What’s Better: Central Air or a Mini-Split?

Choose the Right Cooling System for Your Home—and Your Budget

ac options woodbury, ny When the spring season arrives, it’s the perfect time to ask yourself if your cooling system is up for the task of keeping you comfortable through another long, hot summer.

After all, maybe your cooling equipment had trouble keeping up last year, or maybe you’re still depending on ugly noisy window units and room fans. If you answered “yes” to either of those prior questions, get in touch with the HVAC pros at Depew Energy! We install both central air systems and ductless mini-splits, and we can help you determine if a central A/C or mini-split system is better for your home.

What’s the Difference Between a Central A/C System and a Mini-Split?

Mini-splits and central A/C equipment are both effective ways to keep your home cool and comfortable all summer long. The difference is how they do the job.

Is Central A/C Right for My Home?

To utilize central A/C, your house needs to have ductwork. If you have a forced air heating system with a furnace, you can use the same ducts to deliver cool air from a central A/C. You control the temperature with your thermostat, just as you do for your heat, and your whole house is cooled to the same temperature. And if you have a smart thermostat, you can use it to adjust and program your A/C the same way you program your heat.

Installing a central A/C normally takes longer than a mini-split installation, but the cost is typically lower.

If you heat your home with a boiler system and radiators, you don’t have ductwork. You would have to have us install a duct system—or you can opt for a ductless system instead.

Is a Ductless Mini-Split Right for My Home?

Unless you want or need to replace your entire heating system, it may not be worth the time and expense of installing new ductwork just for central A/C. That’s what makes a mini-split system an ideal solution for long-lasting, high-quality cooling!

Instead of a whole-house thermostat, you control mini-splits with a remote. Because they can be installed for zoned cooling, you can maintain different rooms at different temperatures.

Mini-split systems are less costly to operate on average, too. And the installation process often takes less than a day. Plus, ductless systems have a significantly longer lifespan, and typically last 20 years or more.

Another reason many homeowners like ductless mini-split systems is that they can provide supplemental heat in cooler months. This makes them a great option for heating and cooling those spaces that don’t get comfortable, which might include additions and converted spaces that aren’t served by your duct system.

Looking for an A/C Installation or Upgrade? Call Depew Energy Today!

Don’t wait until the height of summer to get a high-performance, high-efficiency home cooling system. Our expert technicians can provide a thorough assessment of your home, answer all your questions. We’ll help to recommend the perfect central A/C or ductless mini-split solution for your home. Then, we’ll install it promptly, correctly, and well before that first hot summer day.

Contact the team at Depew today for a free quote on new cooling equipment for your Hudson Valley home.