The 5 Most Effective Ductless Air Conditioners

A mini-split air conditioner, also known as a ductless air conditioner, is a hardworking and energy-efficient way to cool down your indoor spaces. The following are five of the best.

What to Look for in a Ductless Air Conditioner

Based on your needs and budget, select the best ductless air conditioner (mini-split) for your room.

Consider the following while looking for a ductless air conditioner:

Check the Btu and the size of the room.

Efficiencies in energy

The higher the SEER and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) figures, the better. The higher the number, the better the energy efficiency. The minimal SEER and HSPF are 15 and 7, respectively. Look for a ductless air conditioner with a SEER of 20 or higher and an HSPF of 8 or higher to get the best energy efficiency.

Ductless Air Conditioner with the Highest Reliability

Gree, one of the world’s top air conditioner manufacturers, is known for producing high-quality machines that perform well in practically every temperature. One of Gree’s more powerful and energy-efficient ductless air conditioners is the Vireo ($1,079).

This unit has a SEER rating of 22. It’s a tough, sophisticated mini-split that promises to run quietly and quickly cool rooms for years.

Best Ductless Air Conditioner on a Budget

For less than $800, the Pioneer Diamante ($780) is a strong mini-split. The hardworking small unit has SEER and HSPF ratings of 20 and 10 respectively, with a maximum airflow of 383 cubic feet per minute (CFM).

Pioneer employs inverter technology instead of a rotary compressor, which is the industry standard for mini-splits. Pioneer sells units ranging from 9,000 to 36,000 Btu for less money than other brands. A 36,000 Btu mini-split costs roughly $3,000 on average, whereas Pioneer’s Diamante costs around $2,200.

Ductless Single-Zone Air Conditioner

A single-zone ductless system is ideal for temperature control in a single room or small area. It’s a better alternative to a massive system, which would be more difficult to set up and manage.

This quiet and small mini-split has a SEER rating of 25, making it a stunning cooling and heating beast that can handle rooms up to 800 square feet. The LG Art Cool Premier ($1,670) offers a 24-hour timer and sleep mode, allowing you to keep the room cool or hot as needed without wasting electricity.

Other single-zone mini-split versions scatter air straight down or in one central area, while the LG’s four-way swing disperses air fast over a large area.

The remote is simple to use and features a large display that allows you to control the unit from anywhere in the room. When in the AC mode, LG’s mini-split has an advanced dehumidifier that can remove 3.2 pints per hour from a small, damp room. The longer piping — up to 164 feet vs 50 for most other systems — allows you to place the indoor unit higher and farther away from the outdoor unit, which is perfect for smaller rooms.

Best Ductless Mini Split for Multiple Zones

With only one outdoor unit that can often handle up to eight indoor units, a multi-zone system can provide remote control heating and cooling across the entire property.

Individual thermostats in the Senville Aura Series ($2,798) allow you to manage the temperature of each room or region. It comes with four indoor air handlers and four installation kits to link each unit to the 36,000 Btu outside unit in separate rooms.

A dehumidifier, timer, ionizing air filter, and turbo mode are all included in each air handler. The current Follow Me feature on the item allows the remote to function as a thermostat. When you use the remote to activate the Follow Me mode, air is directed straight to where the remote is located in the room.

The Easiest Ductless Air Conditioner Installation

While many mini-splits promote the ease of installation, mounting these 60-pound units and charging the refrigerator line is not always simple. So Cooper and Hunter’s designers made it as easy as possible for the typical DIYer to mount their ductless air conditioner on the wall.

The Cooper and Hunter Sophia ($1,199) has a 21.5 SEER rating on the 12,000 Btu 115-volt variant and a 25 SEER rating on the 9,000 Btu 115-volt model (for the same price!).

A 16-foot pre-flared and insulated copper line set, communication cables, a WiFi smart kit converter, and the indoor and outdoor units are included in the DIY installation kit. After drilling a hole in the wall for the wires and tubing, the manual leads you through the straightforward hookup instructions.

One Amazon reviewer comments, “I was impressed with the quality of this item.” “Extremely simple to set up and follow directions.”