Forget the ductwork
Ductless Mini-Splits in Salem, MA
Hushed indoor units that warm rooms in winter and cool them in summer, placed one space at a time in homes that never had ducts.
Why Do So Many Old Houses Go Ductless?
Got cast-iron radiators, hot-water baseboard or electric strips along the walls? Then there is likely no ductwork in the house, and threading ducts through horsehair plaster seldom justifies the dust. That is where mini-splits earn their reputation. Each indoor unit ties to a condenser outside by a narrow bundle of refrigerant lines through a single small hole, so the work stays contained. High-wall units are the usual pick, though floor consoles fit beneath low windows and recessed ceiling cassettes nearly disappear. Every unit runs on its own remote, so a guest room can idle while the den stays toasty. Ductless can carry a whole house or just the trouble spots: the finished attic that cooks all summer, the addition the boiler never served, the top apartment of a triple-decker. Across Salem, where so many homes are older colonials and two-families with radiators in every room, ductless units frequently form the backbone of the switch. As always, sizing rules. Too many units, or oversized ones, cost more and run worse. So we tally each room's heat loss and position units where air can circulate through the space, rather than wherever a blank wall happens to be.
What Goes Into a Ductless Job
From the first sketch to the final remote lesson, here is the work involved.
A unit-by-unit plan
Indoor units placed where they can reach the whole room, each sized from that room's heat loss.
Choosing a style
High-wall, low console or recessed cassette, depending on windows, furniture and ceiling height.
Outdoor condensers
Single-zone or multi-zone units set on stands or brackets above where snow piles up.
Small, sealed penetrations
One modest hole per line set, sealed tight and covered so the siding stays neat.
Drainage planned
Condensate lines routed so summer moisture exits without dripping on steps or walkways.
A remote for each room
Separate controls configured and demonstrated before the crew leaves.
How a Ductless Project Comes Together
Name the rooms
Tell us which spaces bother you and what heats them now.
Measure and sketch
During the visit we size each room and choose unit and line locations.
Written plan
Units, placement, cost and any rebate or loan amounts in one proposal.
Install and remote lesson
Everything gets mounted and tested, and you learn the controls.
Why This Ductless Approach Holds Up
Right count, right size
Only as many units as the rooms need, each running at a steady clip.
Neat on both sides of the wall
Line routes planned for appearance as much as for function.
Program rules respected
Units and layout picked with rebate and HEAT Loan conditions in mind.
- Each room sized separately
- High-wall, console or cassette
- Discreet line routing
- Independent room controls
Is There a Room You Avoid?
Point us to the problem spaces and explain how they are heated today. We will suggest where a ductless unit could sit and what the rest of the house may need.