What If I Have No Room For Ducts?

With the ever encroaching reality of sprawl (Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is the spreading of a city and its suburbs over rural land at the fringe of an urban area – wikipedia), space in and around our homes is becoming more and more of a commodity. How are you supposed to heat or cool your home if there is no room for ducts? Well… it is possible…difficult, but possible. However, don’t lose heart, because the HVAC (HVAC (pronounced either "H-V-A-C" or, occasionally, "H-vak") is an initialism or acronym that stands for "heating, ventilating, and air conditioning".-wikipedia) has been working hard to make the technology available to combat this new problem. There are a few options, for the homeowner with no space. The easiest option so far, is a duct-less system. Duct-less systems operate sort-of like the systems that are in place in a hotel, attached to the wall and forcing air either up or down. However, these are different from wall units, because of the amount of air flow and electricity required. A duct-less system will cool your home much more efficiently than a basic wall air conditioning unit will, and take up less inside space. Some benefits of a ductless system are that refrigeration lines are installed (which allow the air conditioner to cool for longer) as well as the utilization of industrial materials in the construction of the unit (metal rather than cheap plastic) and a warranty from a company that will provide service. Want to do your own research? Check out these websites and the units they offer. http://www.enviromaster.com/products.asp Enviromaster utilizes technology that is approved by energy star, and their units operate at a 13 SEER (on the seasonal energy efficiency ratio) which the EPA has put in place to reduce the cfls? That are produced by traditional coolants. They offer everything from split systems, to chilled air handlers, in various directional flows. http://www.bryant.com/products/ductfree/index.shtml Bryant has been a company since 1904 and operates in many fields related to the air conditioning and heating industries. Because of their experience, they offer a variety of different products and customizable systems. These systems are tested in real life situations and field tests in order to provide the most comfort to the customers. This article http://www.ebuild.com/articles/articleId.373696/hvac/air-conditioners--central.hwx tells of the extra benefits that ductless systems may provide to their owners. http://www.residential.carrier.com/products/ductfree/index.shtml Carrier has been in the heating and air conditioning business for over 100 years. As such, their company offers a variety of innovations to improve home comfort and provide energy efficiency. Carrier units are also fully customizable to provide the best service for each homeowner’s individual heating and cooling needs. Carrier also offers units that improve air quality in the home. These units are also especially energy efficient and can save the customer money Carrier offers systems that can be put in various flow directions to minimize the impact on the décor of your home, while still providing the best cooling possible. http://www.york.com/products/unitary/minisplit/docsProducts.asp York is another company that offers duct-less (or as they call them mini-split systems). They have a whole downloadable PDF with their products and accessories. http://www.dayandnightcomfort.com/products/dfac.html Day and Night is a pretty good option because of the warranties that come with their products. Day and Night offers quiet and efficient heating and air conditioning units. All of the models are also equipped with an up-to-date governmental SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and environmentally friendly coolant agents. All of the Day and Night products are easy to install and service with an access panel and high and low pressure controls. They are also built to last, there is a high gloss powder coat finish over the steel, and even the screws are coated, adding extra protection against weathering. The also provide corner posts to add strength and style. Models also include a compressor sound jacket standard to ensure quiet operation. While you are checking out day and night, Heil http://www.heil-hvac.com/products/dfhp.html has some similar offerings. Ductless systems may not be right for everyone, but it’s a good option to look into, especially when concerned about space. Hope this helps. For more information or questions, please email AManda AT Sinclairair DOT com. My contact info is also on the main frame of the blog.