Central Air HVAC System VS Ductless Mini-Splits: Pros & Cons

There are tons of options to choose from when it comes to heating and cooling. Should you go with a traditional ducted system or would a ductless system better suit your needs? In this video we’ll explore the pros and cons of each system.

0:56 What is a Central Air HVAC System
1:38 Central Air System Pros & Cons
3:09 How is a ductless system different?
4:00 Ductless System Pros & Cons
6:12 What are the next steps?

At Fire & Ice we have sat down with hundreds of customers to discuss their HVAC needs. From time to time we are asked by customers which is better: a traditional A/C and furnace combo, or a new ductless system? The answer is it all depends. In this video we’ll break down the pros and cons of central air and ductless systems.

We understand choosing the right HVAC system for you and your home can be difficult. We hope by now you have a better understanding of which system might be right for you. If you have any questions and would like to sit down with one of our residential sales professionals feel free to schedule an estimate on our website. We’d love to sit down with you and discuss your options. Thank you for watching and we look forward to making your day better.

Fire & Ice Heating and Air Conditioning proudly serves Columbus, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Our service area includes Bexley, Blacklick, Canal Winchester, Columbus, Delaware, Dublin, Gahanna, Galena, Galloway, Grandview, Grove City, Hilliard, Lewis Center, New Albany, Obetz, Pataskala, Pickerington, Powell, Reynoldsburg, Sunbury, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall, and Worthington.

[m.o.f]

Thanks for a good overview. Direct, concise. No useless blather and self promotion. Wish moe YouTube videos were like this one.

[toddbuilds]

This was a good explanation, with one omission on the 'con' side of mini splits: the lack of air exchange.
In years past, homes had so much air leakage through walls, windows, and doors, that there was a natural exchange of stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. But with current energy codes, homes are tighter than ever before, which necessitates the need for a whole house air exchanger to maintain indoor air quality. The current mantra is "build tight and vent right". The lack of air exchange with a ductless system is a significant issue.
I am temporarily living in a newly built apartment with mini splits while I am constructing our new home. There is no ducted air flow anywhere except for the exhaust fans, which we think vent to the outside. If we don't keep our windows cracked 365 days per year, even in the dead of winter, then our apartment becomes stuffy, humid, and smells like off-gased chemicals very quickly. Because ductless systems have no ductwork to move air in an out of any space, indoor air quality with mini splits is simply not as good as with a ducted system that has an HRV or ERV to keep a constant flow of fresh air into the home.
Although mini splits are 'the hot thing' right now, I think moisture and air quality issues are going to emerge as significant issues with these systems within the next 10 years. Newly built homes are not like the leaky buildings of old that had ductless radiators. They need lungs to maintain indoor air quality.

[jph]

I've used both mini splits and central.

For me personally I prefer a central hvac over mini splits.

Main reason is just overall comfort in every single room in your house including all bathrooms, walk in closets and utility rooms.

To get that level of comfort with mini splits it would require a head per every room in the house which would be extremely expensive and wouldn't make sense when you can just go with one large HVAC system for the whole house.

The other con going with mini splits especially on an already existing home is all the line sets running all around the outside of house especially if you're going with multiple heads which is a major eyesore.

For larger homes you definitely want to go central. I live near Nashville and every builder of a new construction house is still going with central because of the same reasons.

Really not that much of a price difference on electric bill as most people think because you're still not heating or cooling all those smaller rooms in the house.

A central hvac distributes all air evenly throughout every room in the house.

[chadchristian]

In my experience going with a ductless mini split (DMS) would be on a case by case basis. Feasibility would depend on a number of factors such as: 1) Does the house have an open floor plan 2) Can you find a suitable exterior wall requiring minimal line set, 3) If not how easy can you run line set through the ceiling or crawlspace, 4) Is the homeowner willing to sacrifice in having some warm and cold spots during normal operation. 5) If the homeowner typically keeps all the interior doors closed, this will be an issue for a bedroom or helpful for an unused area.

