Indoor Climate Solutions offers the broadest array of heating systems in Alto, Caledonia & Grand Rapids, MI. Ductless Mini-Splits are a great option to heat and cool your home.
With today's high-efficiency equipment you can make your heating dollars stretch further than they ever could have before. Call today and schedule a consultation to see what a new Ductless Mini-Split can do for you.
In the winter, a mini split draws air from the outside air and circulates it through ducts into your home. In the summer, it reverses the process and draws heat from your interior air and releases it outdoors. It also dehumidifies the indoor air as it cools it.
The mini split serves as an air conditioner by absorbing heat from indoor air and pumping it outdoors. The mini split contains an indoor coil which, in turn, contains a very cold liquid refrigerant. As indoor air passes over the indoor coil, the refrigerant-cooled coil absorbs heat from the air and so quickly cools that air. The cooled air cannot hold as much moisture as it did at a higher temperature. The excess moisture condenses on the outside of the coil, resulting in the dehumidification of the air. The cooled, dehumidified air is then forced (by a fan) into the duct system which, in turn, circulates throughout the building.
At the same time, the absorption of heat by the refrigerant turns the refrigerant from a liquid into a vapor. A compressor pumps the heat laden vapor through a vapor line to an outdoor coil which discharges the heat extracted from the indoor air. As the heat is discharged, the vapor is cooled and changes back into a liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant is then pumped back through a liquid line to the indoor coil and the cycle is repeated.
The mini split contains a reversal valve which reverses the flow of refrigerant and thus allows the heat pump to serve as a heater during cold weather.
A mini split serves as a heater by absorbing heat from outdoor air and pumping it indoors. As the outdoor air passes over the outdoor coil, heat from that air is absorbed by the refrigerant contained inside the coil. The absorption of heat changes the refrigerant from a low-temperature liquid to a low temperature, low-pressure vapor. The vapor then passes through a compressor where it is compressed into a high pressure, high temperature vapor. The hot vapor then circulates into the indoor coil. As indoor air passes over the indoor coil, it absorbs heat from the coil. The warmed air is then redistributed through the duct system.
Ductless Mini-Splits are assigned two efficiency ratings, a SEER rating based on a unit's cooling efficiency and an HSPF rating based on a unit's heating efficiency.
SEER Rating - The SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating is used to identify the cooling efficiency of both traditional air conditioners and mini splits. The SEER rating indicates how efficiently the unit utilizes electricity: the higher the rating, the less electricity the unit requires to cool a given area.
HSPF Rating - The HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) rating is used to identify the heating efficiency of heat pumps: the higher the rating, the less electricity the heat pump uses to heat a given area.
Generally speaking, ductless mini-splits with the highest SEER and HSPF ratings are more expensive to purchase than their lower rated counterparts. However, because they utilize less electricity, they can actually save you money in the long run.
