Ductless heating and cooling systems are a smart choice for homes and businesses, although many people may not know about these useful HVAC units. They are similar to a window AC unit because each indoor air handler is designed to cool a single room or space.

Ductless air conditioners, however, are like a traditional air conditioner because they operate using an outside condenser unit. What separates ductless air conditioners from central air conditioning units is that no ductwork is necessary. Ductless heat pump systems are available in single-zone units – meaning they provide heat and AC to just one room – or multi-zone units, which provide cooling to several rooms. Each room is equipped with a wall-mounted indoor unit to provide air.

With no ductwork requirements, a ductless mini-split heat pump system is a flexible and affordable option for homes with no existing ducts, a garage or a new home addition. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers a selection of top-of-the-line Bryant ductless systems, which are an excellent choice for a variety of applications. To learn more about mini split heat pump systems, contact the NATE-certified HVAC technicians at Douglas Cooling & Heating today!

Benefits of a Ductless System

Below are the top reasons ductless air conditioners can benefit you!

Healthier Indoor Air Quality

Ductless heat pumps have their own filter housed inside the indoor unit. The air inside a single room goes through the filtration process without mixing air from other areas of your house. Without ductwork, extra contamination is eliminated. Central air conditioning systems circulate dirt, dust, pollen and other debris as it moves air throughout the ducts. You will experience healthier, cleaner indoor air with a ductless mini split.

No Need for Ductwork

The main benefit to this type of system is in the name: ductless HVAC systems don’t rely on ducts. Instead, they use outside condensing units and indoor air handlers. Refrigerant comes directly from the outdoor unit through an insulated refrigerant line.

Installation is easier and less expensive without the need to install and connect ducts.

No Major Renovations Necessary

Older homes, renovated additions or a converted sunroom or garage may not have ductwork available to connect to your current system. Adding ductwork to a house is a major renovation project, which can be overwhelming.

Zoned Heating and Cooling

Ductless air conditioners are designed to cool a specific room without construction. You can pair multiple indoor units with a single outdoor unit to create a multiple-zone mini split system. This allows you to operate each indoor unit independently from the others.

If you have a central heating and air system, closing vents in rarely used rooms increases your chances of pressure imbalances or microbial growth issues. Ductless HVAC systems put you in control of the temperature for each zone in your home without the risk of harm to your unit or your home’s air quality.

If you use a room only occasionally, just turn off the unit in that zone so you don’t waste money heating and cooling it.

Zero Energy Loss

Traditional air conditioning units deal with energy loss daily because of holes, gaps and cracks in the ductwork. The cool air escapes through these leaks, resulting in higher energy bills. A ductless mini split delivers fresh, cool air directly to you. You won’t experience energy loss.

An additional benefit to consider with a ductless system is you won’t need to schedule duct cleaning services. No ducts mean no leaks or airflow restrictions due to obstructions clogging your unit.

Duct leaks account for 30 percent of energy consumption when it comes to central air, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. When you eliminate the need for ducts, you end up with a more energy-efficient system because you don’t lose any air through ductwork.

The result is long-term savings for you and improved heating and cooling in your home.

Flexible and Versatile

Window air conditioners take up more space in a single room and eliminate the view from a window, which is not ideal if you only have one window in a room.

Ductless air conditioners are compact, so they need only a small area for installation. You can install the indoor unit on the wall, floor or ceiling so you can still enjoy the view from your windows. Plus, you avoid the sight of an ugly window unit hanging out of your home.

Double-Duty Performance

One of the most significant advantages of ductless air conditioners is they do more than just cool an independent area. They operate similar to a heat pump, meaning you can enjoy your ductless air conditioners year-round.

Many ductless air conditioners are capable of heating during the colder months by a simple flip of a switch. This comes in handy when areas of your home are hard to keep warm. You operate each indoor unit only when necessary, which keeps you warm without running your heating 24/7 and increasing your energy bill.

Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating for Ductless Installation

Eliminate hot spots and reduce heat loss by installing ductless air conditioners in your home. Douglas Cooling & Heating carries several options to choose, and our NATE-certified experts will explain the features of each.

We offer free estimates on new units and provide financing options for those working on a budget. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today to schedule your free estimate!

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In regards to HVAC equipment, heat pump systems offer the best of both worlds – they heat your home in the winter and cool it in the summer. That’s enough to make your traditional furnace or air conditioning system jealous!

Because heat pumps function year-round and don’t take seasons off like air conditioners and furnaces, heat pump maintenance is critical to protecting the performance, efficiency and service life of your unit. Follow these maintenance tips to keep your system running properly throughout the year.

If you have any questions about heat pump maintenance, or would like to speak to a NATE-certified HVAC technician about installing a heat pump system in your home, contact the HVAC pros at Douglas Cooling & Heating. Douglas is Alabama’s most trusted heating, cooling and plumbing company. We are happy to answer all of your heat pump-related questions.

How Do Heat Pumps Work?

Before we discuss how to maintain a heat pump, let’s first talk a little about how a heat pump works. Heat pumps operate differently than a traditional air conditioner or heating system because they don’t actually create heat or cool air. Instead, they move heat around to achieve the heating and cooling process.

In the summer months, a heat pump extracts excess heat from your home, sending it outside (or underground in geothermal systems). During the winter, the heat pump draws heat from outdoor air, moving it indoors to heat your living areas.

