Cooling · Ductless mini-splits
Heating and cooling for the rooms your ducts forgot
The bonus room over the garage that's always ten degrees off. The sunroom you can't use in July. The 1920s house with radiators and window units. A ductless mini-split fixes all of them without tearing open a single wall for ductwork.
What a ductless system is
A mini-split is a heat pump without the ducts. A compact outdoor unit connects to one or more slim indoor units, called heads, through a small bundle of refrigerant lines and wiring that passes through a hole about three inches across. Each head has its own remote or thermostat, so every room, or "zone," can be set to the temperature its occupants want.
Because they're heat pumps, mini-splits heat as well as cool. Cold-climate models keep heating efficiently well below freezing, which makes them a solid year-round option in Ohio, either on their own or alongside your existing furnace or boiler.
Signs ductless is a good fit
- One room is always uncomfortable: a room over the garage, a converted attic, an addition the original ducts never reached.
- You have boiler or radiator heat and no central air. Common in older parts of Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights and Worthington.
- You're tired of window units that block the view, rattle all night and need hauling up from the basement every June.
- You're finishing a basement, garage or sunroom and don't want to extend ductwork.
- You heat with electric baseboard and want lower bills.
What happens on the visit
- Room-by-room look. We measure the spaces, note windows, insulation and sun exposure, and talk about how you use each room.
- Plan the zones. One head per room is typical, though an open floor plan may need just one. We'll show you where each head and the outdoor unit would go, and where the line set runs outside.
- Written quote. Single-zone or multi-zone, with model options and an honest estimate of how it'll perform in January.
- Install day. Mount the heads, run the lines in a neat cover along the outside wall, set the outdoor unit on a pad or wall bracket, vacuum and charge the system, and teach you the remote.
Options and posted prices
| Option | Price | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Single-zone mini-split | from $4,200 | One room or open area: bonus room, sunroom, garage office |
| Multi-zone mini-split | from $4,200 per zone | Two to five rooms on one outdoor unit; whole-home for boiler houses |
| Ducted mini-split (concealed air handler) | Quoted on site | Attic or crawlspace installs where you'd rather not see a wall unit |
| Mini-split service and cleaning | $89 service call, applied to the repair | Repairs, deep cleaning of indoor heads, drain issues |
Pricing depends on the number of zones, the capacity of each, the length of the line set and electrical work. Kenji Watanabe, our lead HVAC technician, designs most of our ductless systems. New systems carry the K&D Promise, 10 years parts and 2 years labor, and financing is available: as low as $79/month with approved credit, and 0% for 18 months on systems over $5,000. Heat pump mini-splits may qualify for federal tax credits and utility rebates; ask what's current.
Ductless vs. extending your ductwork
Extending ducts to a far room sounds simpler, but it often disappoints. The original system was sized for the house without that room, and a long duct run loses a lot of air before it gets there. A mini-split gives the room its own dedicated heating and cooling, with its own controls, so it can be comfortable without overcooling the rest of the house. For a single problem room, it's usually the more reliable fix, and often comparable in cost once the ceiling and wall repairs from new ductwork are counted.
How long it takes
A single-zone installation is usually done in one day. Multi-zone systems typically take two to three days. There's no major demolition; the biggest mess is a few small holes through the exterior wall, which we seal.
What you can do right now
Mini-split not working? Check the remote's batteries and mode. Clean the washable filters behind the front panel of the indoor head; a clogged filter is the number one cause of weak airflow. Check the breaker and the outdoor disconnect. Clear snow and leaves from around the outdoor unit. Water dripping from the indoor head? Turn it off; the condensate drain is likely clogged and we can clear it.
Need help? Call (614) 555-0187.
Ductless questions
Are the indoor units noisy?
No. On low speed most are quieter than a refrigerator. The compressor lives outside.
Do I have to look at a big white box on the wall?
Wall-mounted heads are the most common and least expensive, but there are also floor-mounted, ceiling cassette and concealed ducted options.
How often do they need service?
Clean the filters every month or two when it's running a lot, and have us deep-clean the heads and check the system every year or two.
Can a mini-split heat my whole house?
In smaller or well-insulated homes, yes. In larger homes, we often recommend a mini-split for problem areas and keeping your existing heat for the rest.