Many homes with central air conditioning systems have problems with some rooms not being cooled as much as other rooms. This is especially true for two story homes or additions. Some homeowners use window air conditioning units to provide extra cooling in warmer rooms. A window air conditioner has the advantage of low initial cost and easy installation, but they are noisy and take up space in the window.
A quieter, less obtrusive, and more efficient alternative is to install a ductless mini-split system. The initial cost of a mini-split system is higher and they must be installed by a professional HVAC contractor, but they are much more efficient than a window air conditioner. In addition, since the outdoor condenser/compressor unit is mounted away from the window, the noise level is much lower and they are not as obtrusive. Also, most mini-split systems are heat pumps so they can be used for heating as well as cooling.
A mini-split system works much like a central air conditioner. It has an outside condenser/compressor unit which is connected to the indoor evaporator cooling coils by refrigerant lines. In a standard central air conditioning system, the cooling coils are located inside a duct system. A fan cools the air by blowing it across the coils and through a system of ductwork that distributes the cool air around the home.
In a mini-split system, the cooling coils are located in a small enclosure inside the room and fan blows air across the coils and directly into the room to be cooled. Some mini-split systems use a single outdoor unit to indoor wall units in several rooms.
If your home has uneven cooling issues, talk to your HVAC contractor to see if a mini-split system would be a good solution for you.
