We got a call from a property manager for a condo complex who started getting complaints from the co-op board. The common areas on the first floor were too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. It seems the problem was getting worse each year.
Our tech realized there were two challenges at work here. First, the system they had was getting old. As a result, it couldn’t heat and cool the entire area anymore. The spots near the vents were just fine. But, the further you went, the hotter or colder it got.
Second, the common area was a large open space. That meant even the strongest blower motor on a forced-air system wouldn’t quite do the trick. It would take a long time for enough air to circulate through the entire area.
We talked to the property manager about these issues and recommended a ductless mini split heat pump system. These can last for up to 20 years. And, they’re better equipped to maintain a consistent temperature even in an ample open space.
Those benefits caught our property manager’s ear. The thought of a happy co-op board made the mini split the obvious choice. And, he’d also bring down his expensive — ductless systems cost much less to run than conventional forced-air heating and cooling.
In this case study, we’ll look at:
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Why Mini Splits Are Great For Open Spaces
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More Ductless Heating And Cooling Advantages
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Mini Split Installation In A Boise, ID Condo Complex
Problem: The heating and cooling system in a Boise, ID condo complex didn’t heat and cool the common area properly. It was always too hot or too cold.
Solution: Installed a mini split system with a 2-ton heat pump. It’s strong enough for the large space and designed to treat the entire area evenly.
Read More: How Much Does A Mini Split Cost In And Around Boise Metro?
If you’d like to learn more about how a mini split can make your Treasure River Valley rental, retail or other commercial property more comfortable while reducing expenses, contact us here at Snowflake Air. Starting with a free consultation, we’ll help you design the perfect system for your space.
Why Mini Splits Are Great For Open Spaces
The significant advantage here was how well mini splits treat the large common area inside the building. Even with just one wall-mounted indoor unit, the entire space would stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
This is because of how both the indoor and outdoor units work compared to conventional HVAC systems.
Variable Speeds
Outside, you have a heat pump. It either gets rid of heat from the building in the summer or draws it inside in the winter. It uses inverter technology to run at multiple speeds. That’s as opposed to “regular” one-stage systems that can only turn on or off.
So, what’s the difference?
One-stage systems can’t run all the time. Otherwise, they’d overdo it. The area would be freezing cold in the summer and sweltering in the winter. And, the motor would burn out — they’re not made to run that often.
Instead, they run for maybe 10 or 15 minutes and then shut off until the temperature drifts by a few degrees.
Variable-speed heat pumps rarely work at full speed. Instead, they stay in a low-speed, low-power setting most of the time. This way, it maintains the temperature consistently instead of switching on and off to correct it.
Fans And Sensors
Inside, the air handler detects hot and cold spots in the room. With these tools, it does more than pump treated air into the room. Instead, it recognizes the exact spots that need additional treatment.
Then, the fans draw in that air and recirculate it to the pockets that need the extra attention. In an open space such as this one, that makes a huge difference.
These features alone were enough to satisfy the property manager. Then, he found out that a mini split offered even more advantages.
More Ductless Heating And Cooling Advantages
Along with heating and cooling large spaces, ductless heating and cooling is also:
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Whisper-Quiet
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Easy To Install
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Energy-Efficient
Whisper-Quiet
For as hard as a mini split works, and even with it running almost all the time, you never really notice it. Both the indoor air handler and outdoor units are whisper-quiet.
Even when it’s really quiet inside and when the system’s running at full speed, it barely makes a sound.
This happens in large part because the system doesn’t push air through ductwork. Instead, it just moves heat. The only circulation occurs inside the room. And, it makes about as much sound as people whispering in a library.
Easy To Install
A single-zone mini split like this (one heat pump connected to one air handler) is a one-day job. And, we barely have to do anything. Since there’s no ductwork, there’s no major work necessary to install a new, different system than what was there before.
All we need to do is mount the air handler at the best spot inside the common area. Then we place the heat pump outside. After that, it’s just a matter of linking the two with a line set containing power supplies, a coolant liquid that runs in a loop, and a condensate drain to eliminate humidity in the summer.
The lineset is narrow and flexible, so it runs through the walls and ceiling just like electrical wiring. You don’t see any of it in the room.
Read More: Rebates and Financing For Mini Splits In And Around Boise Metro
Mini Split Installation In A Boise, ID Condo Complex
With a quick, simple installation, your condo complex, apartment building, fourplex, retail space, or other commercial space can be more comfortable and cheaper to maintain. Reach out to us here at Snowflake Air for a free consultation, and we’ll help you find the perfect solution for your business for Boise Metro mini split installations.
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