Which brand of central air conditioning system has the highest ratings? A few brands make central air conditioning models that consistently receive higher ratings than models from competing brands. Some of the top-rated central air conditioning system models are manufactured by Lennox, Maytag and Trane. Where can you purchase a Carrier 4-ton air conditioner? What are the ratings for Goodman HVACs? What are the major parts of a central air conditioner? Several review sites recommend models from the Dave Lennox Signature Collection. The highest-rated Lennox model is the XC21. The Maytag iQ Drive has received positive reviews from multiple sources, and the Trane XL20i gets a lot of top marks from consumers. The favorable reviews are due to these models' reliable performance, energy efficiency, length of warranty and quiet operation. Other brands with top-rated models are Broan, Carrier and Heil. What is the purpose of the evaporator coil in an air conditioning unit?

The evaporator coil is the primary contact point for warm air in a central air conditioning system. The purpose of the evaporator coil is to remove the hea... How does a mini split AC system work? A mini-split air-conditioning system has an outside air compressor like a central air conditioning system, but the evaporator system is located in the room...the best ac units for home is Are central air conditioners energy efficient?how to select a window ac unit Central air conditioning units can be highly energy efficient, with many of them certified as energy efficient by the Department of Energy's Energy Star pr...how recharge home ac unit What is a Rheem Air Handler? A Rheem Air Handler refers to Rheem's line of air conditioning and heating systems, which can have energy efficiency ratings between 13 to 18 on the season...

What is a hydroponic grow system kit? What is the function of the integumentary system? What stores sell ventless gas logs? Are Buderus boilers for commercial or residential use? What is a bathroom exhaust fan? How are the transparency ratings of charitable organizations determined? Over the past few years we have all observed the U.S. HVAC industry’s fascination with ductless “mini-split” AC systems. Recent HVAC trade shows have been crowded with OEM’s promoting this “new” way of providing home comfort. National TV ad campaigns along with modern media PR tactics would make us think it is just a matter of time before we all rip out our central AC systems and get with the rest of the world (i.e. Japan, China and Europe) in the way we keep our homes and businesses cool and comfortable. The AC & Heating Connect staff did some research on the facts about ductless systems which might be of interest to contractors and distributors as they plan for the future growth of this segment.

Myth #1 – The sales of ductless mini-spit systems continue to grow and will dominate the U.S. market in a few years. Industry statistics would not support this statement. While the ductless segment has posted impressive growth rates in the U.S. since 2005, the growth rates have been slowing recently and the largest ductless segment (small, single evaporator systems) have not grown at all since 2010. These sales remain stable at about 260,000 units per year, or only about 4% of total unitary AC shipments. Some larger VRF-style commercial systems continue to grow at higher rates, but their numbers in the U.S. remain small at only 28,000 units per year. Myth #2 – Ductless mini-splits are ideal whole-home HVAC solutions in the U.S. The current economic facts about ductless simply do not support this claim. The installed costs associated with using mini-splits to cool and heat an average 2,000 square foot home with ductless mini-splits would cost almost three times the cost of simply replacing your central AC system with another ducted system.

Even in a home where you had to provide new ductwork for the central system, you could still expect to spend about 50% less on a typical central AC system installation versus the more expensive ductless options. Myth #3 – Ductless mini-splits are more energy efficient because there are no air leaks in the duct work. What people who make this claim fail to mention is that in ducted homes which have poorly installed and leaking air ducts, the conditioned air is probably leaking out of the ductwork but it is going into the conditioned space somewhere and helping to keep the house cool. In those cases the cooling energy is really not lost to the homeowner. While mini-splits don’t have duct losses, they do have other losses. Instead of distributing conditioned air throughout the home, mini-splits distribute refrigerant. In many cases these refrigerant lines are run outside the conditioned space and in these cases there are thermal losses associated with energy transferring from those lines to the space outside the home.

A legitimate energy loss occurs when you are heating or cooling your backyard with mini-split refrigerant lines (see photo below). Duct leaks that leak into the conditioned space are not really losses at all unless they escape to an unconditioned space. The other claim made by mini-split advocates is that they provide energy saving due to “zoning” or shutting off energy use in unoccupied rooms. What they fail to mention is there are other modern methods to zone off rooms besides using ductless methods. There are many ways to achieve zoning. Myth #4 – Ductless mini-splits provide superior comfort and quality of life. The problems with ductless cooling are not well understood by many U.S. consumers since they are relatively new to this region. The typical comfort experience with mini-split systems could provide a real challenge for American consumers who are used to central AC systems with good air flow exchange, filtration and humidity control. Cold and hot spots are also common with ductless systems due to the spacing of the indoor units.

In addition, there are concerns about US homeowners’ reaction to the aesthetic and architectural impact of having air conditioning systems hanging on several interior walls and having refrigerant lines running to various rooms on the sides of their homes. Before installing a ductless system with multiple evaporating units it might be good to show your customer some photographs of some of your previous mini-split installations so they have proper expectations. Ductless mini-split systems are ideal for spot cooling situations in homes and businesses where ductwork is either not available or difficult to install. It is important for contractors to have these systems in their portfolio of HVAC solutions for certain situations and learning where and when to recommend them is essential. Knowing the facts associated with these new systems is also essential to avoiding problems when customers are surprised by the many “myths” about this technology. Q.  What is the average sales growth rate for ductless mini-splits in the U.S. since 2010?