Blazing hot summers in the Tampa, FL area mean that you need to make sure you get the right cooling system for your home. If you’re undecided between central AC and a ductless mini-split system, you need to start with a good sense of the pros and cons of both systems. You also need to consider your own situation as well as the local climate. The information below will put you in a better position to decide which will best suit your home.
Systems and Cooling Capacity Overview
A central AC is the type of whole-home air conditioning system that most people are familiar with. With these systems, cool air runs through ducts and is delivered into your home through registers that are usually located in the floor or ceiling.
Ductless mini-split systems have been popular in Europe for a while and are now becoming more common throughout the United States, including in Florida. As their name suggests, they do not use ducts to distribute cool air. There is usually one central outdoor unit and multiple units throughout your home. You will probably need multiple units because ductless mini-split systems don’t have the cooling capacity that central AC does.
Cooling capacity is measured in units called BTUs. The output for central AC is around 12,000 to 60,000 BTUs. For a ductless mini-split system, it’s around 1,700 to 12,000. A single ductless mini-split unit indoors can only cool a very small home. However, having multiple units can be an advantage, as you will read below.
Opportunity for Zoned Cooling
One reason many people prefer ductless mini-split systems is the opportunity they provide for zoned cooling throughout your house. You can have several units installed throughout your home, allowing you to keep different rooms at different temperatures. This can be especially useful if one or more rooms tend to get especially hot or if people in your household have different temperature preferences.
In a residential property, a central AC usually runs off a central thermostat that’s carefully placed somewhere in your home, away from windows on an inside wall. This means that all the rooms in your house will be roughly the same temperature, or at least they will receive the same amount of cooling. A potential drawback is that if one or more rooms are far from the central thermostat, they might always feel hotter than the rest of the house.
Cost of Installation
How much money do you have set aside for installation? Do you already have existing ductwork in your house? Generally, it costs more to install ductless mini-split systems. However, this may not be the case if you are considering a central AC system, but you don’t already have ductwork in your home. The cost of installing ductwork can drive up the cost of that installation by a lot, so be sure to get quotes that include that expense before you move forward.
Disruption of Installation
If you do need to have ductwork installed as part of getting a central AC system, consider how disruptive this process may be. If you or someone in your household works from home, is ill, or has pets, you may need to consider how to work around these situations. In the end, even when it’s necessary to add ductwork, the installation process isn’t long compared to the lifespan of either system, so be careful how heavily you weigh this one. However, if you are on the fence about both systems, this could be a factor in your final decision.
Add-Ons and Conversions
Many people choose to get a single-zone ductless mini-split system if they are adding an extra room to their home or converting a garage or similar structure. This addition would be installed even if they have central AC. This can be a better solution than running ductwork to your addition or conversion. However, extending your ductwork and having your central AC system cool the area is also an option.
Efficiency of Operation
Overall, ductless mini-split systems are more efficient than central AC systems. This has two main benefits. Your power bills will be lower, and they are better for the environment. Ducted systems can lose as much as 30% of their cooling capacity via the ducts that the air travels through before it reaches the rooms in your house. Over time, you can end up saving the money that you spent on the installation of your ductless mini-split systems.
However, central AC does give you the opportunity to control the thermostat for the entire house. If someone in your household insists on keeping their zone 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the rest of the house, then those savings might not add up so quickly.
Aesthetic Appeal
Whether you choose a central AC or a ductless mini-split system, there’s going to be some alteration to the rooms in your house. This will either be the registers that the air comes through for a central AC system or the ductless mini-split units themselves. Some people don’t like the look of ductless mini-split systems, which are usually attached to walls throughout your home. It’s possible in some cases to mount these in the ceiling instead, although this could drive up your installation costs. Consider how you could integrate ductless mini-split systems into your Florida decor if you’re leaning toward this option.
Air Quality
There are a few aspects of air quality to consider when looking at ductless mini-split units versus a central AC system. When you have central AC, pollutants can accumulate in your ducts, including pet hair, dust, pollen and other allergens. With a ductless mini-split system, this isn’t a concern since there are no ducts. On the other hand, you may be able to get more robust air filters for your central AC than are available for ductless mini-split systems.
Another thing to consider is Florida’s humidity. Both systems will reduce the overall humidity in your home as they cool it down. Some ductless mini-split systems have an additional feature called a “dry mode” that also removes humidity. As is the case with cooling, a central AC system will remove humidity throughout the whole house. If you have multiple ductless mini-split systems, you can target certain areas for humidity removal.
Other Factors
Both central AC and ductless mini-split systems are effective. The system that will best keep you comfortable in your Florida home will depend on several additional factors, including your insulation, where the sun hits your home and what your cooling needs are. If you’re still undecided about which system is right for your household, at Ahoy! Cooling & Heating, we can help you make that assessment.
Best AC Service in Tampa
Whether you need a central AC or ductless mini-split system installed in your home, Ahoy! Cooling & Heating can do the job. We also offer replacement, repair and maintenance as well as duct cleaning services. We’ve been around since 2010, and we have an A+ rating with the BBB as well as hundreds of five-star reviews on Home Advisor, Angi and Google.
We’re also proud to have Mitsubishi Diamond Elite Contractor status. Contact Ahoy! Cooling & Heating when you’re ready to install a central AC or a ductless mini-split system in your Tampa home.
