When it comes to selecting a cooling system, or a heating system for that matter, that performs effectively and efficiently as possible, you could definitely do worse than a ductless system! Ductless heating and cooling systems have gained popularity in recent decades, and for good reason.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that they don’t come without problems. Even with routine maintenance, a ductless system can experience problems just like any other system, and there are some issues that are unique to ductless systems, which we’ll get to in a moment. First, we want to stress that when something does go wrong with your ductless system, that you only invest in professional air conditioning service in Albuquerque, NM, versus using a general handyman or attempting a repair on your own.
How Does a Ductless System Work, Anyway?
Ductless heating and cooling systems operate on heat pump technology. This means that they not only provide effective cooling in the summer, but the refrigerant process reverses to provide you with heat in the winter as well. These year-round systems are very efficient!
A ductless system is comprised of a single outdoor unit, like a heat pump. But what makes it different is that instead of utilizing ducts, it has multiple indoor air handlers that are hooked up to that outdoor unit via a conduit containing the power cord, water lines, and refrigerant lines. Because of its unique set up, this type of system can—as we mentioned above—run into any one of the following unique problems.
A Water Leak behind an Air Handler
As we mentioned above, each of the air handlers (which are wall-mounted, by the way) have a series of connections routed through a hole behind it, containing fluid that allows your air conditioner to operate. The water line, in particular, is responsible for removing moisture from the cooling process so it doesn’t enter your home.
These lines can leak, and if this happens, water begins to collect between the back of the air handler and the wall. What eventually happens is the wall material begins weakening, which can cause the air handler to rip away and fall, certainly damaging the wall and potentially even damaging the air handler itself.
A Broken Air Handler
A broken air handler is understandably a frustrating and inconvenient problem, however, one definite plus is that just because one air handler is broken, doesn’t mean you can use your cooling system at all. Fortunately, the rest of the air handlers throughout the home will continue to operate.
The only part of your home that loses out on conditioned air, in this case, is the one with the broken air handler. You still, of course, want to call for repairs right away, should you discover an air handler has stopped working.
Leaking Refrigerant
Refrigerant loss is a fairly routine repair for a heat pump system. But there tends to be a slightly higher chance of a refrigerant leak occurring with a ductless system, since there are more refrigerant lines running to the various air handlers. Be sure to keep an eye out for warning signs of refrigerant loss, like a drop in cooling or heating power from the system or coils icing over in the air handlers.
A refrigerant leak must be repaired by a professional right away since it threatens the rest of your ductless system.
For reliable HVAC products and services, contact Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration today!
