Best Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners – 2023

Split air conditioners without ducts aren’t very new. Although they have been around for a while, they are still relatively new as a home HVAC option in the United States.

Mini-split air conditioners, like window units, provide adequate cooling, one room at a time. However, unlike window air units, mini-splits are stationary once installed, which is more in line with other HVAC system types. All the air in your home may be conditioned with the correct mini-split system. The fact that you may have heating and cooling from the same source is the finest feature. Not even central air systems can work without individual appliances.

Although this is excellent for customers as new models are constantly being released, it may also make it challenging to look through them all and choose the one that best suits your requirements.

We’ve evaluated twenty of the finest models on the market and compiled a list of the top ten ductless mini-split air conditioners below to aid in your decision.

How We Selected the Best Mini-Split Air Conditioners

We examined the 29 most popular models from that list to create our list of the top mini-split air conditioners, and we gave each one a score based on ten distinct criteria. We reduced our selection even more to the top ten items. Pricing, cooling capacity, user reviews and ratings, SEER ratings, number of working modes, noise rating, parts warranty, and compressor warranty are just a few variables we consider when reviewing products. Our editorial staff alone determines all ratings.

Sophia Series 9,000 BTU Mini-Split AC/Heating System by Cooper & Hunter

With an average Amazon customer rating of 4.5 stars, the Cooper & Hunter 9,000 BTU Mini-Split AC/Heating System from the Sophia Series makes our list. The unit has a slightly higher price tag than similar competitor models, but its maximum HSPF rating of 10.5 and its SEER rating 25 will reduce energy expenses.

With just four operational modes—mute, turbo sleep, auto, and heating and cooling—and a noise level of barely 23 dB, Cooper & Hunter gave it a lot of features. Five-year parts and a seven-year compressor guarantee are included with the equipment.

Pros & Cons

• : seven-year guarantee on the compressor
• High SEER rating, quiet

• The cost is more than that of several rivals.
• Limited ways of operation

Pioneer 24,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner

Our second pick is the Pioneer 24,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner, with an average rating of 4.5 stars from over 500 Home Depot customers. With an HSPF rating of 9.5 and a SEER rating of 17, the appliance can heat and cool an area up to 950 square feet.

With its 12 operational modes—fan, eco, cleaning, remote thermostat, turbo, self-clean, cooling, heating dehumidifying, ventilation, auto, and night mode—there’s not much this device can’t accomplish in terms of heating and cooling. Pioneer also offers financing options.

Pros & Cons

• 12 operating modes
• Installation kit included

• Lower SEER rating than competitors’
• 220V electrical required

Pioneer Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner, Low-Ambient, 9,000 BTU

Next is the Low-Ambient 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner, another Pioneer item. With a SEER rating of 23 and an HSPF rating of 10, this device is among the few with ratings available for heating and cooling a space up to 350 square feet.

Pioneer’s Low-Ambient Diamante series has six operating modes, making it somewhat louder than its competitors while maintaining a tranquil machine. At 27 dB, the 9,000 BTU unit is slightly heavy. The installation kit, sleep mode, remote thermostat functionality, and a Wi-Fi connection are included.

Pros & Cons

• includes installation kit
• 110 or 220V electrical choices with Wi-Fi enabled

• Few testimonials from clients
• Limited compressor guarantee

Pioneer Low-Ambient 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner

Next is the Low-Ambient 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner, another Pioneer item. With a SEER rating of 23 and an HSPF rating of 10, this device is among the few with ratings available for heating and cooling a space up to 350 square feet.

Pioneer’s Low-Ambient Diamante series has six operating modes, making it somewhat louder than its competitors while maintaining a tranquil machine. At 27 dB, the 9,000 BTU unit is slightly heavy. The installation kit, sleep mode, remote thermostat functionality, and a Wi-Fi connection are included.

Pros & Cons

• includes installation kit
• 110 or 220V electrical choices with Wi-Fi enabled

• Few testimonials from clients
• Limited compressor guarantee

Pioneer Low-Ambient 12,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner

Pioneer’s second system on our list is the one after that. The Low-Ambient 12,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split Inverter Air Conditioner from the firm has received an average rating of 4.6 stars from more than 400 Home Depot customers, despite having an interior noise level of 34 decibels, which is somewhat higher than comparable models.

The 12,000 BTU model of Pioneer’s Diamante Series, which has a variable speed DC inverter, twin drain ports, and swinging louvers to guide the air, is expected to have a strong SEER rating of 20 and an HSPF rating of 10. The device may use either 110V or 220V power to operate in its six modes.

