Here at SpeedClean, we love all air conditioning systems. Ducted, ductless, chilled water, packaged units. It’s all good. Every now and then though we like to look at newer technologies and give our two cents.
Air conditioning season is on its way, which means several customers will begin asking about the benefits and disadvantages of switching to a ductless mini split system. By now you know most of the ins and outs of these systems, however, a quick refresher is always good, so be prepared to answer the most common questions with ease. Continue reading to review several of the biggest pros and cons of switching to ductless mini split systems.
PROS
No ducts
Easy, straightforward installation
Smaller and more compact
Quiet operation
More efficient (SEER)
Area zoning
Better indoor air quality
Easier maintenance
CONS
Initial costs per zone can be higher than whole house, ducted units
Designs can be limiting
Can be unsightly versus ducted systems where ducts are hidden
Limited to cooling specific zones or areas
Sizing up the Differences
Mini split ductless systems can be terrific additions to homes and commercial spaces. They are perfect for retrofitting areas that either can’t be ducted or would cost too much to expand the existing system. They are simple and straightforward to install and offer incredible efficiency. However, they are (for the most part) wall hung units so many may see that as a large negative, and ongoing maintenance is absolutely required. Ductless system filtering tends to be quite limited, and the design of the blower wheels and gravity fed condensate are primary areas for organic growth. yuck. Overall, as a contractor, offering up the best option to your prospective customer includes both ducted and ductless solutions.
Best Way to Clean Ductless Mini Split Systems
Now you can also add “easy to clean” to your list of benefits, too. Mini Split Bib® Kit from SpeedClean is the fastest, most effective way to clean ductless mini split coils, fans and more. Almost a million mini split systems are installed annually and these systems require proper maintenance to run their best. Simply cleaning the filters will not keep a ductless system operating at its most efficient – and one of the greatest benefits of using a pressurized water system like the Mini Split Bib Kit, is that it can get inside to thoroughly clean the blower wheel. Even better, it’s a mess-free, hassle-free, reliable way to clean mini splits so those that choose to go ductless can get the most out of them in their home.
For more information on Mini Split Bib® Kit from SpeedClean, click here.
I have 3 Mitsubishi split mini systems installed for the last 5 years in North Arkansas, a location noted for hot humid weather. I have had two major complaints with my units. One unit failed to drain condensation properly and ran water down my wood walls in my living room. Mold or insects can stop up the drain lines at any time without being visually apparent. The second negative is that the enclosed coils and rotary fan build up black mold rapidly when cooling to the point where they are not able to move air through the coils resulting in an almost total loss of efficiency. To date, this has required repeated disassembly of very frail plastic parts to access removal of the plastic rotary fan for cleaning and also cleaning out the evaporator fan cavity and drains of accumulated black mold. Treatment with anti-fungal has not stopped subsequent regrowth. This maintenance runs $45 – $50 per inside unit once to twice a year to maintain marginal efficiency performance. If you delay maintenance, the fans literally do not move air across the evaporator coils or heating elements due to heavy mold accumulations. My 3 units have 5 evaps in the house, so just the annual cleaning equals $250 – $500 per year. Unsatisfactory until the cleaning and overflow issues are solved. Solve these two issues and I would be proud to recommend them. What are they doing for the millions of units already installed???
I hope to try the speedclean system to see if that will allow me to do my own cleaning service as needed. My local installer did try it on his units but it did not result in enough time savings for them to be enthusiastic about the speedclean kit.
They are presentlly quoting $45 each for my 5 evaporator units per cleaning via disassembly. Delicate plastic parts do not appear robust enough to tolerate repeated disassembly without breaking. I am not looking forward to working on the 4 units I have that are located 8 or more feet above the floor since I am 72.