You guessed it – no ductwork. With a ductless air conditioner system from Carrier®, you don’t need it. Whether you live in a new home or an older home without ductwork, are adding a room addition, converting an existing space or if you want more complete year-round climate control over a specific room or area of your home, ductless systems are an efficient way to expand your comfort, no matter the challenges your space presents.
A ductless mini split system, in its most basic form, includes one outdoor unit and one indoor unit, connected by refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring. The indoor unit is often wall-mounted, and delivers heated or cooled air directly into the living space – no ductwork needed. This is called a single-zone system and it’s designed to provide heating and cooling comfort to one specific area. A Carrier ductless multi-zone system combines one outdoor unit with up to five indoor units to provide comfort for an entire home. Because there are several styles of indoor units available, and because installation only requires a hole in the wall for the wiring and refrigerant line, ductless HVAC systems are among the easiest and most versatile systems to install.
How Do Ductless Air Conditioners Work?
Pretty darn well, if we do say so ourselves. Single or multi-zone systems. Heating and cooling or just cooling. Whatever your needs, wherever your space, however you use it, Ductless mini split systems offer customizable solutions that are efficient and quiet.
Ductless air conditioner systems use the same process for cooling as a typical central air conditioning system. However, while central air conditioning uses one centrally located indoor unit that delivers cool air to the entire home through a series of ducts and vents, a ductless indoor unit blows cooled air directly into one living space. At the minimum, a complete ductless system includes an indoor unit with an evaporator coil and blower fan; and it has an outdoor unit with a compressor, condenser coil and fan. The two units are connected with copper refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring.
The outdoor compressor unit pumps chemical refrigerant through the refrigerant tubing to the indoor unit’s coil. As the liquid refrigerant turns to gas, heat and humidity is removed from indoor air blowing across the coil, sending cooler, less humid air back into the living space. The refrigerant, in gas form, cycles back to the outdoor coil where it is converted back to a liquid as heat energy is released through the outdoor coil. A ductless heat pump system operates exactly the same way for cooling, with the additional ability to reverse the process for heating the indoor space.
Single- and Multi-Zone Systems
Ductless systems can be configured with either one or multiple indoor units powered by a single exterior compressor. The versatility of ductless HVAC systems makes them perfect for many applications, including room additions, sunrooms, garages, and they are an ideal air conditioning option for older homes.
Single-Zone
Ductless air conditioners and ductless heat pumps can be installed so that one indoor unit corresponds to one outdoor compressor. The compressor carries refrigerant and power to the interior unit via a small pipe, running through a small opening, installed with very little impact to your home.
Multi-Zone
One outdoor compressor can power up to five indoor units, each separately controlled by a wireless remote control, offering you flexible options for configuring your comfort solutions. You can even choose to add units to your compressor in the future after you’ve installed just two indoor units (depending on the maximum number of connectable units), allowing for more streamlined expansion or renovation of your home as time and budget allow.
Things to Consider About Ductless HVAC Systems
Ductless air conditioner and heat pump systems are like the Swiss Army knife of HVAC. They have a solution for just about any heating and cooling need, and can provide comfort in areas where traditional ducted systems can’t. Adding a room to an existing home? Converting a basement, attic or garage into a living space? Looking for air conditioning options for older homes? Providing a boost to a room that’s always too hot or too cold? A Carrier ductless system has a solution for all of the above. With virtually endless configurations, and a variety of indoor units to choose from, ductless systems provide the ultimate, customizable comfort solution. They are quick and easy to install with no ductwork required. Outdoor units can be strategically placed to minimize sound in occupied areas. Indoor units are available in several styles to work with the aesthetics and physical needs of each individual room. Ductless systems can work alongside your existing air conditioner or heat pump system. And, they can save on your utility bills with ENERGY STAR® qualified systems and by actively heating and cooling only the areas that are occupie