Furnaces, on the other hand, create heat, through the combustion of fossil fuels or electrical resistance. Air conditioners and heat pumps operate in much the same way to cool a home, but an air conditioner cannot perform heating functions as a heat pump can.

Performing Heat Pump Maintenance

If your Alabama home is equipped with a heat pump, there are certain heat pump maintenance steps you should take throughout the year to safeguard the performance and efficiency of your equipment.

• Change the air filter as needed. Check the filter manufacturer’s recommendation for frequency while considering special factors about your home that may increase the frequency for changes, such as pets or smoking in the home.
• Keep exterior coils clean year-round. Cut off power to the unit and use a hose to clear away dirt.
• Keep vegetation at least 24 inches back from your heat pump to allow for proper airflow.
• Never store items around your exterior heat pump. This includes patio furniture, lawn tools and outdoor toys.
• Remove snow and ice from your unit’s exterior in the winter. This prevents damage and allows air to flow freely to the unit.
• Flush the unit’s condensate pan and drain to eliminate clogs that could cause mold growth and water damage to the surrounding areas.

Professional Heat Pump Maintenance

Furnaces and air conditioners each require maintenance once per year. Because they serve both functions, heat pumps should be maintenanced twice per year: once before heating season and once before cooling season. During professional maintenance, our technicians perform the following inspections to ensure your unit is ready to meet the demands of the coming season.

• Inspecting components for damage.
• Verifying proper airflow.
• Measuring refrigerant charge and identifying leaks.
• Inspecting electrical terminals, as well as cleaning and tightening of terminals, if needed.
• Lubricating motors.
• Inspecting belts.
• Verifying controls and safety switches.
• Verifying correct thermostat communication.

Heat Pump Maintenance Experts in Alabama – Douglas Cooling & Heating

Taking care of your heat pump is important in all Alabama homes. With the right care throughout the year, your system will provide reliable heating and cooling at costs much lower than air conditioners or furnaces. Douglas Cooling & Heating is here to help you with skilled heat pump maintenance performed by our NATE-certified technicians. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today to schedule heat pump maintenance services.

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The air conditioner’s evaporator coil is a component vital to the cooling process. When they malfunction, achieving indoor comfort becomes quite difficult.

Douglas Cooling & Heating explains the function of the evaporator coil, signs of bad evaporator coil components and what is needed to keep the evaporator coil in top shape. If you are in need of air conditioning repairs due to a failing evaporator coil or other cooling system issues, give us a call for quick, reliable repair service!

The Evaporator Coil’s Job

A cooling system’s evaporator coil is critical to the heat transfer process that provides comfortable indoor temperatures when the weather is warm. Housed indoors near the unit’s air handler, this coiled piping carries cold, liquid refrigerant that converts to a low-pressure gas within.

As the home’s air passes over, the evaporator coil extracts heat from the air in order to lower air temperature. This process also causes moisture to condense, which helps to dehumidify the home’s indoor air supply. From there, the refrigerant travels from the evaporator coil to the outdoor unit, and the cooled air is blown back into the home through the duct system. 

Signs of Damaged Evaporator Coil Components

As you can see, the evaporator coil has a very important role in the cooling process. Occasionally, homeowners may experience malfunctions which inhibit proper performance and cause indoor comfort issues, requiring the help of a HVAC technician for air conditioning repairs. Signs of damaged evaporator coil components, include:

• Air coming from the vents is warm
• Air conditioner starts and stops frequently but doesn’t properly cool your home
• Air conditioner does not turn on
• Refrigerant leak near the indoor cooling system components
• Unusual noises from the cooling system, such as banging or hissing

Common Evaporator Coil Repairs

Evaporator coils suffer from a few common issues. If you notice any trouble signs, one of these system issues could be to blame:

• Dirty air filter
• Dirty evaporator coil
• Evaporator coil leak
• Frozen evaporator coil

An annual cooling system tune up and coil cleaning service helps your evaporator coil stay in good shape and avoid performance issues related to dirty air filters and coils. Homeowners also need to perform regular filter changes to ensure the system has enough airflow for the evaporator coil to work properly. Problems like frozen or leaking coils require the help of a professional to correct.

When to Replace Your Evaporator Coil

When you experience the signs of bad evaporator coil components and a leak is to blame, Birmingham homeowners are faced with a decision: repair or replace? While some other cooling system issues require simple repairs to fix, an evaporator coil leak isn’t so straightforward.

As time goes on, the inner lining of the coil wears down due to erosion, which weakens its metal. The outer lining also experiences corrosion in some cases, also causing damage. These issues make the coil more susceptible to refrigerant leaks.

Whenever refrigerant leaks occur within the evaporator coil, replacement is generally the preferred option versus repairs. The cost to replace the damaged component with a new evaporator coil is oftentimes less expensive than the repairs necessary to fix a leak plus the price of recharging the system with refrigerant.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for Air Conditioner Repair Today!

Whether you have signs of bad evaporator coils or any other air conditioning system issue, Birmingham area homeowners place their trust into Douglas Cooling & Heating to combat the problem. Our skilled HVAC technicians perform diagnostics to uncover air conditioner malfunctions, as well as the tested repairs required to correct the problem. For air conditioning repairs in and around Birmingham, give Douglas Cooling & Heating a call!

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