What Is a Ductless Air Conditioner?

Q: What is a ductless air conditioner?

You guessed it – no ductwork. With a ductless air conditioner system from Carrier®, you don’t need it. Whether you live in a new home or an older home without ductwork, are adding a room addition, converting an existing space or if you want more complete year-round climate control over a specific room or area of your home, ductless systems are an efficient way to expand your comfort, no matter the challenges your space presents. A ductless mini split system, in its most basic form, includes one outdoor unit and one indoor unit, connected by refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring. The indoor unit is often wall-mounted, and delivers heated or cooled air directly into the living space – no ductwork needed. This is called a single-zone system and it’s designed to provide heating and cooling comfort to one specific area. A Carrier ductless multi-zone system combines one outdoor unit with up to five indoor units to provide comfort for an entire home. Because there are several styles of indoor units available, and because installation only requires a hole in the wall for the wiring and refrigerant line, ductless HVAC systems are among the easiest and most versatile systems to install.

Q: How do ductless air conditioners work?

Pretty darn well, if we do say so ourselves. Single or multi-zone systems. Heating and cooling or just cooling. Whatever your needs, wherever your space, however you use it, Ductless mini split systems offer customizable solutions that are efficient and quiet. Ductless air conditioner systems use the same process for cooling as a typical central air conditioning system. However, while central air conditioning uses one centrally located indoor unit that delivers cool air to the entire home through a series of ducts and vents, a ductless indoor unit blows cooled air directly into one living space. At the minimum, a complete ductless system includes an indoor unit with an evaporator coil and blower fan; and it has an outdoor unit with a compressor, condenser coil and fan. The two units are connected with copper refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring. The outdoor compressor unit pumps chemical refrigerant through the refrigerant tubing to the indoor unit’s coil. As the liquid refrigerant turns to gas, heat and humidity is removed from indoor air blowing across the coil, sending cooler, less humid air back into the living space. The refrigerant, in gas form, cycles back to the outdoor coil where it is converted back to a liquid as heat energy is released through the outdoor coil. A ductless heat pump system operates exactly the same way for cooling, with the additional ability to reverse the process for heating the indoor space.

By Ryan Mayes

You’ve heard the terms before: ductless, mini split, or mounted cooling systems. So what is a ductless air conditioner? You guessed it – no ductwork. With a ductless mini split from Carrier, you don’t need it.

mini split air conditioning installed in garage shows what is a ductless air conditioner

Whether you live in a new home or an older home without ductwork, are adding a room addition, converting an existing space or if you want more complete year-round climate control over a specific room or area of your home, ductless systems are an efficient way to expand your comfort, no matter the challenges your space presents. Find out what a ductless system is, learn more about mini split SEER ratings, discover how mini splits can help you save on installation costs, and more.

What Is a Mini Split Air Conditioner?

What is a mini split air conditioner and how exactly do they work? A ductless mini split system, in its most basic form, includes one outdoor unit and one indoor unit, connected by refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring. The indoor unit is often wall-mounted, and delivers heated or cooled air directly into the living space – no ductwork needed. This is called a single-zone system and it’s designed to provide heating and cooling comfort to one specific area. A Carrier ductless multi-zone system combines one outdoor unit with up to five indoor units to provide comfort for an entire home.

Because there are several styles of indoor units available, and because installation only requires a hole in the wall for the wiring and refrigerant line, ductless HVAC systems are among the easiest and most versatile systems to install.

a boy in a spaced themed bedroom with a ductless air conditioner unit installed

How Do Ductless Air Conditioners Work?

Pretty darn well, if we do say so ourselves. So exactly how do ductless air conditioners work?

Ductless air conditioner systems use the same process for cooling as a typical central air conditioning system. However, while central air conditioning uses one centrally located indoor unit that delivers cool air to the entire home through a series of ducts and vents, a ductless indoor unit blows cooled air directly into one living space.

At the minimum, a complete ductless system includes an indoor unit with an evaporator coil and blower fan; and it has an outdoor unit with a compressor, condenser coil and fan. The two units are connected with copper refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring. Ductless AC units are effective for any space in the home:

No matter the room’s ceiling height, high wall units can be mounted directly to an interior wall
Console units work for rooms where wall mounting isn’t possible or desirable
In-ceiling units are an example of a ducted unit which is hidden from view if ceiling space allows
Cassette units can be mounted directly to the ceiling surface
Different sizes of ductless AC units allow for customized heating and cooling depending on the room’s square feet

Outdoor units can be strategically placed to minimize noise heard in living spaces or from patios or outdoor gathering spaces. Narrow cabinets make installation possible in small outdoor spaces or on small lots.

The outdoor compressor unit pumps chemical refrigerant through the refrigerant tubing to the indoor unit’s coil. As the liquid refrigerant turns to gas, heat and humidity is removed from indoor air blowing across the coil, sending cooler, less humid air back into the living space. The refrigerant, in gas form, cycles back to the outdoor coil where it is converted back to a liquid as heat energy is released through the outdoor coil. A ductless mini split heat pump system operates exactly the same way for cooling, with the additional ability to reverse the process for heating the indoor space.

