How Does a Ductless AC Work? All You Need to Know

When it comes to efficiently cooling your home, ductless AC systems have been on the rise in terms of popularity. Unlike their traditional counterparts, they don’t rely on ductwork to distribute cooled air. They provide a more flexible and energy-efficient solution to homeowners across New Orleans. Today, we’re answering the big question! How does a ductless AC work? We’re breaking down system components, and operation, as well as all the benefits switching to a ductless AC could bring your household. 

Let’s get started!

Understanding Ductless AC Systems

Ductless AC systems are usually referred to as mini-split systems. They are primarily made up of two elements: an outdoor condenser unit and one or more indoor air handling units. If you were to have a ductless AC system installed, your outdoor unit would be the one responsible for heat exchange, while your indoor units distribute all the cool air throughout your living space. 

A key advantage of owning one of these handy systems is their uncanny ability to deliver target cooling in specific spaces in your home. Like any other HVAC system, there are plenty of types to choose from, whether it be single-zone or multi-zone, you can select whatever aligns best with your cooling goals. 

How Does a Ductless AC Work?

So, back to your initial question: how does a ductless AC work? Well, in order to understand that, we have to dive deeper into the mechanics of the system’s operation. Ductless systems usually utilize refrigerant to absorb your indoor heat and release it outside. This procedure usually starts when your indoor air handling unit draws the warmth from the room and through the system. 

Once the warm air passes over the evaporator coils in your indoor unit, the refrigerant living inside those coils will absorb the heat. This is what helps to cool the air that is then blown back into your space, leaving you with a more comfortable and inviting environment–and now that your refrigerant is heated, it’s pumped to the outdoor unit through insulated lines. 

That absorbed heat is released through the refrigerant and into the outside air via the outdoor unit. Condenser coils are an amazing thing, you know. They have a fan that helps to facilitate the heat exchange. Once the refrigerant is cooled down, it will return to its liquid state travel right back to the indoor unit, and repeat the cycle. 

As we’ve mentioned before, an important aspect of ductless AC units and how they work is their ability to control each indoor unit independently. This systemic zoned cooling will allow you to set different temperatures for different rooms, based on your preferences. Not to mention, the zoned cooling helps to reduce energy waste and widens that green thumb. 

Benefits of Ductless AC Systems 

When you truly understand just how a ductless air conditioning system works, you’ll be able to recognize the benefits that come with it. One of our favorite advantages is the significant energy efficiency. If you didn’t already know, ductless systems were specifically designed to be more sustainable and energy-conscious than their traditional counterparts. 

In addition to their sustainability, these ductless systems provide a more streamlined installation process. That’s because they don’t require any ductwork, and in that way are less invasive when it comes to installation. To put it simply, a small hole would be drilled into your wall to connect your indoor and outdoor units, which ultimately will minimize the disruption to your home, in comparison to a traditional air conditioner’s installation time. 

Maintenance and Considerations 

While there are a host of benefits that come with having a ductless mini-system, it’s important to remember that these air conditioning systems still require maintenance if you want to extend their lifespan and efficiency. Be sure that you are getting your system checked regularly by your trusted HVAC professionals.

We’ve officially covered the fundamentals of ductless ACs.  Now that you can properly answer the question “How does a ductless AC system work?”, maybe you’re considering one for your own home or business.

That’s where Optimum Air Solutions comes in. We specialize in all things HVAC and are more than equipped to install your very own ductless AC system. Click here to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists and we’ll have you breathing easy in the Big Easy in no time!