Mini-splits throughout the house?
jagoe1
10 years ago
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ionized_gw
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoionized_gw
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Help me plan cooling my new house/rooms with mini splits
Comments (8)If window units will keep you comfortable, then mini splits will as well, but with less noise and higher efficiency. Although window units are getting better all the time, mini splits will probably do better humidity control too. Mini splits vs. ducted systems is more of a continuum than it used to be. There are mini split ducted units that can handle more than one room. The difference, I think, is that the static duct pressure is much lower so the design approach is totally different. In a well insulated and constructed home, heat and humidity move between rooms a lot faster than through the exterior walls. That's why zoning does little good in economy measure in that kind of home. It will help you with any uneven temperature problems. Complexity, as Austin pointed out, increases with the number of units so that is a negative. Keep in mind that with more than one compressor, you throttle back to a lower output than with one large one running three. That keeps you out of the cycling mode longer and keeps humidity under control better if you are not running all three units indoors. I've posted a lot about mini splits on this forum even some this week. Take a look....See Morecentral vs. mini split AC for old house
Comments (3)I don't have an answer for you. But we live in Denver. Had a swamp cooler for too many years and now have minisplits. Central AC wasn't an option for us as we have no ductwork. You have nicely put together the pros and cons of each solution. There is no one right answer. The only thing to do is to prioritize what is most important to you. If a cold bedroom is #1 then that says mini-split. If no wall unit and resale are more important to you then that says central AC. Truth be told whomever buys your house after you can easily switch to another solution if they are unhappy with your choice. I can say that we cold soak our bedroom with our minisplit and then turn it off at night on most days so as not to have any noise or blowing air. We have a ceiling cassette in the bedroom and the duct that would blow right on our heads is blocked off. We do have the wall units in three rooms. The family room/kitchen, the master bath and a second bedroom that is used as an office. Our main greatroom also has a ceiling cassette. Whichever you choose you will be sooooo happy to get rid of the swamp cooler. With Denver's up and down temperatures in the spring and fall it is much easier to just turn the minisplits on and off. Also they have a heat capability so provide a back up system to our infloor radiant heat should we need it. We've only used it that way once, when our boiler was being replaced. But it is nice to have a back up if something else were to go out on our heating system....See MoreMini Split Single Zone - Ranch Home
Comments (3)He said by having this and using fans in the other rooms to push the hot air, we'd be able to cool the whole house effectively. Can anyone tell me if this is true? We're concerned we'll still need our wall AC for the bedroom in the heat of summer, which really defeats the purpose of this system! I grew up without air conditioning. Living in a suburb of Chicago an area not really known for hot summers we put box fans in the windows. There were times this was perfectly comfortable. But the sleepless nights it was not comfortable? What is that worth? This is why people want "real" air conditioning and not just a fan blowing things around. The person chiming in is from NY area another area not known for being hot. The US climate varies from one location to another. Comfort means different things to different people. What does it mean to you? What one thinks is comfortable another thinks it's too warm or too cold. If all you have is a fan blowing things around: that doesn't spell comfort in 2021. Maybe 1970, not now. Besides all that mini splits however they are configured have drawbacks. The more equipment the more it costs to maintain, repair and eventually replace. If you don't maintain it I wouldn't expect it to last very long depending on the climate you live in an how much you operate it. I service the Katy, Texas area....See MoreRevisiting Zoned Mini-Split vs Trad'l Ducted Central HVAC in New Home
Comments (32)Elmer's inquiry deserved more of a answer than your chest-thumping, self-promoting, California-bashing commercial. The climate around Katy, Texas is certainly not "one in a million." It's similar... Just "similar" but not exact... meaning different. Me and Mr. Fudd's disagreements are well documented on this board the story continually evolves from duck to rabbit season and back again. One in a million is a generalized comment... a saying. But you Mr. Ross love to find something to argue about for the sake of arguing. Distinctly different? That's rich. I find it humorous to what people like to nit pick over. It doesn't change anything. I don't change anything about the comment I made. You can disagree if you want, I still say Katy, Texas is indeed "one in a million"... at least. Ray is a one-person company. He lives in the replacement contractor world. When someone is without heat, air conditioning or hot water, it's often the first replacement contractor to arrive that "wins." Not hot water... I am not a plumber. Texas licensed for AC and heat only (HVAC). Yes essentially that is the "service" I offer as well as the part of the world I live in. Air conditioning and Furnace repair service in Katy, Texas area. When I say "service" I mean it. Every day, including summer holidays, weekends. Repairs also include equipment replacement. I myself install all new equipment I sell. I don't sub out work to sub contractors unless the contract specifies that (which is extremely rare situation). If you don't like the way I do things you're free to look elsewhere. I'm not here to tell you what your ears are aching to hear, I am here to tell you like it is. (Firmly and exponentially based on experience.) You don't have to like what I say, most of the time it's not pleasant due to a variety of reasons. In some aspects similar to the confrontational aspects of this forum boards conversations. Anyone who has viewed my posts know I come thick skinned. Disagreements do not phase me. If you want a gimmick, chase a gimmick. I could not offer the service I offer if my approach didn't work after all these years. I'd be running back around chasing my tail. You'd never get thru when you try to call me. Seriously? Think about it. Chest pounding: If you want to call it that it's your opinion. You're free to have it. My experience is my experience. 26 years. Easily verified. 13 years running my own company. Again easily verified facts. Essentially it's an advertisement. I am not paid to be here. I am here drinking my morning coffee filling in that time. If this isn't advertising my business what purpose would I have to be here? I don't come here to argue with the metamucil fan club that propetuates this board. Ha, ha... you know who you are. People search for me. All I have to do is leave bread crumbs so people can find me. AC repair service Katy, Texas area. Everyday. When I say something I mean it. Not a spam service. Don't sell your info. Don't pester you. You initiate the service you want. It's not that difficult when you know what you're doing. If you want a 20 something or 30 something coming to your home, you have to ask yourself how much experience does this guy really have? If that's what you want go for it. I've worked for companies like that... having to go back behind some newbie over and over and over. Used in not very fun ways. Follow my rules. I've been doing this longer than some of you have been alive. My methods work. Experience. What is it worth? Who else on this board in all the world listed as a pro HVAC service provider has my work ethic? Name one besides me. (beside the mini split warehouse spammer) Truth is stranger than fiction. There are people out there who read these threads and never post due to this kind of argumentative climate so frequent here. How could I know such a thing? I service the Katy, Texas area....See Morejackfre
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoionized_gw
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoElmer J Fudd
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agojackfre
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoElmer J Fudd
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoenergy_rater_la
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agocooldyood
7 years agomaddybeagle
5 years agoCathy DiVello
5 years ago
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