Whether you’re starting your own business or transitioning to work from home, having your very own home office is absolutely imperative. This will give you the space to be creative and subconsciously provide a separate space from your normal home environment where you can relax. Controlling the temperature in your new home office can be easily done by installing a mini-split.
What Is a Ductless Mini-Split?
Most people are familiar with central air conditioning systems that use ductwork to deliver cold air throughout the various rooms of their homes. However, ductless mini-splits are a popular alternative for areas of your home that don’t have existing ductwork where you would like to control the temperature. Instead of using ductwork to deliver hot or cold air throughout your home, a ductless mini-split setup uses an indoor air handler unit to directly deliver that treated air to your room.
Non-Invasive Installation
If your home office doesn’t have existing vents for ductwork that connect to your home’s HVAC system, trying to add ductwork after the fact can be extremely expensive. It may require the contractor to rip out sections of your wall and flooring to install new ducting. Additionally, you may have to upgrade your existing HVAC system to better compensate for the added space.
A ductless mini-split system doesn’t require any major renovation to install. In most cases, there will simply be one small 3-inch hole on the exterior wall of your home where the indoor air handler unit is mounted. This is done with a much quicker process and saves you a bundle by not having to repair walls and flooring like you would have to if you extended your existing ductwork.
Heating and Cooling
One of the major advantages of investing in a ductless mini-split system is it will provide both heating and cooling for your home. Instead of having to purchase two separate HVAC units, you only have to purchase one. This can make life a lot simpler when it comes to usability and keeping your warranty paperwork.
Energy Savings
Another major advantage of going with a mini-split system is it’s extremely energy efficient. Because there is no ductwork, there is no loss of treated air. The EPA suggests that homeowners using ductwork can lose about 20% to 30% of their treated air through leaks in that ductwork. When you invest in a mini-split, you don’t have to worry about losing any of that precious treated air.
Additionally, when wintertime rolls around, a mini-split is by far the most energy-efficient heating system on the market today. This is because it doesn’t burn fuel to create heat. Rather, it simply transfers heat from the air outside into your home. This means there are no toxic exhaust fumes you have to worry about seeping into your home and causing danger to your family. With such high operating efficiency during summer and winter, a mini-split can provide you with a ton of energy savings throughout the year.
Tax Benefit
Another big advantage of investing in a ductless mini-split for your home office is it comes with a nice tax benefit. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 can allow you to claim up to $3,200 in the form of a federal tax credit. Homeowners can actively claim up to 30% of the total cost of their new system plus the installation labor up to the maximum incentive amount.
It’s important to note that ductless mini-split systems come with a higher maximum rebate than central air conditioners, which only have a maximum $600 rebate. Apart from this federal tax credit, purchasing a mini-split can also make you eligible for incentives from your local and state governments and even your local utility company. Most of these entities require you to purchase an ENERGY STAR-certified unit that meets a minimum SEER2 rating that they specify in their rebate program.
Better Indoor Air Quality
One advantage that ductless mini-split systems hold over traditional central air conditioners is they provide better indoor air quality. This is due to the fact that central air conditioners are constantly combating a buildup of debris inside air ducts that is reducing indoor air quality. As long as you’re keeping up with routine filter cleanings, you can enjoy better indoor air quality than with traditional ducted systems.
Quiet Operation
Mini-split units are significantly quieter than central air conditioning systems. This can be attributed to a few different factors. Many mini-splits come with inverter compressors that can increase or decrease the blower speed depending on how much you need to change the temperature in the room.
These mini-split units are designed with quieter fans that are specifically engineered to minimize airflow turbulence. There’s also no loud startup noise. Most mini-splits have a noise level between 19 and 30 decibels, while central air conditioners operate between 40 and 60 decibels.
Environmentally Friendly
When you decide to purchase a ductless mini-split system, you can enjoy knowing you’re purchasing a system that has an environmentally friendly refrigerant. As of January 1, 2025, all new air conditioning systems must use one of the newer AL2 refrigerants like R32 or R454B. Many of the older refrigerants, like R410A, are responsible for contributing to environmental problems like global warming.
Versatile Installation Options
One great advantage of mini-split systems is they come with varying options for indoor air handler units. The most cost-effective and traditional option is the wall-mounted unit. These are placed just below ceiling level on one of your exterior walls. Another option is a floor-mounted unit that looks very similar to a traditional radiator. The final option is a more discrete choice, which is the ceiling-mounted unit. These do require a drop ceiling or added space for installation.
Making Your Ultimate Purchasing Decision
There’s no doubt that there’s a plethora of benefits you can enjoy when you invest in a ductless mini-split system for your home office. However, when making your ultimate purchasing decision there are a few things you’ll want to take into consideration. One of the most important is the existing infrastructure of your home.
For example, if your home office is located right next to an existing air vent for another room in your home, it may not be very invasive to install an extra vent for your existing HVAC system. However, you will need to ensure that your existing system has the capability to handle the additional space that your home office provides.
If you do not have existing ductwork in your home that you can easily connect to for your home office, a ductless mini-split can be your ideal choice. Their ease of installation and ability to provide both heating and cooling for year-round comfort are major advantages.
Exceptional Mini-Split Installation
Aace's Heating, Air Conditioning & Swamp Coolers provides exceptional mini-split installation for the Victorville, CA area. We can also assist with all your other heating and cooling replacement, maintenance, and repair needs. Simply call us today to book your next service appointment with one of our highly experienced technicians.
