How a Single Mini-Split Cassette Can Cool Your Home and Save You Thousands
When most homeowners think about adding a cooling system to their home, the first instinct is a traditional AC system with a condenser outside, and a coil that sits on the furnace or air handler. But in many cases—especially in older homes or when trying to avoid a full HVAC overhaul—a traditional air conditioner may not be the most practical or cost-effective solution.
Here’s how a well-placed mini-split cassette system can cool an entire floor, save you thousands, and help you get more life out of an aging furnace—all while keeping your monthly energy bills surprisingly low.
The Traditional AC Route: What It Involves
Installing a conventional central AC system, where there wasn’t one before, involves:
- New dedicated electrical run
- Rerfrigerant lines run from your furnace to the exterior
- Modifications to existing ductwork (which may not be ideal in older homes)
- Compatibility checks with your furnace or air handler
If your furnace is older, it may not make sense to install a new AC coil on top of it—because if the furnace fails soon after, you’re likely replacing both anyway.
Cost for this full install? Anywhere from $7,000 to $12,000 or more, depending on home size, ductwork condition, and equipment quality.
The Mini-Split Alternative: One Cassette, One Floor, One Smart Choice
A mini-split system—offers a sleek, quiet, and highly efficient way to cool your home without disrupting your existing HVAC system. With proper sizing and placement, a single 2-ton mini-split cassette can effectively cool an entire floor of a well-insulated home.
Benefits include:
- No ductwork required
- Quick installation (often in a day)
- Preserves your existing furnace and duct system
- Targeted cooling in the areas you actually use most
Keep Your Old Furnace Running—Just a Bit Longer
One of the smartest reasons to install a mini-split instead of replacing your central AC is furnace age. If your furnace is 15–20+ years old but still technically operational, it might not be wise to invest in an AC system that ties directly into it.
Installing a ducted system now could force a furnace replacement prematurely, just to keep everything compatible.
A mini-split? It’s independent—you can cool without worrying about your furnace at all. And when the time comes to replace the furnace, you’ll have more options and less pressure.
What About Operating Costs?
Let’s break it down with a 2-ton, 19 SEER mini-split system:
- Cooling capacity: 24,000 BTU/hour
- Use: 6 hours/day, 120 days/year
- Total seasonal usage: 909.5 kWh
- At $0.14 per kWh (national average): $127.33 per summer
Monthly cost? About $31.83.
So yes, you can keep an entire floor cool for just around $30/month in added electricity.
Cost of Installation
Most high-quality 2-ton mini-split systems with installation run between $5,000 – $6000, depending on the layout and brand. That’s up to half the cost of a full central AC installation—with better control and lower operating costs.
When a Mini-Split Makes the Most Sense
- You only use part of the house regularly
- Your ductwork is aging or hard to access
- Your furnace is still functional but older
- You want to delay a full HVAC replacement
- You’re looking for zoned comfort or cooling in a home office, addition, or upper floor
Final Thoughts
Mini-split systems aren’t for every situation—but in many homes, especially those with aging furnaces or spotty ductwork, they offer a flexible, affordable, and highly efficient cooling option. A single cassette can quietly and effectively cool an entire floor for less than $35 a month, saving you money upfront and over time.
If you’re not sure whether your house is a good fit, a quick consultation and a few measurements can give you a clear answer—without the pressure of replacing your whole system right now.
Premier Mechanical – www.claimyourcomfort.com – 720.207.6812