Review Pioneer Mini Split Bib / MM1422D American Standard Split Bib (15.5mm) in Brilliant Black

If so, this article will explain some of the advantages to using a mini split system to cool - and/or heat - your home.

Split Unit Air Conditioners Are a Great Alternative to Traditional Cooling Many people live in climates where the outdoor temperatures can be uncomfortable in warm weather.

The common answers to these hot temperatures have been central air conditioning, window air conditioners and evaporative coolers (sometimes known as "swamp" coolers).

However, central air conditioning requires a lot of energy which can be very expensive, and requires the installation of ducts (if not already installed in the home).

Window units are ugly, and most people don't want to give up the view out their windows to a large noisy box. Window air conditioners can also be very expensive to operate.

Swamp coolers provide some cooling effect and can be much less expensive to operate. However, an evaporative cooler requires a large hole to be punched in a wall, its cooling effect can feel very damp, and if your climate is humid, the cooler cannot work properly to cool the home since it requires water to evaporate in order to cool. Consider: how well does water evaporate when the weather is humid?

Split Unit Air Conditioners Use Today's Energy-Efficient Technology A split unit system may be the answer you're looking for.

Split unit air conditioners use state-of-the-art heat pump technology, which is very similar to the way your home refrigerator works.

Your refrigerator operates by taking the heat out of the fridge and releasing it out into the kitchen. Of course, you don't notice any heat in the refrigerator, right? You notice that the fridge is cool inside, but on top of it or behind it you can feel warm air being released.

Split unit air conditioners work in the same manner. They take the heat out of a room and release it outside, thus leaving cool air inside.

What Does a Split Unit Air Conditioner Include?

There are two components needed for a split unit system. The first is the outdoor unit, which provides the condenser. The indoor unit provides the evaporator and blower.

The outdoor component looks like a small conventional air conditioning unit. It will need to be located within 50 feet of the indoor unit for optimum energy-efficient operation.

The indoor unit looks like a smaller conventional baseboard heater. It is typically mounted on a wall or in a drop ceiling. Manufacturers recommend that the indoor unit be installed on an outside wall.

When installing a split unit system, most manufacturers suggest that the indoor unit be placed on an outside wall, with the outdoor condenser unit placed in the landscaping on the other side of the wall.

Split unit air conditioners can actually provide a cooling system only, or for slightly more expense, they can include both heating and cooling functions.

The cooling action and heating action are the same state-of-the-art heat pump technology, with the heat or cool being removed from the enclosed space indoors and then released outside.

Split Unit Air Conditioners Can Cool a Single Room or the Entire House These split unit systems can be a "single zone" or a "multi zone" combination. This means that you can choose to heat or cool only a single room or area of your home, or you can choose several zones to heat or cool your entire house.

For example, a single zone split unit air conditioner may be just what you need to cool or heat your living room. With a multi zone system, you can have one or two condenser units outside but have 2 to 4 indoor evaporator/blower units inside.

The zone system allows you to heat or cool only the rooms you want to. Most mini split systems include remote control units so that you can quickly direct which rooms to cool or heat. This is a particular advantage if you tend to close off the guest room or attic in the summer or winter.

Advantages to a Split Unit Air Conditioning System There are several advantages to a mini split system.

Since the technology is much more energy-efficient, most people start to see savings on their electric bills immediately. Most split unit air conditioner manufacturers state that you can save about 30% of your current heating and cooling costs with a mini split system.

Another advantage is that there are no ducts required. This is a particular benefit if you have an older home with hot water radiating heat, or if you're considering a room addition.

Just as an aside, studies have shown that 30% of heat blown through forced air duct work never reaches your rooms.

Split unit air conditioners are extremely quiet. The unit that makes the most noise is outside, camouflaged in your landscaping. The indoor unit makes as much noise as a typical fan.

Installation is much quicker and easier. You will need to make a small hole in the wall to run some wires through, but typically the hole need not be larger than 3 inches in diameter.

If you're looking for a quiet, energy-efficient way to cool your home, you'll want to take a serious look at the split unit air conditioner.