A living room with ductless ac installed shows the context of how do ductless air conditioners work

What Is Mini Split AC's Zone? Single- and Multi-Zone Systems

What is a mini split AC’s zone, and what’s the difference between single- and multi-zone systems when it comes to choosing the perfect ductless AC? Ductless systems can be configured with either one or multiple indoor units powered by a single exterior compressor. The versatility of ductless systems make them perfect for many applications, including room additions, sunrooms, garages, and they are an ideal air conditioning option for older homes. Learn more about ductless applications.

a graphic showing what is a ductless ac system

Single-Zone

Ductless air conditioners and ductless heat pumps can be installed so that one indoor unit corresponds to one outdoor compressor. The compressor carries refrigerant and power to the interior unit via a small pipe, running through a small opening, installed with very little impact to your home.

Multi-Zone

One outdoor compressor can power up to five indoor units, each separately controlled by a wireless remote control, offering you flexible options for configuring your comfort solutions. You can even choose to add units to your compressor in the future after you’ve installed just two indoor units (depending on the maximum number of connectable units), allowing for more streamlined expansion or renovation of your home as time and budget allow.

Rules Of Thumb For Ductless Mini Splits

Ductless and heat pump systems are like the Swiss Army knife of HVAC. They both heat and cool and can provide comfort in areas where traditional ducted systems can’t. Adding a room to an existing home? Converting a basement, attic or garage into a living space? Providing a boost to a room that’s always too hot or too cold?

A Carrier ductless system has a solution for all of the above. With virtually endless configurations, and a variety of indoor units to choose from, ductless systems provide the ultimate, customizable comfort solution. They are quick and easy to install with no ductwork required.

Ductless systems can work alongside your existing air conditioner or heat pump system. And, they can help you save on your utility bills with ENERGY STAR® qualified systems and by actively heating and cooling only the areas that are occupied. You can even pick a system specifically to minimize your energy use by finding its seasonal energy efficiency ratio - a mini split SEER rating lets you know how much energy your system will use over the course of the year. Plus, there’s no risk of energy losses from leaky ductwork. Still in the consideration stage? Check out the pros and cons of a ductless air conditioner below.

Pros of a Ductless Air Conditioner

Highly energy efficient cooling system
Easy installation
No patching, painting, or indoor wiring
Efficiently cool a room added to an existing home
Effectively cool a space converted into living space, like a basement, attic, or garage
Preserve the integrity of an older home without space for ductwork or vents
Preserve the décor of indoor spaces with low-profile units
Add cooling power to a room with existing air conditioners and/or uneven temperatures

Cons of a Ductless Air Conditioner

Cost of installation of a mini split system can be higher than a traditional ducted system (but you may save on the utility costs over time)
Unlike a traditional HVAC system, mini split units are wall mounted and can be seen within a room. However, most designs are sleek and unoffending to the eye

What Is The Benefit of a Ductless AC System?

Minimal Installation With Ductless

One of the many benefits of ductless air conditioning is no ducts! No ductwork means no patching, no painting and no hassle. Configuring your ductless air conditioner system is simple, with virtually invisible installation that requires only a small hole in the wall to connect pipe from the indoor unit itself to the compressor unit outside. The outdoor compressor unit also provides power to the indoor unit, so there’s no need for additional indoor wiring. Learn more about installing a mini split system.

Efficient Heating and Cooling

Carrier ductless heat pump systems continue to perform as efficient heating and cooling systems in even the most extreme conditions, providing year-round comfort control, no matter what the weather’s like outside. Even at -22°F, select systems can heat at 80% capacity. They can also cool at 100% capacity when the outdoor temperature is 130°F.

Precise Heating and Cooling

Carrier ductless systems deliver pinpointed comfort, no matter where indoor units are placed. Want a cooler home office, but a warmer bedroom? No problem. Room-based temperature control is one of the many benefits of ductless air conditioning. Because units can be controlled separately, rooms can be set to different temperatures, depending on your comfort needs. Inverter compressor technology makes heating and cooling temperatures more precise as well. Instead of the constant up-and-down temperature swings supplied by typical single-stage systems, a variable-speed, inverter-controlled compressor operates like cruise control for your comfort. It efficiently maintains indoor temperatures with only minimal fluctuation.

Quiet Operation

Never underestimate the role quiet operation plays in your overall comfort. That’s why the best heating and cooling systems should be appreciated, but not heard. Carrier ductless outdoor units with inverter-controlled variable-speed compressors operate on longer, lower-speed and quieter comfort cycles. Long refrigerant lines to the outdoor unit also allow the flexibility to install the outdoor unit farther away from decks, patios or other outdoor living spaces.

Allergy Control

With filters in each indoor unit, ductless mini split systems provide cleaner air in the rooms where they are installed. With Ductless heating and cooling, it’s not just about controlling air temperature, it’s about controlling air quality. When circulation is contained within a confined space, there’s no cross-contamination of air between rooms.

Connect With A Carrier Dealer On Mini Split Air Conditioners

Schedule an appointment with your local Carrier dealer to see what ductless HVAC system works best for your home. Carrier dealers provide expert installation, maintenance, and service for all of your ductless mini split needs.