, expect an uptick in your energy bills.

Number of Zones

You’ll find single-zone mini-splits designed to cool one room, and multi-zone models that can take on several rooms. As you’d expect, the cost will go up for each zone you add, but if you live in a house with several rooms you need to keep cool, then making sure you get an air conditioning unit with the right number of zones is important.

One of the benefits of zones is that you can control each one distinctly. A quad-zone ductless AC unit, for example, can be set to four different temperatures based on the preferences of people in each of the four rooms. The same goes for dual-zone and triple-zone units, all the way up to mini-splits with five zones.

Having multiple zones allows you to customize the temperature of different rooms, eliminating a lot of wasted energy use. You can also turn off the AC entirely for any room that’s not currently in use. This money-saving cooling strategy isn’t available with central air conditioners.

Power/BTU Requirements

The power of all air conditioners is measured in BTUs. The higher the BTUs, the greater the space an air conditioner will be able to effectively cool. In many cases, you’ll see a specific room size provided in the specs of a product as well, but you can also do the calculations yourself based on the BTU information they provide.

In general, here’s how BTUs translate to room size:

These numbers should provide you with a good starting point in determining the best ductless air conditioner for your living space. If you live in a place where temperatures frequently get over 90°F, add about 30% to the number of BTUs needed for the space.

Energy Efficiency

Across the board, mini-split systems are more efficient than traditional cooling solutions, and many ductless AC units are ENERGY STAR certified, which lets you know right off the bat that you have a lot of energy-efficient options to choose from.

As you’d expect, if you want to cool a larger space or more rooms, then the amount of energy you use will increase. But the option of cooling just the space you’re using at any given time will help you keep your use low.

If you’re trying to decide between multiple models and energy efficiency is an important consideration for you, check out the SEER rating. Every mini-split air conditioner will provide the rating in their specs. The higher the number is, the more efficiently the AC unit will perform in regard to overall energy use.

Voltage

A lot of ductless air conditioners use the standard 110- to 120-volt outlet, but some larger mini-splits require a higher voltage. If you purchase a model that needs a 220- or 240-volt plug, then you’ll have to work with an electrician for an upgrade to ensure you don’t blow a fuse or even cause a fire.

Installation

As mentioned above, mini-split installation is easier than installing ducted or central air conditioning. When talking to local contractors, ask about their experience installing different types of mini-split air conditioners. It may be that there are some they’ve worked with that are a real pain to install and will cost you extra and others that they know are high quality and a simpler job for them that will save you money.

If you do decide that you’re up to the task of installing it yourself—and you’re not worried about voiding the manufacturer’s warranty—then make sure to do some research to get a feel for what will be involved. In many cases, the reviews of different models will give you an idea of how complicated the installation process will be. If you have any doubt that you’re up for the task, then your safest bet is to go ahead and call in a professional.

Durability

An investment as large as a ductless air conditioner should be for keeps. You don’t want to have to deal with expensive repairs or worse, replacing the whole thing, for many years to come.

Some ductless units come with warranties, so you know you can count on the product for longer or at least get it fixed with minimal cost and trouble. Reviews and brand reputation can also give you a heads-up to how long units have lasted for other customers.

Extra Features for Mini-Splits

With newer models of ductless AC units, you’ll have additional options and features to choose from. Here are a few that mini-split owners appreciate:

• Additional functions: Many ductless air conditioners include a heating feature as well, and some also come with a dehumidifier function. Depending on the climate where you live, a unit that will also provide heat in the winter months could be useful.
• Remote control: Mini-splits with remote control offer convenience for when you’re lounging on the couch or busy in the kitchen.
• Programmable timer: Programmable timers can help save money by making it easier to set the AC to keep the space to certain temperatures at certain times of day. A few brands also offer sleep mode ductless AC units.
• Reusable filter: Filters can get expensive, so choosing an AC unit with filters you can clean and reuse could end up saving you a lot of money over the life of the product.

Is Ductless AC Right for You?

Mini-split air conditioners can save you money on energy costs, eliminate the trouble of dealing with a complicated duct system, and help you stay comfortable in your own home. While you do have to make an investment upfront, the right model will allow you to cool the spaces in your home where comfort matters most to you at an affordable rate over time.