Most heating systems in modern homes use ductwork. Furnaces and heat pumps are “force-air” systems that send their conditioned air through ventilations channels using blower fans.
However, “ductless” systems have grown in popularity in homes. Originally used in businesses, primarily restaurants, ductless heating systems have entered the residential sphere and allow greater flexibility in home construction, as well as offering an ideal solution to add-on rooms for homes.
But “ductless” only indicates the lack of ducts: what kind of heat system lies at the center? The answer is “a heat pump”—at least most of the time. If you are interested in the installation of ductless heating in Everett, WA, contact our specialists at G&S Heating, Cooling & Electrical, Inc.
What ductless systems really are
The reason we qualified ductless heaters as heat pumps “most of the time” is that by their nature, boilers and other radiant heating systems do not use ducts either. They instead heat water and circulate it through pipes to terminal points that radiat out heat.
However, in the professional HVAC world, the term “ductless heating” refers specifically to ductless mini split heat pumps. In most ways they are identical to standard split heat pumps, with refrigerant cycling through the system, moving heat from one place and depositing it in another.
The difference lies in how the unit is split. A standard heat pump has an indoor and outdoor unit, and the indoor unit uses a single air handler to blow the conditioned air through the ductwork. But with a ductless system, there are multiple smaller indoor units: basically, air handlers containing refrigerant coils. These blowers are mounted in separate locations (usually up high on a wall), and each one has its own refrigerant line running to the outdoor unit. The blowers send the conditioned air directly into each room, bypassing the need for ducts. An added benefit of having separate blower units is that it allows people to individually control temperatures and the homeowner no longer needs to heat or cool rooms no one is using.
How can I have a ductless system installed?
First of all, you need to know if a ductless mini split heat pump is your best choice. They work well for new home construction and for add-on rooms. If you already have ducts, you might consider using a standard heat pump and installing zone control. Consult with heating experts if you’re interested in ductless heating in Everett, WA.
G&S Heating, Cooling & Electrical, Inc. specializes in ductless mini split heat pumps, and we can determine the best way to bring you the heating you want for your home. Call us today to schedule an appointment to see if ductless will work for you. Even if it isn’t the optimal choice, we’ll have fantastic alternate options.
