By Kevin Hogencamp, Contributing Writer
Jacksonville resident Bryan Greene likes for it to be cool — 68 degrees, at the least — when he sleeps.
But his bedroom is the warmest part of the house — and keeping it cool was costly.
“The AC system in the house was new enough that I didn’t want to replace the whole thing, but cooling the whole house to keep one room cool didn’t make sense,” he says.
Something needed to change.
Greene’s solution turned out to be removing the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning return in his bedroom and installing a ductless mini-split system.
Prevalent in Asia and elsewhere outside the United States, ductless mini-splits — used for both heating and cooling — do not rely on ducted, forced-air distribution.
Rather, wall-mounted or ceiling-recessed blowers cool individual rooms using refrigerant from tubing connected to a small outdoor compressor.
Like central heating and cooling systems and unlike window units, these systems are “split” because their compressors are outside.
Ductless systems can heat or cool one room or be expanded to cover multiple rooms. They cost $2,500-$10,000, depending on the installation.
The mini-split systems’ benefits are multifold: there’s no bulky ductwork; they typically require a smaller capital investment than a central system and require relatively little maintenance; and –– for Greene –– the system nets a $75-or-so monthly electricity savings.
Greene says he turns the unit on about 15 minutes before going to bed — and he even likes the low sound it makes.
The U.S. Department of Energy says heating and air conditioning accounts for about 43 percent of a monthly residential utility bill, so energy efficiency increases can add up to big savings.
Greene’s project paid further dividends because when he installed a backup electric generator to restore power after storms, he didn’t have to connect it to his HVAC system. So, he was able to buy a smaller, less-expensive generator.
“When the power goes out, I only need for one part of the house to be cool,” he said. “Doing this (installing a ductless system) quickly paid for itself.”
The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) said the ductless mini-split industry grew by 12 percent during the first half of 2015.
By 2020, the systems are expected to be used in more than 35 percent of U.S. homes.
The ductless market is expanding at a greater rate in North Florida, where industry representatives say business is increasing at least 20 percent annually.
Customers are particularly benefitting from competition in the industry, which has resulted in more efficient technology.
“More homeowners are asking for it,” says James Turner, the Jacksonville area manager for Daikin, a ductless system manufacturer.
Turner said until recently, getting contractors and others to comprehend ductless mini-split systems’ benefits “could be similar to trying to write with your left hand, being that you are right-handed.”
Troy Roberson, a regional sales manager for a Daikin competitor, Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating, said the systems are an increasingly easy sell.
“We did it one way in the U.S. forever — pushing air throughout the whole house. That’s why a big part of my job is education,” he said. “It’s exciting to be part of this technology.”
Greene, who has a Daikin system, said he first encountered a ductless mini-split system while vacationing in the Bahamas.
Turner says initially, ductless products were perceived to be singularly advantageous for additions to homes, Florida rooms and garages — housing elements not already inked to central systems.
That has changed dramatically in recent years.
“We are seeing an explosion of ductless installations in main living areas, such as a living room, or most notably, a master bedroom,” he said.
Ductless systems also are increasingly popular in remodeling projects, especially in older homes, when ducting is impractical. The systems also are becoming popular with new construction because of their ability to create multiple temperature zones within a house.
Indeed, Greene says he’s planning to build a new house equipped with ductless mini-splits in three rooms.
“I just love the things,” he said.