Three: Temperature And Zone Control
Many A/C units and furnaces have only two settings: on or off. Two-speed systems increase this slightly, and the high-end variable-speed systems will work similarly to mini-splits. Many times, though, your budget will be best suited to a one- or two-speed system.
As before, these are still leagues beyond older systems in terms of efficiency, but they lack the granular control over temperature that a mini-split will provide.
If you and your family regularly use every room in your home, this may not be a negative at all, so it will depend on the homeowner.
Best Ductless Mini Split Ac Units With Highest Seer Ratings
The ductless mini-split AC units are known as the most energy-efficient air conditioning type.
Energy efficiency is denoted by a SEER rating. The most energy-efficient mini-split air conditioners can have a SEER rating above 20. In short, they can produce an incredible amount of cooling power for a fraction of electricity costs .
The excellent energy costcooling power ratio is the No. 1 reason why the ductless mini split AC units are becoming increasingly more popular.
In recent years, the #1 unit type air conditioning engineers suggest when asked,I want to cool down 1 or several rooms at a reasonable price, which AC should I get? is the Mini split air AC unit.
We will look at the best mini split air conditioner system in 2021, based on specifications such as SEER rating. LearnMetrics recommends 7 mini-split systems:
But first, lets learn a thing or two about what this AC unit actually is and the benefits of using it.
Well look at a speedy 3-key-factors-to-look-for ductless mini-split AC buyers guide to illustrate what makes the best mini-split systems, well, the best.
Considerations Before Buying A Ductless Air Conditioner
Number of Zones
You need to consider the number of zones you need since ensuring that you get the right ductless air conditioner system to cater to the number of zones you need to condition is vital. Most single ductless ACs cool one room and the multi-zone models cool or heat up several places.
The benefit of having this consideration is that you can automatically and conveniently control each zone distinctly. Quad-zone mini split ACs , for example, are perfect for multiple zones and you can set it to four different temperatures based on your preferences. The same goes for the dual zone and triple zone units.
Having multiple zones can also assist you in eliminating wasted energy and allow you to customize the temperatures of your rooms differently. It also saves money, and they give you an economic advantage over those who use the central air conditioner systems.
Room Sizes
Before heading out to buy your AC, you need to consider the size of the room that needs cooling or heating. You do not want a case of having a unit that is too small meaning you will not get enough heat or cold air. Having an air conditioner that is also too large causes problems like temperature fluctuations and failure due to short-cycling.
Instead of guessing a size, consider having your HVAC technician perform a Manual-J Load Calculation test to properly size your room and the ductless system required for that space.
Budget
Power/BTU
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Which Is Right For Me
Theres no one-size-fits-all solution, so the answer to the question will change depending on the homeowner and their particular budget and comfort goals.
That said, you should now have a much better idea of which is going to be best for you. For some, the answer will even be both, with a central air system servicing most of the home while a mini-split unit services a particular room or area that lacks ductwork or is tough to heat and cool.
If youre still interested in a ductless mini-split system and think it may be part of a solution for your home, check out our article that breaks down the cost of mini-splits. Once you do that, if youre in the Columbus, OH area, reach out to us to schedule your free in-home estimate where well answer any questions you have and help you settle on a solution to meet your needs.
Live in Columbus or its immediate surroundings? Talk with a specialist today!
What Is Ductless Mini
Contrary to old beliefs carried over from decades past, homeowners in cold northern climates are experiencing warmth and comfort with todays high-performance ductless mini-split heat pumps. Available in ducted and ductless varieties, these high performance mini split systems provide comfortable heating at temperatures as low as -13° F.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Mitsubishi Electric, for example, uses a proprietary process referred to as flash injection allowing the heat pump to produce optimal heating levels even in extreme climates. A standard refrigerant system in a heat pump collects heat energy from the outside air and pumps it inside. Flash injection employs a bypass circuit to re-route a portion of the refrigerant to two places.
This heated refrigerant circulates back to the indoor coil for greatly improved heating performance.
In cold climates, older technology heat pumps experience a decrease in overall heating capacity. Variable-capacity inverter heat pumps with Hyper-Heating Inverter technology allow for improved heating capacity even at lower outdoor air temperatures.
Cold-climate Inverter heat pumps produce 100% of the rated heating capacity down to -5° F outdoor temperature. This technology allows homeowners in all climates to enjoy the benefits of INVERTER-driven, variable-capacity heat pumps in a wide variety of capacities and applications.
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Pasapair 12000 Btu Wifi Mini Split Ac/heating System
Features :
- ENERGY EFFICIENT COOLING – This 12000 BTU/h, 20 SEER, 115V/60Hz, ETL& AHRI Certified pre-charged air conditioner unit features a ductless mini-split system with a heat pump and dehumidification.
- INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM – This mini split ac can set all functions on the phone control: auto defrost, self-diagnosis/cleaning, 24-hour timer, sleep mode, eco energy-saving mode, multiple fan speeds, and 97 diagnostic functions are supported on the APP.
- 30DB QUIET OPERATION – Relax, feel comfortably cool, and sleep soundly as our air conditioner is significantly quiet, operating on a 30 dB noise level, and can adjust to 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit to suit your comforts in just a few minutes
- 750 Sq.ft COOLING RANGE – This mini split air conditioner provides cooling and heating for up to 550 square feet and is able to work in environments as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Full installation kit included
- CUSTOMER CARE – Ships from USA and usually received in 2-6 working days.To ensure a 100% customer satisfaction, we provide a 5 year warranty on the compressor, a 3 year parts warranty. Professional installation is required
How We Found The Best Mini
To narrow down the list and identify the six best and most reliable mini-split AC systems, we spend hours and weeks analyzing, testing and researching on the best 50 ductless models on the market.
Our results are based on user feedback, expert reviews, accurate statistics, thorough research, manufacturer data and the features of each model, as well as government energy reports and ratings.
Our research went on to show that the average height of our ductless AC models was 26 inches, and the average weight was 40.8 pounds. There were 18 units under that height and 10 models under the average pressure, and we weighed those elements together with the systems energy-efficiency, cooling performance and customer reviews.
Ultimately, there are six models that stand out and had good user experiences. In addition to our top two premium picks from Pioneer and Ductless Aire, there was one Senville unit, a second Pioneer and Senville unit and one model from Gree.
After hours of thorough research and testing the most popular models on the market, we identified the best ductless mini split air conditioner as the Pioneer Air Conditioner Inverter + Ductless Wall Mount Mini Split System. One of the unique features about this fantastic aircon unit is that its installation process is a breeze, all you have to do is follow the step-by-step manual instructions and voila- you can get a reliable, functional, versatile and sleek AC giving your home a refreshing feel and look.
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Why We Recommend These Brands Over Others
Ductless mini split air conditioners offer a great range of features. However, when you are trying to get the best deal out of it things become a bit tricky, so you need to be clear about your requirements.
It is not always about getting the most technologically advanced system or the one with the best SEER rating but rather, it is about the system that suits your exact need and budget.
Our recommendations are based on what most consumers can afford compared to those big brands like Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, LG, Samsung, MR Cool, Carrier, Daikin, and Goodman. Not to say that these known brands arent good, but many of their models have significant issues and they tend to be too costly. They are also not as well-produced as these other brands thus making them less convenient and suitable for your needs.
When you are out shopping for your mini-split system air conditioner, make sure that you do not forget to compare wisely. Choose a model based on the one that will offer you the best comfort and convenience at a lower cost, or the one that can save you a couple of bucks both in the short-term and the long-term without compromise. These six brands without a doubt do that and more.
What About Smart Controllers
We tested three smart thermostat devices: the Ambi Climate 2, the Flair Puck, and the Sensibo Sky. At their most basic, they allow you to easily control your mini-split from your phone. Unlike manufacturer options such as Mitsubishis Kumo Cloud, which do the same thing, these 3rd party options do not require expensive professional installation. Though none of the three have so far lived up to our expectations, the Ambi and the Flair are much better than the Sensibo. Were continuing to watch new releases and version upgrades and will test any that we think look good.
The Ambi Climate 2 is the most in-depth of the three. It attempts to monitor your home, AC use, and external temperatures then adjust your AC throughout the day. We like the set-it-and-forget-it use of it and how it adapted to our routine, but the apps depth, amount of upfront information, and optional user settings makes it more complicated to use than others we tried. The controller units are not wall mounted but unobtrusive within most modern decor. Our experience with customer support was good but not great.
Both the Ambi and Flair had issues with connectivity, especially with dual band WiFi. The signal strength of the units to the AC is hit or miss. When it works we were able to set them up over 25-feet away without an issue, but the best range seems to be closer to 12-feet. Good enough for a small room, but tougher in larger ones.
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Pro #: Easy Installation
If your home doesn’t have ductwork, a mini-split HVAC system will be easier to install than installing ductwork for a forced air HVAC system.Installing ductwork is an invasive, not to mention expensive, process for your home.
With ductless systems, the outdoor unit only requires a small hole to connect to the indoor wall units. This makes them much easier to install than going through the expensive process of installing ductwork.
Plus, the small area of outdoor access mini-split ACs require offer better security than window AC units. While window units are also easy to install, they require an open window, which grants intruders easier access.
