Cooling a Home Addition? What to Know About Central AC and Mini Split Systems

Are you building an addition onto your home, and now you need to decide on a way to cool it? If so, you may be deciding between a mini split system and a central air conditioner. Here is what you should know about these two methods to cool down your home.

The Installation

The installation for a mini split system and central air conditioning are quite different. That is because you just need one unit that is installed in the wall for a mini split system to work. When you use central air conditioning, it requires a compressor, blower, and ductwork. 

If you are just cooling down one room that you are adding to your home, you may find that the mini split system is ideal for this situation. However, it can become more complicated when you have added multiple rooms to your home. That mini split system is not going to easily reach an additional living room and bedroom, especially when the doors are closed, so you'll need to install multiple mini split units. A central air conditioner uses ductwork to reach all the rooms added to your home, which makes it an ideal choice in this situation. 

The Look

Another difference between these two units is the look inside your home. The mini split unit is going to have large appliances that are visible in each room it is installed in, which are definitely hard to ignore. There are ceiling cassette models that are a bit less obvious than wall-mounted models, but they're still incredibly visible. Meanwhile, central air conditioning has ductwork that has small vents that are visible. If you don't like the look of a mini split unit, then it may not be right for you. 

The Control

Each mini split unit that you install is going to have its own controls so that you can control the temperature of each room. This means that you can save energy by not cooling down a living area at night and not cooling a bedroom during the day. Meanwhile, a central air conditioner cools every room at the same time. You can close vents to prevent cold air from coming in, but the air conditioner still runs until the thermostat reaches the desired temperature. 

Reach out to an HVAC contractor for more information about installing air conditioning in your home. They can even help recommend the best cooling option for your needs.