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Ductless Mini-Split vs Central Air Conditioners

If you looking for a new air conditioning system for your home then you may be wondering if it’s better to get ductless mini-split or central air conditioning system.

When you constantly have problems with the centralized air conditioner you bought in the past, then you should read this article about ductless air conditioners and how they can be of use to you. But first of all, what exactly is this air cooling device?

Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioning System

The ductless air conditioner is also called the split-type air conditioner. What this means is you don’t have to punch holes through your walls or windows. All you need to do is mount the air conditioning unit on your wall. The ducts of your air conditioner will be located outside the wall of your home or near the ceiling of your room. This will enable you to save lots of space as well.

This kind of unit is also commonly used in hotels and offices wherein they have rooms that do not have any wall facing the outside of the building. If you want the walls of your home to look cleaner and more appealing – without the butts of air conditioners jutting out of it – then you should buy ductless air conditioners.

Another great thing about this kind of air conditioning unit is that it is very powerful and operates silently. Certain units can even cool an entire home when functioning normally. Since the evaporator is located far from the motor of the unit, it will be able to produce cold air faster and more efficiently.

One more benefit of using this device is that you it can function as a heat pump during the winter. This will save you the hassle of buying a separate heating system for your home or office. Silence is also a very important factor when it comes to choosing the right air conditioner. You can work best and relax well when staying in a room that is serene and silent.

There are many things you need to take into consideration when choosing the right kind of air conditioner for your home.

Firstly, you need to set your budget. By having a maximum amount of what you can spend in mind, you will be able to narrow down you list of units significantly. You should also figure out how strong an air conditioner you need in order to cool your room correctly. This will enable you to choose an air conditioning unit that is powerful enough for your needs.

You should also be sure to only buy units manufactured by the best and most reputable Air Conditioner Brands. This way, you can be assured that the unit you buy will be of good quality. Also, you should have your units installed by a team of qualified professionals. This will ensure that your ductless air conditioners will work very well and for a long time to come.

Central Air Conditioning System

Central Air Conditioning System is what the most people are familiar with. It makes sense that peoples have chosen to install these kind of units in their homest. However, just because Central A/C is what we know doesn’t necessarily mean it’s to best option when choosing a new air conditioning system .

A central air conditioning system treats air at a central location and distributes it to and from rooms by one or more fans and a series of ducts. Supply ducts and registers carry this cool air from the air conditioner to the home. The air becomes warmer as it circulates through the home; then it flows back to the central air conditioner through return ducts and registers.

A central air conditioner is usually installed outdoors, although in some cases they may be mounted on your roof or in your attic. Because they are not part of your living areas, they are relatively unobtrusive, with only the vents showing.

Mini Split vs Central Air Conditioner – Pros and Cons

Ductless Mini-Split

Pros

Fast and easy installation
Energy efficient
Cheaper to install
Quieter operation
May make home more marketable
May cost up to 30% less to operate

Cons

Does not improve air quality
May not cool entire home evenly
Does not remove allergens
Visible inside the home
May need several to cool the entire house

Central Air Conditioner

Pros

Cools entire home simultaneously
May improve air quality
Nearly invisible when installed

Cons

Noisy
Costly and difficult to install
May cost up to 30% more to operate
Energy-efficient units can be expensive
Ductwork can leak, raising energy costs

Mini Split vs Central Air Conditioner – Cost

In central air conditioning, your costs are going to be dependent on several factors. The first of which is the brand of unit itself. When selecting a central air unit, you will want to look at its SEER number or its efficiency rating. The higher the number, the less it will cost you to run, but the more it will cost you upfront. For 13 SEER central air conditioning will cost around $5,000 to $9,000 for a 1,800 sq. ft. home.

Ductless air conditioners cost around $2,000 to $4,000 for a single unit for a 1,800 sq.ft. home .

After all, while this article should help get you started, it’s always best to talk to a heating and cooling professional to make sure you’re getting all the facts as they relate to your home. Both mini split or central air conditioning require a professional for correct sizing and placement so that system runs effectively and at peak performance.

Home Heating System Option

Posted By Mas Broto

Home heating system costs have doubled over the past ten years, now representing 60% of the energy spent in the United Stated. No one can predict how high fuel costs will go, however we can be certain of one thing – the costs will go up.

It’s anyone’s guess which fuel might be the better bargain in ten or twenty years, so it’s tough to shop for a heating system today without wondering if you’ve made the right decision.

Although we can’t tell you which the best home heating system to make, we can show you how the different fuels compare today.

Oil

Oil prices can be unpredictable; however fuel oil provides good energy content, with efficiency ratings up to 86% with modern equipment. If you decide to upgrade your furnace or boiler, you will also need to install a stainless steel liner in your chimney.

Older oil burners can be fitted with a “flame retention head” to improve efficiency, and regular tune-ups will also go a long way toward lowering your fuel costs.

Decorative oil-fired stoves and fireplaces are available for space heating, and will work without electricity. Oil-fired hot water tanks can heat water quickly and are often used for in-floor heating system, as well as hybrid hot water forced-air systems.

Don’t choose the home heating system with oil if you feel guilty about burning non-renewable resources, or if you can’t afford unpredictable costs. A central system will require ductwork or water piping, as well as a fuel oil storage tank. Oil furnaces are priced lower than gas furnaces and enjoy on average, a longer lifespan.

Natural Gas and Propane

Gas and propane are cleaner than fuel oil and provide odorless heat with slightly lower energy content than oil. Gas prices are higher than they once were, and the cost of heating with propane is even higher.