Pros & Cons

• includes installation kit
• Wiring possibilities for 110 or 220 volts
• Funding accessible

• The Wi-Fi feature is offered separately.
• A little louder than the competitors

Senville LETO Series 24,000 BTU Mini-Split Air Conditioner

Senville has added another product from its LETO line to our list. The LETO Series 24,000 BTU Mini-Split Air Conditioner can heat and chill up to 1,250 square feet with a single indoor wall-mounted unit. By competing with similarly priced, less powerful systems, the pricing will also keep you cool.

The eight functions of the machine, which include cleaning, automated, and dehumidifying modes, need a 220V connection in your house. Additionally, Senville’s Follow Me function is included. The appliance has a respectable SEER rating of 18 and can achieve an HSPF rating of 9.8. Still, its operating noise level of 35 decibels is slightly higher than that of other similar units from its rivals.

Pros & Cons

• Fantastic for spacious spaces
• The dehumidification process
• The cost is less than that of several rivals.

• Functions of heat down to 5F
• need a connection of 220 volts.
• A little loud (35 dB)

Pioneer Inverter++ Energy-Star Mini-Split Wall-Mounted Air Conditioner

Our ranking is topped by the Pioneer Inverter++ Mini-Split Wall-Mounted Air Conditioner, an EnergyStar-rated device with a cooling and heating capability of 12,000 BTUs. Customers rate Home Depot an average of 4.5 stars, and it is more affordable than many of its rivals’ products of the same size.

When using one of its seven modes, the Inverter++ operates at a mere 21.5 decibels, earning an astounding 21.5 SEER and 11.2 HSPF ratings. Two of the unit’s unique features are a freeze prevention feature for when your family is on vacation and a sleep mode that automatically adjusts the temperature throughout the night to avoid energy loss. Included in the bundle with a five-year compressor and parts guarantee are cleaning and follow-me modes.

Pros & Cons

• Sleep mode was present.
• A vacation spot was mentioned.
• Silent functioning

• Limited compressor guarantee
• Not many reviews are available.

Senville AURA Series 12,000 BTU Mini-Split Air Conditioner

The 12,000 BTU Mini-Split Air Conditioner from Seville’s AURA Series tops our list with all the bells and whistles. Although it costs a little more at retail than some rival models, Amazon customers give it an average rating of 4.7 stars. It is worth the money since it has eight working modes, a self-cleaning feature, Wi-Fi and Alexa connectivity, 23.5 dB of noise, and a 10-year compressor guarantee.

Your AURA Series AC, which has an impressive SEER rating of 25.5 and an HSPF rating of 10.5 and 13, comes with an installation kit. Even in -22 degrees Fahrenheit external conditions, the device can generate heat. Senville’s Follow Me function and refrigerant leak monitoring are also included in the machine.

Pros & Cons

• extended compressor guarantee
• The dehumidifier feature
• Extreme cold affects how heat works.

• The cost is more than that of several rivals.
• It needs a connection of 220 volts.

9,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split AC/Heating System by Cooper & Hunter MIA Series

Mini-split air conditioners from Cooper & Hunter’s MIA Series have good SEER ratings and are reasonably priced. Next on our list is the MIA Series 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini-Split AC/Heating System, which has received an average rating of 4.6 stars on Amazon from over 900 customers.

The unit has six operating modes, including a Follow Me feature that uses the accompanying remote control to function as a thermostat for comfort no matter where you are in the room. It has a SEER rating 19 and an HSPF rating as high as 10 in moderate regions. Despite its modest cost, the 9,000 BTU system is also one of the quietest on the market, with the interior unit only producing 25 decibels.

Pros & Cons

• Price
• Seven-year compressor warranty
• Wi-Fi ready

• Installation kit sold separately

Senville LETO Series Mini-Split Air Conditioner, 9,000 BTU

The Senville 9,000 BTU Mini-Split Air Conditioner from the LETO Series is the first item on the list. This model has an average rating of 4.7 stars based on more than 3,500 reviews on Amazon. However, given the low purchasing price of this mini-split and its SEER rating of 20.5, high thoughts are to be anticipated. Additionally, depending on your environment, the model has a seasonal heating performance factor (HSPF) of 7.8 or 10.

The 400 square feet that the LETO 9,000 BTU unit heats and cools may be used as a large living room or bedroom. Don’t worry if you want to treat the air in a bigger area; the LETO Series has mini-split air conditioners with 30,000 BTUs or more to suit your needs. Senville further collaborates with AFFIRM to provide flexible payment plans for financing your purchase.

Pros & Cons

• Financing available
• Works with Alexa
• Wi-Fi enabled operation

• Heat works down to only 5F.

