What a mini-split is
A ductless mini-split has an outdoor unit connected to one or more indoor heads mounted on a wall or ceiling. Refrigerant lines and a small drain run between them through a hole a few inches wide. There is no ductwork, so there is no duct loss, and each head has its own thermostat. Most mini-splits are heat pumps, so they heat as well as cool.
Because each indoor head serves one zone, you can cool a room without cooling the whole house. That makes them efficient for spaces that are used part of the time or that your central system cannot reach well.
Where mini-splits make sense in Las Vegas
- Garages used as workshops, gyms or home offices, which can get brutally hot in summer
- Casitas and guest houses, common in valley homes, that are not on the main system
- Room additions and converted patios where extending ductwork is impractical
- Upstairs bedrooms or west-facing rooms that stay hot even when the rest of the house is comfortable
- Older homes without ducts in part of the house
Mini-split installation
We size the system to the space, choose the indoor head location for even airflow and quiet operation, and place the outdoor unit where it can breathe and be serviced. Garages and west-facing rooms need more capacity than their square footage suggests, and we account for that. The line set and drain are routed neatly, the electrical is done to code, and we test the system before we leave.
Single-zone or multi-zone
A single outdoor unit can serve one head or several. Single-zone systems are simpler and very efficient for one space. Multi-zone systems can serve several rooms, but every head should be sized for its own room; one big head trying to cool three rooms rarely works well.
Mini-split repair and cleaning
Mini-splits have their own failure patterns: clogged filters and blower wheels, drain problems that drip water down the wall, sensor and board errors that show up as blinking codes, and refrigerant leaks at the flare connections. We diagnose and repair all of these. Regular cleaning matters more than people expect. Indoor heads pull air through a small coil and blower that collect dust and can grow mold if they are never cleaned, which causes musty smells and weak airflow.
If your mini-split is losing its charge, see refrigerant leak repair. For central systems, see AC repair and AC installation.
Mini-splits across the valley
We install and service mini-splits in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin, Paradise and Boulder City. Because most mini-splits are heat pumps, they also help in winter; see heating.
Planning a mini-split
Where the indoor head goes
Wall-mounted heads are the most common. They should blow across the room rather than straight at a bed or desk, and they need a clear path for the refrigerant lines and drain to the outside.
Where the outdoor unit goes
Somewhere with airflow, shade if possible, and room for service. In a Las Vegas backyard, keeping it out of the hottest reflected sun helps efficiency.
Mini-split or extending central air?
Extending the central system to a new space can work when the existing unit has spare capacity and a duct run is easy to add. It often does not: most Las Vegas systems are already working hard on summer afternoons, and adding another room can leave the whole house a little warmer. A mini-split adds its own capacity, is controlled separately, and avoids cutting into walls and ceilings for new ducts. We look at your current system before recommending either option.
Mini-splits are also a good fit when a room is used on a different schedule from the rest of the house, like a home office or a guest casita that sits empty most of the week.
Questions we hear a lot
Can a mini-split cool a Las Vegas garage?
Yes, if it is sized for the heat load. Garages have little insulation and a large door, so they need more capacity than a bedroom of the same size. Insulating the garage door helps a lot.
How often should a mini-split be cleaned?
Rinse the indoor filters every month or two in summer. A professional cleaning of the coil and blower once a year keeps it efficient and prevents odors.
Do mini-splits heat too?
Most do. They are heat pumps and work well in our mild winters.
Are mini-splits noisy?
Indoor heads are generally very quiet, often quieter than a central system's vents. The outdoor unit makes some noise, so we place it away from bedroom windows and patios where possible.