When my husband and I initially purchased our house, we knew the furnace and air conditioner were at the end of their lifespan.
With conscientious maintenance, we kept the systems operational for as long as possible.
Eventually, there was no choice but to invest into new heating and cooling equipment. We took advantage of a free estimate from a local HVAC contractor. The technician inspected everything, took heat load calculations and informed us that our ductwork required more repairs than it was worth. Apparently, whoever installed the duct system did a very poor job of designing, manufacturing and installing it. Not only were there separations at the seams, crushed pipes and holes, but the sharp bends restricted airflow. We were suddenly faced with a much larger, more invasive and expensive project than we’d planned on. The HVAC contractor recommended a ductless multi-split system. I did some research and learned that there’s a lot of benefits associated with ductless temperature control. The system consists of a compact outdoor compressor that links by way of conduits to lightweight, slim-profile air handlers that mount up high on the wall. The installation required little more than some tiny holes in exterior walls and access to electricity. Each of the indoor units are able to be independently controlled. This allows us to target the occupancy, preferences and needs of the specific room without affecting the whole house. We enjoy superior comfort and conserve energy. Plus, today’s ductless systems feature inverter technology. By automatically adjusting capacity to maintain consistent temperature, the operation is exceptionally energy efficient. In cooling mode, the ductless heat pump is better at dehumidification than a conventional air conditioner. In heating mode, the operation doesn’t cause problems with insufficient humidity.