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How to Determine Which Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner Is Best for You

Terms like heating and cooling capacity, HSPF, and SEER are unlikely to come up in conversation unless you have years of HVAC expertise. Because of this, it might not be easy to navigate through mini-split air conditioner information. It would be best to learn more about the following factors to choose which mini-split system best suits your family’s demands.

Capacity and Size

You could be acquainted with BTU ratings if you have previously purchased different HVAC parts. The energy required to change the air temperature in your house is measured in British Thermal Units or BTUs. A tiny residence might be heated with a modest domestic furnace that produces 65,000 or 85,000 BTUs. Because mini-split air conditioners only give conditioned air to a single room rather than the whole home, they may operate with lower BTU capabilities.

A 9,000–12,000 BTU mini-splitter system may suffice to treat one room, whereas a 48,000 BTU device can handle numerous rooms with multiple air handlers.

To determine the appropriate capacity size for your mini-split system, measure the square footage of the rooms you want to condition.

When it comes to buying an HVAC system, size counts. Going too tiny might mean it doesn’t fully heat or cool your house while going too big will cost more maintenance. Climate, house exterior, shadow and sun exposure, insulation, windows, ceiling height, and heat-generating equipment affect air conditioner size.

You will need to know the square footage of the room or residence to determine the necessary unit size. Multiply the length by the breadth of your rooms and add the results to get the square footage. The BTUs needed to cool the space are then calculated by multiplying the square footage by 25.

Energy Efficiency

Installing a mini-split system can be an excellent way to reduce monthly energy bills. You’ll get the most return on your investment in energy savings if the mini-split unit you’re considering is EnergyStar-rated. For a ductless mini-split air conditioner to be listed on EnergyStar, it must continuously achieve high SEER (cooling) and HSPF (heating) efficiency ratings.

Cost

There are sizes of ductless mini-split air conditioners that can cool a single tiny room or a whole home. In terms of cost, size counts. The installation cost of a mini-split air conditioner may range from $2,000 to $14,500, primarily based on the system’s capacity.

However, bigger isn’t necessarily better. Even while mini-split systems use less energy than conventional heating and cooling systems, your energy costs may not cover the cost of the new system for many years.

The daily use of an air conditioner with an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 10 is 28.8 kWh. With an average energy cost of $0.15 per kWh, running an air conditioner would cost $4.32 daily, or around $112.20 monthly. Prices may vary based on the EER of the device, consumption, and local power prices.

While deciding whether to purchase a mini-split air conditioning system, consider the total energy savings after installation expenses and remember your savings targets and budget.

Installer Availability

While installing your mini-split system yourself is feasible, not every homeowner wants to do this. The majority will decide to have their new air conditioning installed by a professional. Many installers suggest and sell you models they feel comfortable promoting. Before deciding on a particular unit, ask your installation firm for suggestions to ensure they will install the unit you choose.

Mini-Split Model Key Specifications

What Is a Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner?

A wall-mounted internal evaporator, air handler, and small exterior compressor make up a mini-split air conditioner, also known as a ductless mini-split. The components work together to provide both heating and cooling. As the name suggests, a refrigerant line and electrical wires connecting the interior and exterior features must be installed instead of ductwork.

Mini-splits are suitable for air conditioning in a single room or as part of a system of air handlers linked to a single, more powerful compressor for whole-house air conditioning and heating.

Is a Ductless System Right for Me?

When remodelling a house, installing a ductless mini-split air conditioner may be a less intrusive solution for attics, garage apartments, homes with extra rooms, and older homes where ducting installation is costly and challenging. Because it recycles energy, it may also provide more energy efficiency than central heating and cooling systems. Also, they do not burn gas; instead, they utilize electricity.

While mini-split systems may not be suitable for every house, they can be an excellent option for people with tiny, well-insulated spaces or those who wish to heat or cool a few rooms without doing ductwork.

Energy Efficiency

The potential to reduce energy expenses may be the primary motivator for installing a ductless mini-split air conditioning system. Seek for goods with high SEER and HSPF ratings that are EnergyStar-approved.

What Is SEER?

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER, refers to an air conditioner’s ability to cool. Put another way, a device’s energy efficiency is shown by its SEER rating. The system serves as a benchmark that makes it possible to compare the effectiveness of different methods. The SEER ratings of mini-split air conditioners usually range from 16 to 30. Greater energy savings are required to provide the same cooling as an air conditioner with a lower SEER rating.

What Is HSPF?

In addition to cooling, mini-split air conditioners may also heat spaces. Apart from its SEER rating, the heating component of the system has its own rating. Except for measuring heating efficiency, the HSPF, or the Heating Seasonal Efficiency Factor, the rating system functions similarly to the SEER system.

