Many homeowners buy an HVAC system for central air conditioning in Colorado Springs. Although we have intense winter weather, we can also experience summers that get quite hot. If you’ve lived in the area for even one summer, you know it can be difficult to stay indoors without good air conditioning to cool off you and your family.
When you’re looking to get a new AC, you have three main options: a packaged all-in-one system, a split system, or a ductless mini split. All three have their own pros and cons.
What Is a Split System?
This is the most common type of home air conditioning system and is sometimes referred to simply as a central air conditioner. These systems have two main parts: a large compressor unit that’s placed outdoors and an indoor unit that controls airflow. A conduit links the outdoor and indoor units together.
The compressor is kept in the outdoor cabinet while the indoor air handling unit has the evaporator coil built inside. The evaporator unit connects to the ductwork, and the air handler blows the cooled air into the ducts.
What Is a Ductless Mini Split System?
A ductless mini split system, as the name implies, does not require the installation of ducts in the home. Instead of using a single unit for the indoors, it uses multiple smaller indoor air handlers mounted on the walls of the rooms, and can therefore send cooled air straight into the living spaces. It offers greater flexibility in temperature zoning. You can limit air conditioning to specific rooms by only operating the air handlers in rooms that currently need it.
Because ductless mini splits are also heat pumps, during the winter these systems can reverse their function and absorb heat from outside and move it indoors. Ductless mini-split models also offer much higher efficiency for converting energy to cool air because of their lack of ducts.
What Is a Packaged System?
In a packaged system, all major components—including the evaporator coil, condenser, and compressor—are housed in a cabinet outdoors. The cabinet can be placed outside on a tiled slab or on the roof of the building (more common for commercial properties).
The cabinet is connected to ductwork that enters the house and then through traditional ductwork. Since you don’t need to install any large AC parts inside, a packaged system is pleasant aesthetically and makes little noise.
Packaged units are much rarer for homes than standard split systems and ductless mini splits. Some smaller homes may find them useful, but for the most part, packaged systems are for commercial use.
Whether you are looking to install a central split system AC or a ductless mini split heat pump in your home, the team at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning offers real solutions for central air conditioning in Colorado Springs, CO. We can help you make the best possible choice for a new cooling system or heat pump.
Call on Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning: we serve Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. We offer 24-hour emergency service to handle any of your air conditioning system problems.
