As more homeowners across the U.S. are finding out about the benefits of ductless heating and air conditioning, a rapidly-growing number of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) companies are adding ductless technologies to their product offerings.
According to the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News, the ductless HVAC market now boasts an impressive double-digit year-after-year growth, as well as a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 14% between 2013 and 2020.
“It’s, without question, one of the fastest-growing segments in North American HVAC,” said Tom Lahutsky, senior product manager at Lennox Intl. Inc.
With no end in sight to the growth of ductless heating and cooling, this technology will undoubtedly be a major boon to the $71 billion HVAC industry in the U.S.
But what exactly is ductless heating and cooling — and why is it becoming so popular?
According to Care2.com, ductless systems deliver warm or cool air directly into different zones or rooms in a home, rather than routing the air through a network of ducts first.
Ductless heating and cooling systems are extremely energy-efficient, saving as much as 30% each month in household energy bills. Additionally, they are easy to install and don’t require invasive work within a home’s structure. Because ductless systems quickly pay for themselves in energy savings, homeowners are flocking to these heating and cooling products.
This form of HVAC technology is highly versatile, performing well in both residential and commercial environments. And as more manufacturers begin to produce ductless products, these HVAC systems will soon come equipped with advanced features like WiFi smart controls, improved low ambient operation and more attractive aesthetic value, the ACHR News reports.
Given the massive growth it has displayed since its introduction into the HVAC market, it’s clear that ductless technologies are more than just a fluke — they’re here to stay.
“Originally, many of the unitary brands sort of saw ductless as a fluke — that it wouldn’t continue,” said John Clements, director of ductless products at Daikin Industries Ltd. “Now, they believe ductless growth is here to stay, both for add-ons for traditional homes, especially as efficiency standards and building codes change in its favor.”