A mini-split appliance’s typical label includes a range of HSPF values, designated HSPF4 and HSPF5. The number indicates the efficiency rating in zones four and five of the United States six zones or regions. Customers may choose from various efficiencies according to their environment, ranging from moderate (zone four) to cool (zone five). Similar to SEER ratings, higher rating values indicate superior quality.

HSPF4 vs. HSPF5

The Heating Seasonal Efficiency Factor rating system, or HSPF, measures heating efficiency. The label of a mini-split appliance displays various HSPF values, such as HSPF4 and HSPF5. Out of the six areas into which the United States is split, the number relates to the efficiency rating in areas 4 and 5.

The minimum HSPF rating criteria for heat pump installations are based on Region 4, regardless of the location. Regulations or the performance of a heat pump in a particular climate may refer to Region 5 HSPF ratings.

What Is EnergyStar?

EnergyStar is a government-sponsored program that assigns energy efficiency ratings to HVAC parts and appliances. The gadget must adhere to stringent requirements to be certified as an EnergyStar-rated product, ensuring that buyers may compare products with knowledge. When you buy a product with an EnergyStar rating, you can be sure it satisfies strict energy-efficiency performance requirements.

Energy Efficiency Ratings of Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioners

Understanding all the acronyms and numbers might be challenging, but a higher number indicates a more efficient ductless mini-split air conditioner. The standard rating for HVAC systems is 1016 SEER; new houses often have 14-16 SEER systems installed. Mini-split systems may have a SEER of 17 to 38, depending on the unit.

To get an EnergyStar ranking, ductless mini-split air conditioners must adhere to stringent SEER (cooling) and HSPF (heating) efficiency standards.

The Benefits of Ductless HVAC Systems

The benefits and drawbacks of ductless air conditioning should always be considered before purchasing. The various advantages of owning a ductless air conditioner are listed below.

No Ducts

It may transport warm or cold air more uniformly and effectively without ducts, creating a cosy atmosphere in your living area.

Control Over Individual Temperature

Individual temperature control is possible if you have units in various areas of your home. Each member of the family may independently adjust the unit’s temperature in the room they are in.

Easier to Install

They don’t need intrusive ducting and are simple to install since they are ductless. It’s less costly since they may be put anywhere on your walls in a matter of days.

Noise

The quietest air conditioners available are ductless models, which produce almost no noise inside the house. Although they don’t make as much noise outside conventional AC units, they do.

Number of Zones

With a multi-zone ductless system, just the rooms that need cooling or heating will get it. Your system will be under less stress as a result.

A Ductless Air Conditioner’s Drawbacks

Although ductless air conditioning offers several benefits, there are some drawbacks to consider before installing one in your house.

Aesthetics

Large, bulky blowers mounted on your house’s walls are necessary for ductless air conditioners, which may be unsightly and detract from your home’s overall style and feel.

Costs With Multiple Units

Due to their higher energy consumption while operating continuously, ductless air conditioners may be more costly to purchase, install, and operate than conventional HVAC systems. To cool the whole home, many ductless air conditioners will be required.

Maintenance

Annual professional maintenance services are required, and ductless system air filters must be cleaned every month—and much more often if children or pets are involved. Ignoring cleaning might become expensive since you’ll need to hire a cleaner. The longevity and effectiveness of a ductless air conditioner may be impacted by improper maintenance.

What Is the Average Lifespan of a Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner?

A ductless mini-split AC system has a 20-year lifetime on average. With the right care, many systems may endure up to 30 years. With the advancement of technology, the sector is always coming up with new methods to increase efficiency. In as short as ten or fifteen years, many homeowners decide to change to more efficient systems.

Professional Mini-Split AC Installation vs. DIY

If you’re handy around the home, doing a do-it-yourself project may be an excellent alternative and save you money. However, you won’t get a guarantee, which often includes expert labour and maintenance advice. Furthermore, experts always have tools and components available when you need them. If anything goes wrong, the job can take longer and cost more than it would have if you had hired an expert.

Before selecting a choice, weigh the advantages and disadvantages. If you’re not handy at all, this is probably not a job you want to do as a first-time do-it-yourselfer. If in doubt, go with a professional.

How to Find a Mini-Split AC Installer

You may find a mini-split AC installation by looking up reviews online or by asking friends and family for recommendations. Additionally, you may go to the websites of nearby installers, where you can usually request a specialist to come to your house and evaluate the prices or get an online quote.

We examined data on 29 items to get the best rating for ductless mini split air conditioners. We calculated each product’s star rating by assessing a range of characteristics, such as:

• Price (25%)
• Cooling capacity (20%)
• Customer Review (20%)
• SEER Rating (10%)
• Number of operating modes (10%)
• Noise rating (5%)
• Spare parts warranty (5%)
• Compressor warranty (5%)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)