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Summer has started heating up our Brooklyn community but your window unit may be failing to cool down your home. So, why do so many people use window units here?
It’s because 75% of the buildings in New York City were built before 1960, when central air conditioning really started to take off. Many homes just aren’t designed for central AC, so people get by with window units.
It may be time to consider a Brooklyn ductless mini-split air conditioning system from your HVAC experts at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning. Continue reading to learn more about ductless mini-split systems, including their many benefits, or simply reach out to our Brooklyn air conditioning pros today!
As the name implies, a ductless mini-split doesn’t use ductwork to move air to vents around your home. That requires space above the ceilings, below the floors and inside the walls, space many Brooklyn homes just don’t have.
Ductless mini-split ACs have an outdoor unit, just like any other type of air conditioner, that can be mounted on the ground or attached to the side of the building. The outdoor unit is often attached to the side of the building on apartment buildings, or they can also go on the roof.
Refrigerant and electrical lines from the outdoor unit need a 3-inch hole in the wall to attach to the indoor unit that’s mounted on the wall. Each outdoor unit can feed as many as four indoor units in four different rooms.
If you’re considering a ductless AC system, here’s what to know about their many benefits.
Mini-split systems are known for maximizing their efficiency. Since they are based on heat pump technology, they use less electricity than many HVAC systems and are far more efficient than window units. These are incredibly efficient systems that operate on as little as a quarter of the energy as a traditional electric HVAC unit, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
As Brooklyn’s green plumbers, we think efficiency is a big deal, and mini-splits maximize efficiency in more ways than one. In addition to being based on heat pump technology and using less electricity than traditional HVAC systems, they offer quick installation and can sometimes be up and running within a day. And because mini-splits eliminate ductwork, they don’t require extensive renovation to install.
Brooklyn has a lot of old masonry and stone buildings that were built before air conditioning was commonplace. If your home is heated with a boiler and hot water or steam radiators, you don’t have ducts that can be used for air conditioning. Ductless mini-splits are perfect for this kind of application.
Ductless units also improve your indoor air quality. Central air systems can make your home’s air worse, as dust and debris get trapped in your ductwork and redistributed around the home. By filtering your home’s air as it passes through the unit, you and your family will be able to breathe a little easier.
Ductless mini-splits are incredibly compact. They can be installed anywhere in the home to provide supplemental heating or cooling, and installing them costs less than traditional ducting. Because a ductless unit heats or cools the air surrounding it, rather than conditioning it centrally and piping it around your home, they’re great for those problem areas where a central unit just can’t reach.
Manufacturers of ductless mini-splits have worked hard to make the indoor units as attractive and unobtrusive as possible. Because the compressor is outside, the only sound you’ll hear is the indoor fan.
Before you make the investment in a ductless air conditioner, there are some drawbacks to consider.
Should you move forward with ductless air conditioning installation in Brooklyn?
The answer is, “It depends.” If you already have ductwork in your home, it makes sense to stick with a traditional HVAC system.
However, there are some reasons why switching to ductless AC is a wise choice:
If you’re adding a room to your Brooklyn home, like a bonus room or enclosed workshop, a mini-split can be a cost-effective choice. Instead of adding the cost of running ductwork into your project, a mini-split can heat and cool the area without adding ducts. In addition, your existing HVAC system is calibrated for your current square footage. Adding a new room to the system might be too much.
Homeowners who are renovating or remodeling an older home might find that it doesn’t have ductwork for a traditional HVAC system. Adding ductwork could be costly and might ruin the older home’s historic charm.
Ductless systems can contribute to better indoor air quality because they’re not pulling air from outdoors through ducts, which can accumulate dust and allergens. With a mini-split, the air comes straight from the outdoors through a filter, so you know it’s clean.
A ductless air conditioning unit that isn’t adequately maintained and properly kept consumes more energy. It also eats away at your utility bills during the more demanding months of the year.
While we recommend professional AC maintenance in Brooklyn once a year, here are some easy maintenance tasks you can tackle on your own:
If you haven’t cleaned the filters in your Brooklyn ductless AC recently, chances are they’re covered in dirt, dust and debris. Ensure those filters are washed regularly and free of debris for more cool, crisp air.
While you’re cleaning the filters, you can also check the air pipes for any blockages and debris that might affect the performance of your unit. If you can comfortably reach them, wipe them out or use a vacuum hose to suck out the dust and debris. Be sure to locate any leaks that might be plaguing those pipes.
Space in Brooklyn comes at a premium. You should try to ensure your unit has about 4 feet of room in all directions. This reduces the accumulation of dust and other particulates on the unit. Keep furniture like bookshelves and art away from the ductless AC, and you’ll notice the machine runs a lot more efficiently at a lower impact to your utility bills.
These are just a few of the great benefits a ductless system can provide. If you want to know more, we’re always happy to talk about the latest and greatest air conditioning technology. Give the Brooklyn HVAC experts at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning a call and we can have your new ductless unit up and running in no time!
Ready for top-notch Brooklyn plumbing, heating, cooling, and drain cleaning? Look no further! Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning is your trusted HVAC contractor and plumber in Brooklyn for all your home service needs. Take the first step towards a comfortable and efficient home – stop your search for “plumber near me”, fill out the form below, and let’s get started on your service request today! Your satisfaction is our priority.