Understanding And Maintaining A Ductless Minisplit System

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From replacing shingles on your roof and mowing your lawn to cleaning dryer ducts and repairing leaking faucets, it is easy to see the overwhelming nature of homeownership. Unfortunately, you may not be placing enough emphasis on your home's heating and cooling. If your home utilizes a ductless minisplit system, you may be aware of the many benefits of this energy-efficient system offers. However, proper maintenance on your minisplit system is still essential considering half of your home's total energy usage stems from heating and cooling.

Of course, you may not know where to begin with maintaining your minisplit system. Using this guide, you will understand the benefits your ductless minisplit offers with proper maintenance.

 The 101 on your Ductless Minisplit

A traditional heating and cooling system utilizes an outdoor unit, which forces air into your home through installed ductwork. This ductwork — located in your home's walls, crawlspace, ceiling, and attic — is a complex system of flexible metal. Unfortunately, conditioned area can leak out of the ductwork, resulting in 25 to 30 percent of energy loss. This lost energy is not only wasteful, but it also increases your heating and cooling costs.

Fortunately, your minisplit system is able to heat and cool your home without the complicated system of ductwork. During the installation process, heating and cooling technicians connect the small outdoor unit to various units mounted to the walls or ceiling inside your home using copper wire. By reducing the need for ductwork, the minisplit system offers a more efficient way to move heated and cooled air through your home.

Maintaining your Minisplit System

Traditional heating and cooling systems require cleaning and maintenance during each seasonal change, but your minisplit will also need periodic maintenance to ensure it is in proper, efficient working condition.

Complete the following steps to maintain your minisplit system:

1. Check the Filter – Your system needs sufficient space for airflow, so check your filters. Each of your indoor units has a filter that requires cleaning every few months. If using permanent filters, remove and wash with a solution of warm water and liquid dish soap. Be sure to rinse and allow to dry before reinserting. For disposable filters, remove the old filter and replace with a new one.
2. Check your Outdoor Unit – Spend some time cleaning your outdoor unit as well. Power down the unit and wait about an hour for the system to cool down. Then, remove any visible debris in and around the coil. Leaves, grass clippings, mulch, pine straw, and trash can quickly trap inside the outdoor unit, reducing airflow and increasing energy bills. Rinse the unit with your garden hose.
3. Check the Coils – Your minisplit system utilizes an evaporator coil to dehumidify the interior of your home. This helps remove moisture from your indoor air, but the dehumidifying process can cause moisture to buildup in your system if there is debris blocking the lines. Check the condenser lines for debris and clean the area with a mold inhibitor to prevent any harmful growth.

Benefits of Maintaining your Minisplit

With proper maintenance, your ductless minisplit system will be a great investment for your home's heating and cooling needs. Cleaning filters, lines, and coils will ensure your system has adequate space for air to flow efficiently. Then, you will experience the following benefits:

• Energy Savings – Since you are reducing the possibility of air loss through ductwork, your ductless minisplit will save you money on your heating and cooling costs.
• Quiet – When properly maintained, the interior units of your ductless minisplit system are extremely quiet.
• Comfort – The addition of small units inside various zones of your home result in the ability to adjust temperatures to suit each room and personal need.

Investing in a ductless minisplit system was a smart decision for you and your home. However, proper maintenance is imperative to ensure the system is in top condition. Using this guide, you will understand the benefits of properly maintaining your minisplit system. For professional assistance at any time of day, though, contact a24 hour air conditioning repair company.

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24 June 2015