Where Are the Best Places to Put a Ductless Air Conditioner?

Ductless or mini-split air conditioners are self-contained units, which means they can provide cooling (as well as heating if it has heat pump capabilities) to virtually any room in your house. In today’s post, local heating and air conditioning company Reliable Air Conditioning & Heating discusses the best places to install a ductless air conditioner.

Advantages of Ductless Air Conditioners

Unlike their window-mounted counterparts, ductless air conditioners consist of two units connected by electrical wiring and tubing for the refrigerant. The indoor unit houses the evaporator and air handler, while the outdoor unit houses the compressor and condenser.

Ductless air conditioners are designed to cool a bedroom or a similarly-sized space, as opposed to being a whole-house system. This means multiple units would be needed to cool an entire house. They eliminate the need for a whole-home air handler and air duct system. Ductless air conditioners allow customizable zoning, which makes them ideal for households that have different heating and cooling requirements and follow different routines. Some ductless air conditioners are equipped with multi-zone systems that allow for as many as five indoor units connected to one outdoor unit.

Where Should You Put a Ductless Air Conditioner?

While ductless systems provide more flexibility in their placement (compared to traditional ducted systems), your air conditioning and heating service technician will still need to consider a few factors before they start working on installation:

• Indoor unit – The two key factors for the placement of the indoor unit are accessibility and air distribution. The indoor unit houses the air handler, which will require regular maintenance and cleaning, therefore it needs to be placed where it will be easily accessible. It must also be centrally located in the room to achieve optimal airflow. The ideal position is either within two feet of the ceiling or eight feet from the floor for rooms with high ceilings.
• Outdoor unit – The outdoor half of a ductless air conditioner can be installed as far away as 100 feet from the indoor unit, but take note that the greater the distance between the two units, the further the refrigerant must travel, which may affect its energy efficiency. There must also be enough airflow around the unit to allow for cooling and air intake.

Call Reliable Air Conditioning & Heating for All Your Cooling Needs

Reliable Air Conditioning & Heating provides HVAC services, including indoor air quality testing, to customers in the greater Los Angeles area. Give us a call at (818) 487-0671 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.