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If you are living in an older home in Pennsylvania, a traditional HVAC system is not the right fit. The older homes in Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, or Allentown have very old-fashioned architectural styles. They have lower ceilings, limited crawlspaces, and limited ductwork. As a result, a standard HVAC installation doesn’t provide effective comfort in these homes.
That’s where mini-split systems come in. These HVAC systems don’t require ductwork. They blow the conditioned air directly into each room. This blog explores the benefits of mini-split installation for older residential buildings all across PA.
A mini split system is just an evolved, more intelligent version of the central AC systems. It is useful where standard AC systems fail to provide comfort.
It is called "mini" because the units are compact and of small size.
It is called "split" because it is divided into two distinct units.
A mini split system comprises three main components.
The Outdoor Condenser: It is located outside your home. It contains the compressor and looks like a slim, upright version of a traditional AC unit.
The Indoor Air Handler: It is the sleek unit mounted on your wall or ceiling. It contains the fan and the heating or cooling coils.
The Conduit Line: It connects the two components. Power cable, refrigerant tubing, and a suction line are present in this component. For mounting, it only needs a tiny hole, which makes it easy to mount on the thick walls of older PA houses.
These systems work by moving heat across the home. Here is the working mechanism, briefly summarized.
The Cooling Cycle: In summer, it absorbs the heat from your home and delivers it to the outside via the conduit line. The cooled air is blown back into the home.
The Heating Cycle: It has a reversing valve, and that’s why it can reverse the process. In winter, the outdoor unit extracts the heat from outside, concentrates it, and then blows it into the inside.
We have covered enough basics. Now, let’s come to the main topic: how these mini split systems can benefit older homes across Pennsylvania.
As the name implies, these systems don’t require proper ductwork to distribute air. In contrast to central air conditioners, these systems don’t rely on ducts network. They have multiple indoor unit handlers connected to an outside unit via a conduit line. It helps them blow conditioned air directly into every room.
Each indoor unit operates and is controlled independently. This is a great benefit, especially for those who demand personalized comfort. As each room has a separate air handler, you can control the temperature of each room directly without altering the rest. This is also beneficial when you want to keep the comfort limited to only those areas that are in use.
Mini split systems are extremely easy to install compared to standard HVAC systems. You can mount them easily on the walls or even on the ceiling. This is definitely a huge advantage for older homes in Pennsylvania that lack a modern construction style. All that you need is a 3-inch hole for conduit. The whole process can be finished in just 4-8 hours for single zones or 1-3 days for multiple zones.
If experts complete the installation process, there are fewer chances of breakdowns. As a result, you are prevented from the costly mini split repairs that are a nightmare for standard HVAC systems.
Suppose you want to add a new room to your home. If you have a standard HVAC system, you face difficulty connecting the newly constructed room to the HVAC system. You have to extend the ductwork and make necessary connections. Once the new room is connected, your HVAC system struggles to keep the entire home warm or cool because of the increased load.
Mini split systems are the perfect solution for this concern. You can extend them to as many rooms as you want. You just have to add a separate air handler in the new room and connect it to the outside unit. Plus, there is no worry of reduced efficiency due to more rooms.
Mini split systems are ideal for energy savings. They allow you to independently monitor the temperature of different zones of the house. You can limit the heating or cooling to only those areas that are in use. You can stop the comfort for low-traffic areas such as attics, crawlspaces, basements, etc. Similarly, the temperature preferences can also be adjusted in modern mini-split systems. All this helps you reduce energy bills by minimizing energy consumption.
In contrast to traditional HVAC systems, mini-split systems significantly improve indoor air quality. These systems are accompanied by advanced air filtration, moisture control, and the absence of contamination due to ductwork. As each room has its own unit, you can monitor the air quality of each room directly.
For PA homeowners who have a traditional-style home, mini-split systems are a top choice. They offer excellent comfort and don’t need proper ductwork. One of their most important benefits is that these systems offer comfort in both cooling and heating seasons. Additional benefits include zonal control, improved air quality, energy savings, and easy installation.
Ready for mini split installation? Call Lehigh HVAC for speedy and affordable service.
