Where mini splits make sense
Room additions without duct access, converted garages, sunrooms, bonus rooms over garages, older homes with no ductwork, and anywhere you need independent temperature control.
Ductless mini splits are the best option for additions, garages, sunrooms, and older homes without ductwork. Requests cover ductless mini split installation, repair, service, and maintenance on common HVAC brands, subject to compatibility across the Birmingham metro.
Room additions without duct access, converted garages, sunrooms, bonus rooms over garages, older homes with no ductwork, and anywhere you need independent temperature control.
A small hole in the wall, refrigerant lines, and an indoor wall unit. No major construction. Most installations take a day.
The most common ductless mini split failures are a blocked or dirty indoor blower wheel, a failed outdoor fan motor, a refrigerant leak at the line-set flare, and a control board that stops responding to the remote. Ductless systems use inverter-driven compressors, so a unit that runs but never reaches temperature is usually a refrigerant or sensor fault rather than a dead compressor.
Ductless systems need more frequent cleaning than central air because the indoor blower wheel and evaporator sit inside the living space. A yearly service covers washing the filters and blower wheel, clearing the condensate drain, and checking refrigerant pressures. A neglected indoor unit is the usual reason a mini split starts to smell or drip water down the wall.
One outdoor unit can power 2–5 indoor units, each with its own thermostat. Cool the rooms you use and don't waste energy on the rest.
Single-zone systems typically run $3,000–$5,000 installed. Multi-zone systems run $5,000–$12,000 depending on the number of indoor units.
Either. Requests cover ductless mini split repair and service as well as installation, including systems another company installed.
Once a year for a single-zone system in normal use. Rinse or vacuum the indoor filters every month or two yourself — that is the single biggest thing that keeps a mini split working and keeps the air from smelling musty.
Almost always a blocked condensate drain line. The indoor unit drains by gravity through a small line, and algae or dust blocks it. It needs clearing before the water damages the wall behind the unit.
Very. Most models are 20+ SEER, which is significantly better than central systems. They only condition the rooms you're using.