Please keep in mind that a DMS uses a "copper line-set" which shouldn’t lose more than 7-8% efficiency whereas "standard duct work" can lose double or triple that efficiency. I would estimate the DMS would pay for itself over time provided you can live with the few disadvantages.

Also if you could mount the outdoor condenser unit in a shade area that would further increase efficiency. Good luck and I hope you make the right decision !

[meowmeow]

I've lived all over the world. Outside of America, people use nothing or split units.
Split units work great. You can have one or two and it can handle a 1500 to 2500 sq house. Like he mentioned, ...they can handle zones. The quality ones are quiet....nothing bad to say about them if maintained.
Put them in the room you want the most cool or heat and that's it. They heat and cool...they humidify. I didn't know anything about them until I saw/used them out side America. I'd buy one with no problem.
They're best in new construction with houses that are well insulated.

[roostercogburn]

The M-S AC worked good for us over in the war zones, of the hottest part of the world. They were called Chigos. Do your research and make sure you get the right brand. And make sure you get an installer that has knowledge and experience with the Mini-Splits!

[owencoopersfx]

Thanks so much for the informative video! We’re in escrow on a 3 bedroom home with a central system that was installed in 1988. The quote to repair/replace it was $15k, while going ductless will likely be cheaper, cost less in electricity and will have the ability to control temp per room. Seems like the obvious choice for us, but maybe I’m missing something from these videos where they say replacing/repairing a duct system should be cheaper.

[brentdreamer]

Thanks for the video, I wasn't sure how the ductless systems worked, but this makes sense to me. I wasn't aware that you could have more than one head for the system. Yes rookie here.

[nurulshuhadah]

Hye . From Malaysia here . Tq for providing such knowledge. Even my english not so fluent, so this is just a clean explaination that take me no minutes to understand. I really appreciate it, i'am .

However, mini split do have inverter to save electricity energy which lead to lower bill 💵😁 so, central ac (hvac) consume bigger electricity compare mini split for 20x30 or 20x40 sqft ??? As you know, that house/sqft is not so big .

[chicagowren]

Very, very helpful & straight to the point 👍🏻

[paulyboy]

$700 mini split installed by my son and I took 3 hours. HVAC company wanted $7, 500 to replace my dead central ac unit.

[WhiteWakedNProud]

You forgot to mention that on an install, one can pay more just for the ductwork labor and materials then the equipment itself

[thomazz]

I was quoted 6 to 7k to replace my old r22 central ac. MrCool DIY is much less and I save on each room I want cold instead of the whole house.

[highdesert]

Useful, but might be helpful to compare new installations rather than showing a retrofit mini-split as compared to an already installed central HVAC.

[TheTinkers]

We are in the process of having a new HVAC system installed. We have a double wide manufactured home. The heat pump we have now takes R22 which that in its self tells you how old it is. My question is... My bedroom only has one heat duct which means my room doesn't get the heat or the cooling it should. Can I add a mini split onto my bedroom? Will it connect to our new HVAC system or will it be seperate. How the heck does this work?

[davidzbowen]

Hello, I've been researching these 2 units for some time now for my soon to be cabin construction next year. My cabin will b 28x36 with open kitchen/family room on half, the other half bedroom and bath. Also with 2 bedrooms over both these rooms upstairs with bathroom in middle. Thoughts on which would b more beneficial?
I will also have a wood burning fp in family room. Thx!

[ftjrjus]

Which one Central Air or mini splits are better for respiratory health? Im living in UAE.

[bradmason]

Fire & Ice… how about when building a new concrete home 3800sqft with Solar in Miami. Would you go Ducted or Ductless.

[danram]

It be great if a central a/c system could have the options of a split system... let's say your house already has the central a/c set up....wish there was an option to individually control the temperature on each duct in your house. I guess maybe have two separate systems...one that is set up through the living room and kitchen and the other your rooms and bathrooms? Too much? Lol

[richardricchezza]

Not bad but not info on new home installations. Pros & Cons! ?