How Much Does Ductless Heating and Cooling Cost?

Ductless heating and cooling is becoming more popular because it costs less and leaves less of a carbon footprint than central air. This may seem like a win-win for most households, but there are factors to take into consideration when choosing to make this change to your home’s heating and cooling systems.

Many homeowners are asking: how much does ductless heating and cooling cost? In this article, we’ll break down not only the ductless heating and cooling cost, but also the potential pros and cons of this energy transition in your home.

Ductless Heating and Cooling Systems Cost

Ductless heating and cooling systems, also called mini-splits, link individual rooms in your home to a single outdoor compressor. While this system is used for both heating and cooling, it is more common that households use it for cooling. It is more energy efficient than central air, but can only heat temperatures that do not get below -15 degrees fahrenheit. If you’re in Maine or upstate New York, you’ll less likely use this system to heat your home during the frigid northeast winters. You can still install it for cooling your home along with having a furnace for heat. The average cost of your energy bills for ductless AC will be less than central air.

So, how much does ductless central air cost? Well, this depends on how many rooms you expect to use it in and the infrastructure of your home. In general, the cost of ductless heating and cooling systems range from $3,000 - $8,500. These costs include both the system and the ductless air conditioner installation cost. If you get just a single air outlet -- meaning for one room -- it can cost as little as $1800 in total. However, most homeowners plan to install it in 4 or more rooms, costing upwards of $3000. 

The pros of ductless heating and cooling systems

• The biggest benefit of a ductless AC is the money and energy you will save. Typical energy loss from leaky ducts is 30-40%, increasing your energy usage bill. You also have a choice of which room you cool or heat at any time with a ductless system. Each air outlet comes with its own thermostat, allowing for greater temperature control of your home. This saves energy because some rooms will be naturally cooler and need less cooling than others.

• The installation of ductless systems are cheaper than the installation of central air since there are no ducts involved. Additionally, ducts take up more space in your home. A mini-split comprises air outlets that hang on a wall near the ceiling and often go unnoticed. 

• An added bonus to your wallet and the environment are tax credits and local utility rebates that come with installing a ductless heating and cooling system in your home. You can save on your federal taxes by claiming your transition to a more energy efficient cooling and heating system in your home. Check with the installation company about potential rebates. Tax credits and rebates are incentives that come from choosing a more energy efficient alternative to central air.

The cons of ductless heating and cooling systems

• The biggest con to installing ductless heating and cooling systems depends on the infrastructure of your home and how many air outlets you plan to install. The larger the square footage you need to cool or heat, the higher the cost of installation. To install air outlets, the technician will need to cut holes into the wall in order to install the refrigerant lines and to control the electrical wiring that connects indoor outlets to the outdoor compressor. If this infrastructure in your walls already exists, then installation can cost less. 

• The cost of installation of ductless heating and cooling systems is steep. The installation of these systems is a financial commitment. In the long run, though, it will cost you less than central air. 

• Finding a technician to install and repair these systems can be hard to come by depending on where you live. These systems are still gaining in popularity, but until they are more commonly used, you may have trouble finding a qualified technician in your area 

Repair of Ductless Heating and Cooling Systems

Don’t let the lack of qualified technicians be the deciding factor on whether you choose to install a ductless heating and cooling system in your home. Keep in mind that to fix central heating can also be costly and a pesky inevitability for all homeowners. That said, you can locate the right technicians with a little bit of research whether you use a ductless system or central air.

Most homeowners find that having a home warranty helps them with these pesky, costly home repairs. While a home warranty will not cover the cost of installation of your ductless heating and cooling system, it can cover the costs of repairs and will provide the technician. A home warranty is a service contract that covers the cost of repair and replacement of your home’s systems and appliances. Your home warranty provider is also responsible for arranging for a technician to complete all repairs, so that you will not have to worry about tracking down a technician that specializes in ductless heating and cooling. Your provider should be knowledgeable of this and know who to contact for the job.

Why choose a Liberty Home Guard home warranty

Your home warranty can cover more than just your ductless heating and cooling system if you’re interested in more comprehensive coverage. Or, you could invest in just a customized home heating home warranty plan. Learn more about what a home warranty with Liberty Home Guard will cover. If you invest in a ductless heating and cooling system in your home, you should have coverage for it.