Homeowners in Ohio know our great state faces extremely cold and hot temperatures depending on the time of year. It’s important to have a dependable heating and cooling system to ensure your year-round comfort. However, not all homes come with the ductwork needed for a whole-home, or central, heating and cooling system.
Thankfully, there’s no need to worry! There are effective ductless solutions available to keep your home comfortable, including Bryant Mini Split systems and The Unico Small-Duct High-Velocity System. Let’s explore how these systems work, their pros and cons, and which option is right for your home.
What is a Ductless Mini Split System?
A ductless mini split system is a heating and cooling solution for homes or spaces without ductwork. It uses a combination of indoor and outdoor units to send air to specific rooms or zones in your home. Instead of using ducts like traditional systems, refrigerant travels through refrigerant lines to the indoor units, where air is blown across the coil to change the temperature of the air in the room.
Mini splits are composed of an outdoor unit and at least one, but often multiple, indoor units. The outdoor unit is both a compressor and a condenser. Think of it as acting like a combination A/C unit and heat pump. The job of this unit is to deal with heat transfer, creating cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter.
Indoor units live in the room or zone where you want the hot or cold air to blow. They are normally installed on the wall or ceiling.
What ties the units together are the refrigerant lines, which move refrigerant between the outdoor and indoor units depending on the season to heat or cool your air.
How Do Ductless Mini Split Systems Work?
Mini splits keep you cool in the summer by removing warm air from your home. The indoor unit pulls warm air from the room and blows it across the refrigerant coil. The refrigerant absorbs that heat and carries it through the refrigerant lines to the outdoor unit, where the heat is released outside. The indoor unit then blows cool air back into your home.
During the winter, the process is reversed. The outdoor unit pulls heat from the outside air and transfers it through the refrigerant lines back to the indoor units. The indoor unit then blows warm air into the room.
Where Should I Use a Ductless Mini Split System?
Ductless mini split systems are a great solution for a number of cases such as:
- Older homes without ductwork
- Areas of the home with hot or cold spots such as basements or sunrooms
- Spaces without existing ductwork like garages
- Home additions
What are the Pros and Cons of a Ductless Mini Split System?
Mini split systems provide plenty of advantages, but there are a few potential drawbacks.
Pros:
- Energy efficient – no leaking ductwork
- Temperature control – set the temperature by individual room or zone
- Quick and easy installation – no ductwork added or major changes to your home
Cons:
- Aesthetics – the indoor units will be mounted in rooms and visible
- Cost – depending on how many individual indoor units you require, the cost can add up
- More frequent filter maintenance – most manufacturers recommend cleaning or vacuuming filters every 2 weeks during high-use seasons. With that being said, the filters are reusable which is cheaper and more eco-friendly than traditional filters.
What is The Unico Small-Duct High-Velocity System?
The Unico Small-Duct High-Velocity System is another ductless heating and cooling option. It operates similar to a central heating and cooling system in that it has a central unit in the home and delivers air throughout the home, but without the large metal ducts.
The Unico System uses an indoor air handler and small flexible supply tubes to move air throughout the home. These tubes are much smaller than standard ductwork and can fit into tight spaces where normal ducts would be difficult or impossible to install.
The system also uses small round outlets instead of large vents or registers. These outlets are much less noticeable and can be installed in ceilings, walls, or floors without taking away from the design of the home.
The main indoor unit is called the air handler, which is usually installed in an attic, basement, or utility area. This unit is responsible for moving the heated or cooled air that gets delivered throughout the home.
How Does The Unico Small-Duct High-Velocity System Work?
The Unico System uses high-velocity airflow to move air through small flexible tubes in your walls, which delivers treated air to your rooms. High-velocity simply means the air is being pushed through much more quickly than a traditional ductwork system. Because of this feature, the outlets throughout your home can be much smaller and offer better efficiency.
What really makes The Unico System stand out is its unique feature called “aspiration”. When the high-velocity air is pushed out, a gentle suction is created. This suction removes stagnant air from the room, effectively “mixing” the air around. This produces more even temperatures throughout the room.
Where Should I Use The Unico Small-Duct High-Velocity System?
The Unico System is a great option for a variety of cases such as:
- Historic homes that want the benefit of whole-home comfort without sacrificing the architecture of the home
- Homes or spaces without ductwork
- Homes where installing traditional ductwork is challenging, such as areas with limited wall space
- Homeowners that don’t want a major renovation or units attached to their walls or ceilings
What are the Pros and Cons of The Unico System?
The Unico System offers lots of benefits, but there are a few points to consider before you invest.
Pros:
- More even room temperatures
- Whole-home heating and cooling without the bulky metal ductwork
- Better aesthetics – small, less noticeable outlets (2 inches)
- Less space needed – the narrow tubes take up far less space in walls when compared to traditional ductwork
Cons:
- Cost – the upfront cost of this type of system is high compared to other solutions
- Specialized care needed – the system requires HVAC techs trained to install and maintain this specific system for best results
- Longer installation period – depending on the scale of the project, it could take longer to install this system
Which Option is Right for Me: Ductless Mini Split System or The Unico System?
Both mini splits and The Unico System are great options for homes or spaces without ductwork. However, they go about creating a comfortable climate in very different ways. This is why it’s important to review key differences, so you can decide which option is right for you.
Choose a Ductless Mini Split if:
- You’re trying to heat or cool an individual space or small area like a garage or addition
- Need a faster install
- You’re budget conscious
- You aren’t concerned with having visible indoor units in rooms
- Want to control temperature per room
Choose The Unico Small-Duct High-Velocity System if:
- You want whole-home coverage
- Prefer less visible vents and equipment
- Are dealing with unusual architecture or a historic home
- Prefer more even temperatures throughout the room
- Want better humidity control
For an example of how each of these look in a residential setting, check out these project highlights:
Choosing a Ductless Heating or Cooling System with Henry
At Henry Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing, we design, install, and maintain both ductless mini split systems and Unico systems. Our experienced design, build, and install team will ensure whichever option you choose works with your existing home and meets your individual needs. Reach out to us today to explore your ductless heating and cooling options.
