Are you looking for a new air conditioning system for your Ottawa house, condo or apartment?
Have you considered installing a ductless air conditioner?
Ductless air conditioning systems bring many benefits and are an ideal A/C solution for many scenarios.
Here’s a quick overview of how ductless air conditioners work, the components they are made of, and how this could be the right solution for your Ottawa air conditioning needs.
Staying Cool in the Ottawa Summer without Central Air Conditioning
Less costly than bringing in new ductwork, and ideal for many older homes, ductless air conditioners (aka “split air conditioner” or “mini split”) are a simple solution with a twist on central A/C or window air conditioners.
Since it’s important to understand what you’re bringing into your home, let’s take a look at how the ductless air conditioning system works.
Components of a Ductless Air Conditioner
You are probably familiar with the old school “window units” of room air conditioners.
Various iterations of these limited-space air conditioning systems have been around for many years.
Ductless air conditioners have some commonalities with their window A/C predecessors – but are much more efficient and visually appealing.
Instead of a single component that sits (hopefully!) in a window frame, a ductless air conditioner involves multiple components.
Like Central A/C – But Different & More Targeted
Part of the ductless air conditioner resides outside your house or on your condo balcony. Does that sound like the A/C unit for a central air conditioning system?
Well, it turns out that a ductless air conditioner functions similarly to how a central air conditioning system works, with the exception of—you guessed it—ductwork.
With ductless air conditioning, a compressor unit is installed outside the home on a concrete slab, where it cools refrigerant fluid and pumps it through copper piping into your home.
However, the refrigerant does not get fed through ductwork.
Instead, there is an additional unit installed in a central location inside your home, which houses the fan. The fan distributes the cool air evenly through the area where the unit is installed.
The Indoor Side of a Ductless Air Conditioner
Okay, so we’ve covered the outside component of ductless air conditioning. Where does the indoor unit go?
Well, as you may remember from science class: Hot air rises and cold air falls.
The unit inside your house will be set up as close to the ceiling as possible, so that the natural workings of thermodynamics help you thoroughly distribute the cool air.
But that’s not all the indoor unit does. The ductless air conditioner also draws the warm air back through the lines to the outdoor compressor where it can be dispersed, effectively removing the condensation that inevitably builds up inside air conditioners.
How Does A Ductless Air Conditioner Benefit You?
One of the biggest benefits offered by ductless air conditioners is that you don’t need to spend unnecessary money or energy having extra wiring installed where the air conditioner goes.
Instead, the copper piping is drilled through the wall to connect the two separate units, and the electricity required by the indoor unit comes directly from the outdoor unit.
You can even have several indoor A/C units in your home, allowing you to cool individual areas independently of each other, and producing a generally better air quality during the hot summer months.
This makes having a ductless air conditioner energy efficient and cost-friendly, as opposed to window units or central air conditioning.
In short, a ductless air conditioner can make an excellent alternative when other types of air conditioners won’t get the job done. With a thorough understanding of how they work, you can make an informed decision when it comes time to install one in your home.
Ductless Air Conditioners in Ottawa
To find out more about the benefits of ductless air conditioners in Ottawa, and to get a FREE quote on a professionally installed ductless air conditioning system, contact Advanced HVAC today.