The Best Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner
Weve reviewed this guide, and we still stand by all of our advice.
A mini-split is an efficient, scalable way to add cooling or heating to specific rooms of a home. Also known as ductless mini-split air conditioners and heaters, they consist of one or more wall, floor, or ceiling-mounted indoor units connected to an outdoor compressor. Theyre easier to install than a full ducted system, more efficient than window units or central HVAC, and they often make sense as a supplement to your existing heating and cooling equipmentgiving a boost to an isolated area of your home. Add in thermostat-like controls alongside smart-home integration and mini-splits start to sound pretty greatbut they arent cheap, with installation costs that can reach into the five figures.
The exact mini-split equipment you need depends on your homes unique heating and cooling requirements, and your options are limited to the qualified installers in your areabut weve researched this topic enough to be able to tell you about the scenarios when mini-split systems make sense and how to decide among the brands available. We asked installers, manufacturers, and homeowners who have mini-split systems to tell us what anyone considering one would need to know.
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Types Of Mini Split Heat Pumps
Here are a few kinds of mini-split heat pumps for cold climates:
Wall Vs. Floor Vs. Ceiling Mounted
Wall-mounted AC units can either be installed high or low on the wall. Theyre easier to install and provide effective heating. The floor-mounted AC units can be placed anywhere on the ground, and you can feel the heating instantly unlike wall-mounted units.
Ceiling-mounted units are also among the most effective heat pump units for cold weather because they provide increased heating with minimal power consumption. Besides that, ceiling-mounted AC units are less noticeable, unlike wall-mounted or floor mounted units.
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Ducted Vs. Ductless
Ducted ACs offer effective cooling or heating through the ducts systems, spread all around the house or office. If your home or office have duct openings installed, you should go for ducted AC units as they can be easily installed. However, if you dont have the duct network in place, going for ducted units can cost you a fair share.
On the other hand, ductless AC units are standalone systems that provide conditioned air through the air handler installed inside the room. The initial installation cost for ductless units is much higher than ducted units, but theyre more powerful AC units with high energy efficiency.
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Installing Mini Split Heat Pumps
Heres your step-by-step guide to install a mini-split heat pump.
Although some mini-split heat pumps come with DIY installation, most mini-split ductless Ac units require an HVAC professional for installation. Particularly for the bit where the electrical lines and refrigerant lines connect is concerned. It needs to be done correctly if you want your heat pump to work effectively and without any problem.
But you can do the last bit all by yourself by following the instruction manual of the unit.
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Senville Leto Series Mini Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump 12000 Btu 110/120v Works With Alexa White
Features :
- ALEXA ENABLED: Use voice or app control to control your air conditioner from anywhere. Use routines to adjust temperature settings while you are away and enjoy energy savings of up to 40%.
- 4-IN-1 MINI SPLIT SYSTEM: With air conditioning, built-in heat pump , dehumidifier, fan and turbo function. DC Inverter, UL Listed, AHRI Certified, Works with Alexa
- DESIGNED FOR HOME & BUSINESS: Powerful performance and dependable durability with high quality design for an attractive appearance. Great for bedrooms, additions, living rooms, and even commercial applications like stores, restaurants and warehouses.
- WHATS INCLUDED: Includes indoor air handler, outdoor condenser, remote control and installation kit with 16ft. line set and communication wire. Pre-charged with R410A refrigerant for up to 25 ft. Important note: requires professional installation.
- 5 YEAR WARRANTY: Backed by an industry leading manufacturers warranty, with 5 years on parts replacement and 5 years on compressor. Trusted quality and design by Senville, with free technical & installation support included.
Are Ductless Air Conditioner Systems A Proven Technology
You may have gotten this far and still found yourself wondering if mini-splits have proven their value. The reality is simple:
YES, they have!
In most cases, a strong argument can always be made for choosing a ductless mini-split. There are obviously situations where they wont be your most cost-effective bet, but well cover those here as well.
Heres a fact:
Mini-splits have been used for decades and are widely considered extremely competitive outside the United States. Within the last 20 years, in large part thanks to efforts by Mitsubishi, theyve begun gaining traction in the American market, but the only reason they havent been normal here for years is because distributors were hesitant to carry them.
That wasnt because they werent good, by the way. Its just that the wheels of change sometimes grind quite slow, and many profitable companies are resistant to change when they dont have to do it.
Are they reliable? In our experience and according to manufacturer claims, many ductless AC systems experience substantially fewer mechanical failures than traditional systems.
Mitsubishi has published white papers that indicate their experience with compressor failures is a fraction of the industry standard. And based on our 30+ years of selling ductless air conditioners and heat pumps, we can say that has long been our experience as well.
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