Ductless Mini-Split Installation in Akron, OH
Rodger That Heating & Cooling installs multi-zone ductless mini-splits in older homes across Summit and Stark counties, so every room stays comfortable year-round without window units, space heaters or new ductwork.
No ductwork in an older Akron home
If your house heats with a boiler and radiators, you've probably been told central air would mean tearing open plaster walls to run ducts. That's a common spot to be in around here. Much of Highland Square went up during Akron's rubber boom of the 1910s, and more than half of its homes date to 1939 or earlier, long before anyone planned for ducts.
A ductless mini-split skips that problem. Each indoor unit connects to the outdoor unit through a small opening in the wall, about the size of a fist, so your plaster and trim stay intact. Your technician walks the house with you first and picks routes that keep the lines tidy and out of sight wherever possible.
Finally getting rid of window units and space heaters
Plenty of older homes get through the year on a patchwork: window air conditioners rattling in July, space heaters on extension cords in the coldest bedrooms in January. It's noisy, it blocks the windows, and running space heaters overnight is its own worry. It's a common setup in Akron because the housing is old. A Beacon Journal analysis of county property records found that 90 percent of the city's homes were already built by 1969.
A multi-zone mini-split replaces the whole patchwork. One outdoor unit can serve several indoor units, and each one both cools in summer and heats in the shoulder seasons and through much of the winter. The window units come out, the space heaters go back in the closet, and your boiler can stay right where it is for the coldest stretches.
Worried the outdoor unit will freeze up in heavy snow
People thinking about a mini-split for a 1920s Akron house often ask the same thing: what happens to that outdoor unit in a real Northeast Ohio snowstorm? Frost on it is normal. The unit melts it off on its own every so often, and you might see a puff of steam while it does.
What actually causes trouble is snow drifting up around the unit or roof runoff freezing on top of it. So we mount the outdoor unit up off the ground on a stand or wall bracket, clear of drifts and dripping eaves. And if you keep your boiler, it's there as backup on the bitterest nights, so the mini-split never has to carry the house alone.
The one room that never matches the rest of the house
Every older home seems to have one: the upstairs bedroom that bakes in summer, the back room over the porch that never warms up, the attic office nobody wants to use. Moving more air through the same old system rarely fixes it.
With a multi-zone mini-split, each room or area gets its own indoor unit and its own temperature setting. The bedroom that runs hot can be cooler for sleeping while the living room stays where you like it, and nobody fights over one thermostat. You only run the zones you're using, instead of cooling or heating rooms that sit empty all day.
Being sold more indoor units than your house needs
The number of indoor units is the biggest thing that changes a mini-split quote, which is exactly why it's where a commissioned salesperson has the most room to pad the job. A unit in every single room sounds thorough, but an open living and dining area can often share one.
Nobody at Rodger That earns a commission on equipment. Your technician sizes the system room by room, explains why each indoor unit is there, and tells you which rooms could share. You get a flat price before any work starts, so if you'd rather start with the two rooms that bother you most, you can make that call with real information, and plan the outdoor unit for the rooms you'll add later.
Before your mini-split estimate
Make a quick list of the rooms you want to fix and what each one needs: cooling, heating or both. Note which rooms use window units or space heaters now, and think about where an outdoor unit could sit on the side or back of the house. If you plan to keep your boiler, mention that too. It helps your technician lay out the right number of zones the first time. Ask your technician about any current utility rebates for ductless heat pumps. Incentives change often, so we confirm what applies before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to replace my boiler and radiators to get a mini-split?
No. Many homeowners keep the boiler and radiators for winter heat and add a mini-split for air conditioning, plus heat in spring, fall and milder winter days. The two systems work side by side without any changes to your radiators. If your boiler is aging, your technician will tell you honestly how much life it has left so you can plan, but replacing it isn't part of a mini-split install.
How many indoor units will I need?
It depends on your layout, not a formula. Rooms with doors that stay closed, like bedrooms, usually need their own unit. Open areas such as a combined living and dining room can often share one. Your technician walks each room with you, explains why each unit is recommended, and quotes a flat price, so you can start with the rooms that matter most. If you want to add rooms later, say so up front, and the outdoor unit can be sized with room to grow.
Can a mini-split heat my house through a Northeast Ohio winter?
It can carry a lot of the load, and the right model keeps heating well into real cold. In older homes with a boiler, most people use both: the mini-split handles mild and moderate days, and the boiler takes the bitterest stretches. If you don't have another heat source, tell your technician up front so the system is chosen and sized for winter heating, not just summer cooling.
What do the indoor units look like, and where do they go?
Most are slim wall units mounted high on an inside or outside wall, out of the way of furniture. Placement matters for comfort. Your technician will position each one so the air spreads across the room rather than blowing straight onto a bed or a couch, and route the line to the outdoor unit as neatly as the wall allows.
How do I keep a mini-split running well?
The indoor units have washable filters behind the front panel. Rinsing them about once a month when the system is working hard keeps the air moving and the coils clean. Outside, keep leaves, snow and shrubs clear of the outdoor unit. A spring and fall visit through our maintenance program covers the deeper cleaning and checks you can't do yourself.
More HVAC Contractor Services
Schedule a FREE In-home Estimate!
Schedule Appointment