People are working from home more and generally spending more time at home now, more than ever. They are upgrading spaces in their home to be more livable such as home offices, home gyms, garages, and he-sheds/she-sheds. Most people assume their only options for bringing heat into these areas are to extend their gas lines for a unit heater and/or extend central systems. But there’s another option.
Ductless mini-split systems.
What Is a Mini-Split?
Mini-splits are heating and cooling systems that allow you to control the temperature in individual rooms or spaces. Rather than duct systems that control an entire building’s temperature, mini-split systems can be added to new homes or retrofitted to houses with non-ducted heating systems. They also work for room additions where ductwork isn’t feasible. They are perfect for your garage gym/workshop as you benefit in the winter and summer months.
Mini-splits are often more energy-efficient and convenient alternatives to traditional heating and cooling systems because many of them follow ENERGY STAR guidelines and can be used for both heating and cooling as opposed to just heat.
As a bonus to you, they are easier to install. So the cost to install is typically less than extending a gas line for a unit/wall heater or adding a separate central system.
Mini-Splits vs. Extending Gas Lines to Heat And/Or Ducts
Extending a gas line to an unheated space in your home can be costly. Here are some things to consider when determining whether to extend gas lines or opt for mini-splits instead:
- Extending a gas line to an unheated space can be expensive.
- Ductwork is intrusive and can be prohibitively expensive or impossible.
- Duct losses can account for over 30% of energy consumption in air conditioning spaces, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic or basement.
- Mini-splits have little to no ducts, so they avoid the energy losses associated with central forced air systems’ ductwork.
- Traditional HVAC duct systems are noisy, mini-splits are quieter.
- Mini-splits are easier to install, usually requiring only a three-inch hole through a wall for the line set, which links the outdoor and indoor units––no need to rebuild walls or ceilings like you do with ductwork.
- You can use mini-splits year-round because they absorb heat from the outside air, move it inside to heat a room, and filter cool air into a room during warm months.
Installing a mini-split system will get you both heat and air conditioning in your home office, home gym, garage, or he-shed/she-shed. The cost is about the same to install the gas and electricity to the room for a unit heater to purchase and install a mini-split. But a mini-split only needs electricity and is controlled independently from your central air system.
Day & Night Mechanical Can Install Your Mini-Split System
Are you looking to have mini-splits installed in Denver, Boulder, Brighton, Aurora, or surrounding areas? Day & Night Mechanical can get the job done. Our expert technicians provide the best ductless installations in the area.
