The Ultimate Showdown: Mini Split vs Central Air Conditioner | Air & Energy of NWFL

Mini-splits are better for controlling the temperature in your home than a central air conditioner.

This is good because you can choose exactly how warm or cool you want each room to be, and it will stay that way all day. You don't have to worry about one room being too hot or cold compared to the others.

Mini-splits are more energy efficient than central air units, lowering bills.

This is because mini-split air conditioners do not rely on ductwork to transfer cooled or heated air from one room to another as a central AC system does.

With no ducts, the cooled or heated air is much less likely to be lost in transit, and more of it will reach its desired destination. As a result, mini-split systems require less energy to cool and heat a given area, which translates into lower energy bills for homeowners.

Cooling only specific areas as needed with a mini-split also helps conserve energy compared to running an entire central AC system at once.

Mini-split systems are much easier to install than central air conditioning systems.

The lack of ductwork means there is no need to cut into walls or ceilings to run the necessary lines for a mini-split system, nor to go to all the work of installing the required ductwork if it's not already there. This can save a considerable amount of time and money on installation costs.

Since the compressor is located outside the home, there is also much less disruption inside the house during installation - something which cannot be said for central air units.

As such, mini-splits are generally considered much simpler and more cost-effective when installed than their central air counterparts.

Mini-splits typically cost more to install than central air systems, primarily due to the need for specialized equipment and installation materials.

The indoor units of mini-split systems require a hole in the wall for the copper line that connects them to the outdoor unit and for wiring and piping.

In addition, special tools are required to install and seal these connections properly. On the other hand, central air systems do not require special holes or tools, making their installation much less complex.

This makes mini-splits more expensive upfront than central AC systems, especially considering the additional costs associated with purchasing and installing necessary equipment and materials.

Mini-splits provide worse air filtering than central air systems due to their limited ability to filter out pollutants.

Most mini-split systems are equipped with a single air filter that can only capture particles down to the micron level. In contrast, most central air systems have better filters to capture smaller particles.

This means a ductless system cannot remove things like dust mites, pollen, and other allergens from the air as effectively as a central air system.

Because mini-splits rely on an outdoor compressor unit, they may also draw in dirt and other debris from outside, which can then be circulated into the home along with the cooled or heated air, further reducing their effectiveness.

Mini-splits are more visible than central air systems due to the need for an outdoor compressor unit and one or more indoor air handling units.

As a result, the outdoor compressor unit must be visible outside the home, taking up space in the yard or on a roof.

Another consequence of mini-splits not having any ductwork is that each air handler needs to be installed within its wall instead of hidden away in a ceiling.

This can detract from the aesthetic appeal of a home as these components are quite large and intrusive, making them a less desirable option for homeowners who prefer a sleeker, more discreet look.

Central air systems are typically cheaper to install than mini-split systems because they don't require specialized tools or materials.

Central air systems do not need any special holes cut into walls or ceilings and can use existing ductwork if available, eliminating the need to install new piping.

You can thus see why installation costs associated with central air conditioners are considerably lower compared to a mini-split system which requires a hole in the wall for the copper line and additional wiring and piping.

Central air systems are more effective than mini-split systems at spreading heat throughout the home.

This is because of their extensive, connected ductwork network, allowing the heated air to travel from one room to another. This allows the central air conditioner to cover large spaces more quickly and efficiently than a mini-split system.

However, each air handler must be individually powered with a mini-split system. This can make it difficult to heat larger homes adequately.

As such, central air systems can better provide balanced heating and cooling throughout larger homes than mini-splits, even if this heating is less exact.

Central air systems are less visible and aesthetically pleasing than mini-split systems due to their lack of bulky components.

With central air systems, the large compressor unit is usually outside the home, either on the ground or atop the roof. This means that the team is out of sight from passersby, making it much less intrusive than a mini-split system which requires an outdoor compressor unit and one or more indoor units.

Furthermore, because central AC systems do not require special holes in walls or ceilings for installation, they can be hidden inside existing ductwork or in other parts of the home where they won't be seen.

This allows them to blend better with a home's interior design and provide efficient cooling without disrupting its aesthetic appeal.

Central air airconditioners are less energy efficient or cost-effective when operating costs are compared to mini-split systems.

Central AC units typically require more energy and electricity to run than their mini-split counterparts due to their larger size and the fact that they must move air through a more extensive network of ducts.

This makes them less efficient at cooling or heating an entire home than mini-splits which only need to power individual units and can conserve energy by only targeting critical areas at any given time.

Central air conditioners provide less precise heating and cooling and less comfort for individuals than mini-split systems.

Due to their extensive ductwork network, central air systems have difficulty accurately regulating the temperature of individual rooms or areas of the home, leading to inconsistent temperatures in different parts of the house.

Since a single compressor unit is responsible for cooling or heating the entire home, it can often lead to over-cooling or overheating certain areas while leaving other areas without enough cooling or heating. This can be especially pronounced during periods of extreme temperatures.

Central air conditioners are typically cheaper to install than mini-split systems because they don't require specialized tools or materials. However, if the existing ductwork isn't already in place, the installation costs for a central air system can quickly increase.

Even though a central air system may initially seem cheaper than a mini-split system, if there is no existing ductwork, it could become more expensive due to these additional expenses.