Whether you’re planning an addition to your home or you’re converting your attic or garage space, there are many things to consider. One of the most important is how to heat and cool that new or repurposed space. Two popular options are adding onto your existing ductwork or installing mini-split systems.
Why You Must Make This Decision
When you get excited about your home conversion or addition, it can be easy to forget about your HVAC system. However, you need to ensure that your additional living space stays comfortable year-round. Having the right type of HVAC system can keep your energy bills in check and improve your indoor air quality. It can also increase your home’s resale value.
Understanding Ductwork Extensions
Most traditional HVAC systems use ductwork to distribute conditioned air throughout the various rooms of your home. This has been a popular system for many decades and is a standard solution for new home builds. However, it’s important to make the distinction between small duct changes and major duct extensions and redesigns.
Large extensions include things like wall and ceiling demolition. You may have to update your HVAC equipment to accommodate the added living space. The more square footage you’re adding to your home, the higher your HVAC system’s capacity will need to be. It may require installing new ductwork in your attic or crawl space, or inspecting and sealing your existing ductwork. You will need a professional to rebalance your existing ductwork for optimal airflow.
It’s common for ductwork extensions to require ripping out drywall to access your existing ductwork. This means that you’ll have to request sheetrock repair and repainting after the ducting installation. This adds to the cost of your new HVAC upgrade and can lead to weeks of disrupting your living space.
Adding a Ductless Mini-Split System
If you want to avoid an intensive installation process for ductwork expansion, you might prefer a mini-split system, which is much easier to install. You may hear these called ductless mini-split systems or ductless heat pump systems. They all consist of an outdoor condenser unit that connects to one or more indoor air handlers via refrigerant and electrical lines.
You can mount indoor air handlers on your wall or ceiling to deliver conditioned air throughout the entire room. Because they rely on heat pump technology, these units provide both heating and cooling for year-round comfort.
Air handlers simply require drilling a 3-inch hole wherever you want to place one. For example, let’s say you’re putting in a wall indoor air handler for your ductless system. Our technician will drill a small hole behind that unit to run refrigerant and electrical lines to the condenser unit that sits outside your home in a discreet location.
The Many Benefits of Choosing a Ductless Mini-Split System
Ductless mini-split systems are a popular choice for many Dallas-Fort Worth homeowners who are doing conversions or putting additions onto their homes. They offer a great combination of comfort, flexibility, efficiency, and cost savings. If you’re still on the fence about what option to choose, it can be helpful to understand the benefits that a mini-split system provides.
Faster Installation
One of the greatest advantages of a mini-split system is that it’s very quick to install. Because the work is minimally invasive, a professional technician can complete most installations in one to two days.
Zone Temperature Control
One great benefit of a mini-split system is that it provides zone temperature control. Each indoor air handler unit has its own thermostat and electronic controls. This allows you to set each indoor air handler independently from the rest.
Let’s say your home addition includes an in-law suite with a bedroom and living space. You can easily set the bedroom at a cooler temperature than the living room to keep your guests comfortable. This is an important advantage over extending ductwork. If you want zone control with a ducted system, you can install dampers to split airflow along with multiple thermostats.
Heating and Cooling in a Single Unit
Traditionally, heating and cooling systems came separately. With a modern mini-split system, you get both heating and cooling. This is a great option if your existing ducting hooks up only to your heating system. You’ll avoid having to run a window unit for air conditioning. Instead, you can enjoy zoned comfort year-round.
Lower Energy Bills
Another major advantage of ductless mini-split systems is that they’re very energy efficient. They have some of the highest efficiency ratings of all types of HVAC systems on the market today. The most important reason for this is that they avoid duct losses. Ductwork is susceptible to developing leaks over time that can allow your conditioned air to escape into wall and floor cavities.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that homeowners may pay 30% to 40% more than necessary for heating and cooling due to leaks in their ductwork. With a mini-split system, there’s no ductwork, so there’s no air loss. Ductless mini-split systems also have inverter-driven compressors. They can operate at different capacities that use different energy levels. Instead of operating at 100% capacity, these systems can operate at 30%, 40%, or 60% capacity while maintaining a comfortable indoor environment.
Better Indoor Air Quality
Using a ductless mini-split system has the added advantage of producing better indoor air quality for your home. Traditional ductwork can trap airborne contaminants like pollutants, pet dander, mold, and dust. Mini-split systems are equipped with high-quality filters on each indoor air handler. This gives you better control of the quality of air in each zone of your home. Some systems offer advanced options like carbon and antibacterial filters.
Long Lifespan
Mini-split systems tend to have fewer moving parts that are exposed to contaminants. This leads to a longer system lifespan and fewer points of failure. With periodic maintenance, your system can last anywhere between 15 and 20 years. This is a great long-term solution for your attic conversion or home office addition.
Higher Home Value
Houses that have modern HVAC solutions are more desirable for home buyers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Having a zone system that’s extremely energy efficient will increase the resale value of your home. Potential home buyers are likely to perceive a house with a mini-split system as a better property than one that uses a traditional single-zone HVAC system.
Expert Ductless Mini-Split Installation in Dallas
Cody & Sons Plumbing, Heating & Air provides expert ductless mini-split installation services in Dallas, TX. We can also assist with all your ductless mini-split replacement, repair, and inspection needs. Contact our office today to book your next service appointment.