There is a greater availability of natural gas in more densely populated areas, whereas propane is more often the choice in rural locales where it is compressed and delivered by truck.

Both gases are popular choices for fireplaces, space heaters and hot water tanks, are clean and more convenient than wood-burning fireplaces however, are about 25% less efficient than a gas furnace.

If you’re considering one of these high-priced fuels, shop for an appliance that will provide the best return on your investment. Always compare installed prices, energy-efficiency ratings and warranties. As with oil-fired equipment, ductwork or water piping will be required. Modern appliances vent directly to the outdoors without need for a chimney.

Don’t choose the home heating system with propane unless you have deep pockets, if you feel guilty about burning a petroleum product or if you don’t want to see a submarine-sized cylinder beside your house.

Electricity

Electricity is 100% efficient. Every ounce of power leaving your electric panel is turned into heat at the furnace or space heater, with no line loss and nothing wasted up a chimney or out a vent. Electricity can be more expensive per unit of heat developed, however the cost of installation is lower than with fuel-fired heating equipment.

Although the equipment in your house may be 100% efficient, electricity isn’t any greener than gas, oil or propane; in fact the electricity you use may come from a coal-burning power plant.

Electric heat pumps are very efficient in more southerly latitudes, however provide marginal benefit in northern areas where temperatures are too low to extract heat from outside air, and a backup furnace is required.

Unlike electric furnaces or space heaters, heat pump installations can be cost-prohibitive and the lifespan of the equipment is relatively short.

Don’t heat with electricity if you don’t want to support the operation of big power plants and other mega-power projects.

Wood

If you live in a well-treed rural area, heating with wood can be a sensible choice. Wood is the cheapest of all fuels (you can save as much as 70%) and is a renewable resource – however not without drawbacks.

Wood smoke can be a nasty source of air pollution unless you dig deeper in your pockets and purchase a high efficiency stove; they run up to about 75% efficiency when used properly. Wood-burning furnaces rarely exceed 50% efficiency, and with much higher emissions.

Don’t heat with wood if you don’t like chores, if you don’t have plenty of storage space or if firewood isn’t readily available nearby (trucking costs can really chew up your savings.)

Don’t pick heating system with wood if you don’t want to pay an extra premium to your insurance company, or if you have any respiratory problems; wood heat will drastically lower the humidity in your home.

Other Home Heating System Considerations

The size, design and insulating value of your home will have direct impact upon your heating costs. Modern, well-insulated, air-tight homes have much lower heat loss, and therefore require less fuel to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.

The new generation of “smart houses” require so little heat provision that it may not matter which fuel you use – because you’ll use hardly any of it.

Setting thermostats lower will reduce your heating costs. Zone-controlled heating systems, and space heaters can also save a bundle. It doesn’t make much sense to overheat your entire house in an effort to make one person warm, in one corner of the basement.

How can I Keep Cool and Stay Green in Summer Heat?

Posted By Mas Broto

Summer is a time for enjoying the outdoors with family and friends. As the temperature starts to rise, you might soon be tempted to avoid discomfort by turning on the air conditioner inside your home or apartment. You can cool down your home without cranking the air conditioner! Here are some tips for keeping your house cool in the summer heat, with or without air conditioner.

Thankfully, as a homeowner who strives to stay green, you don’t have to compromise your conscientious lifestyle in order to stay cool in the summer.

Pull Down the Shades

Windows letting in sunlight during the day can cause the inside of your home to feel even hotter. Keep out the sun by pulling down shades during the day and blocking out the sun.

If you have blinds, consider hanging a curtain as well to prevent sunlight from entering through the horizontal slats. When completely closed, blinds can reduce heat gain by around 45 percent. Adding a curtain increases the blinds’ effectiveness even more.

Switch to Fans

Ceiling and portable fans do a good job at cooling down smaller areas. Many homeowners waste money keeping their entire home cool, even on nights when they spend most of their time in one room. Keeping fans in each room and only turning them on when necessary helps you reduce energy usage.

When searching for a new ceiling fan, be sure to look for the Energy Star label. Fans with this label typically move air 20 percent more efficiently than traditional models.

Open the Windows at Night

If you live in a region where the temperature falls at night, take advantage of the cooler air by opening your bedroom windows. This can eliminate the need to turn on any cooling devices, including fans. Just remember to shut windows and close the blinds before the sun rises each morning.

Turn the Backyard Patio into a Kitchen

Turning on the oven or stove can quickly make a kitchen feel like a sauna. In the summer, you can serve delicious dishes and keep cool by grilling outdoors instead. Grills are extremely convenient during the warmer months and can be used to cook a variety of foods beside meat, including vegetables and even pizza.

Replace Your Incandescent Lights

Incandescent bulbs are the least energy-efficient options in lighting today. They also generate more heat than newer lighting technology. To get the best results in terms of cutting energy usage, switch to LED lights. LED technology is highly effective at staying cool compared to other methods of lighting.

Purchase a New Air Conditioner

On sweltering days when an air conditioner is truly the only option, you should invest in an energy-efficient model to continue your green lifestyle. Many of today’s air conditioners use 30 to 50 percent less energy than models made in the mid-1970’s, while still producing the same amount of cooling air.

To find the most energy-efficient air conditioner, once again look for an Energy Star label and check the energy-efficiency ratio (EER). A higher EER rating indicates a more energy-efficient air conditioner.

Enjoy the summer and stay cool!