How Many Rooms Can a Ductless Mini Split Heat?
Ductless mini splits are becoming an increasingly popular HVAC system for homeowners in Waco, Texas, and the surrounding areas due to their energy efficiency and reduced operational cost. Evergreen Heating & Cooling offers a wide range of ductless mini split solutions including installation, repair, and maintenance.
While we’re designing your customized ductless system, we know you’ll have a lot of questions, including “How many rooms can a ductless mini split heat?” Luckily, we have the answers you need to get the most benefit out of your ductless HVAC equipment and meet your unique heating and cooling needs.
Read on to learn more, and contact Evergreen Heating & Cooling to talk to one of our local HVAC experts.
What are Ductless Mini Split Systems?
Ductless mini split systems provide both heating and cooling to homes that either don’t have ductwork or need additional temperature control in specific areas. They can be installed alongside any existing HVAC systems including air ducts and central air systems. Because this system doesn’t require ductwork, a ductless mini split system is a unique, highly versatile HVAC option.
The system consists of three main components: an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a conduit line that connects the two through an exterior wall, containing your power and refrigerant line. Indoor units are also called air handlers, while you may hear the outdoor unit referred to as the condenser or compressor.
How Does a Mini Split Work?
In cooling mode, a mini split operates quite simply. The indoor units use refrigerant to absorb heat from the indoor air. The heat energy is then released outdoors through the compressor, while the indoor air handler releases cool comfort into your home. When you turn the system to heating mode, it works in reverse. The outdoor unit absorbs heat from the outside air and transmits it indoors.
Where Should You Install a Mini Split System?
Typically, the ductless systems’ compressor is located against an exterior wall of your home, while the indoor air handlers can be mounted onto walls and ceilings. The highlight of ductless HVAC systems is their ability to bring hot and cold air to areas not connected to your central air system or heating equipment, or that are experiencing inconsistent temperatures.
Common locations for ductless mini split installation include:
- Home Offices
- Attics
- Basements
- Garages
- Sun Rooms
- New Additions
How Many Rooms Can a Mini Split Heat or Cool?
The answer to this question actually begins by addressing a few different questions:
How Many Square Feet Can a Mini Split Cool or Heat at Once?
One indoor air handler can typically heat or cool anywhere from 330 to 1500 square feet. The amount of space your system can cover depends on its BTU rating.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, BTU stands for British Thermal Units. It is a measure of heat, or energy required to raise temperatures. On the low end, indoor air handlers carry 9,000 BTU, while more efficient models can reach an average of 12,000 BTU, increasing the square footage it can heat or cool.
How Many Air Handlers Can a Mini Split System Support?
In a single-zone system, one compressor supports one air handler, which regulates the temperature of a specific room or zone. However, in multi-zone ductless systems, a single outdoor unit can support up to 8 indoor mini split units at a time. Each of these 8 air handlers is placed in an independent room or zone for optimized zone-control capabilities.
So, just how many rooms can a single mini split cool or heat?
The exact number of rooms depends on the size and capacity of your system and indoor units.
A typical multi-zone system made up of multiple air handlers with average BTU can most likely adequately support 8-10 separate rooms within your Waco home. In the end, the true capacity of your ductless mini split can only be determined and optimized by a knowledgeable HVAC technician with ample experience designing and installing ductless systems.
Call Evergreen Heating & Cooling for assistance configuring a custom system for your distinct heating & cooling needs.
Factors that Determine the Size of Your Ductless System
When choosing the configuration of your mini split, it’s helpful to flip the discussion in reverse – building a ductless system that fits your unique home rather than buying a fixed heating or cooling system, having to install large air ducts, and still experiencing inconsistent temperatures across certain spaces.
Some common factors that you need to consider when asking the question, “How many mini splits do I need?” include:
- The size of your home
- The size and number of rooms or zones
- The outdoor climate and seasonal weather changes
- The number of occupants in your home
- The number of windows and doors in each space
- Each room’s ceiling height
- Local building codes and regulations in your area
- Your budget for HVAC improvements
Prompt, Professional Ductless Mini Split Installation
At Evergreen Heating & Cooling, we pride ourselves in HVAC and indoor air quality (IAQ) solutions that bring efficient energy consumption and lower monthly energy bills to our customers across Waco, TX.
Our ductless heating & cooling systems provide these benefits and so much more, including improved indoor air quality, while also eliminating the need to install HVAC ducts in new additions or hard-to-reach spaces inside your home. Our skilled HVAC contractors can determine what size mini split you need, how many air handlers will run on your one outdoor unit, and perform your ductless installation with speed and precision. And, when you need ductless unit repair or maintenance, we’ll be there for you too.
Contact Evergreen Heating & Cooling today for ductless mini split solutions in Waco, Texas.