Ductless mini splits are some of the most popular climate control solutions for homeowners across the United States. When searching for a new mini split, MRCOOL and DuctlessAire will likely come up as some of the leading brands for these systems. To help you decide which brand is a better fit for you, dive into the differences between the two companies and their mini splits.
Brand Rundown: MRCOOL vs DuctlessAire
MRCOOL is a Kentucky based, American brand owned by the MRCOOL company. The company offers a wide range of air conditioning systems, but is best known for the DIY mini splits. Their systems feature their patented Quick Connect technology, which makes these the only true do-it-yourself mini splits on the market.
DuctlessAire is also an American brand. It is based in Columbia, South Carolina and owned by the Ductless Supply company. Unlike MRCOOL, DuctlessAire only offers mini split systems, although they must be installed by a professional.
Mini Split Zoning and Cooling Capacity
One of the most important steps to take when shopping for a new mini split system is matching the number of air handlers, and the system's total output capacity, to the number and size of the rooms you wish to cool and heat. Failing to do this correctly can lead to inadequate and inefficient temperature control in your home.
As a rule of thumb, the Department of Energy (DOE) recommends about 20 BTU per square foot of coverage area.
DuctlessAire
All DuctlessAire mini splits are designed for single-zone coverage, offering output capacities of 9K (450 ft 2), 12K (600 ft 2), 18K (900 ft 2), and 24K BTU (1,200 ft 2). The company does not offer multi-zone systems for covering more than one room.
MRCOOL
MRCOOL mini splits come in both single-zone and multi-zone variants. Single-zone systems come in 9K (450 ft 2), 12K (600 ft 2), 18K (900 ft 2), 24K (1,200 ft 2), and 36K BTU (1,500 ft 2) options. MRCOOL's multi-zone mini splits can cool up to five separate rooms and can reach a maximum output capacity of 51K BTU (2,125 ft 2).
One great advantage of the MRCOOL multi-zone mini splits is that you can mix and match the output capacity and mount type of your air handlers. In a four-zone system, for example, you can use a 9K BTU wall-mounted air handler, a 9K BTU ceiling cassette, an 18K BTU ceiling cassette, and a 12K BTU wall-mounted air handler all in the same system.
Which One is More Efficient?
Measuring Efficiency
Efficiency is one of the main differences between mini splits across brands. In the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry, the primary metric used to measure efficiency is the SEER / SEER2 rating.
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it represents the average cooling output, per Watt-Hour of electricity, over the course of an average cooling season. A higher SEER rating indicates a more efficient unit, which can save you money on electricity in the long term.
DuctlessAire
Unlike most manufacturers, DuctlessAire likes to categorize their mini splits by their efficiency, instead of the number of zones they cover. The brand offers three tiers of efficiency: Eco (which has a SEER of 13), Edge (which offers a SEER of 15), and Evolution (their most efficient tier with a SEER of 21). Although the mini splits in each category meet, or closely reach, the advertised SEER rating, DuctlessAire fails to offer systems with intermediary efficiency ratings, or systems exceeding 21 SEER.
MRCOOL
Compared to DuctlessAire, MRCOOL's mini splits start at a minimum efficiency rating of 16 SEER, with the majority meeting or exceeding a rating of 21 SEER. MRCOOL's most efficient systems reach a maximum SEER of 27, which is among the highest in the industry.
Get the Perfect Mini Split for You
With better coverage options and higher efficiency ratings, the MRCOOL mini splits are a clear winner in the battle between DuctlessAire and MRCOOL. For that reason, we pride ourselves in being authorized dealers for MRCOOL, providing customers with a broad selection of their top mini splits and central ducted systems.
If you are ready to dive into the industry's best mini split systems, then we invite you to shop our broad selection of products. If you need a custom designed system or if you're not sure which one is right for your, reach out to our team for help.
If you'd like to see our comparison of the MRCOOL and Mitsubishi mini splits, we recommend you give our other post a quick read.
