As a user experience designer at Sylvane, I normally do not get the opportunity to interact with the products we sell. My job is to make our website easy-to-use for customers like you!
I recently traveled back to my home state of Mississippi to ask my dad why he decided to buy a mini-split for their den. He was gracious enough to let me film his mini-split review and answer some questions about his purchases. I say “purchases” because he ended up buying two mini-split systems from us!
You can watch the video below to find out why he chose a ductless AC vs. central air:
When my parents built the den in 2006, they owned a window air conditioner and portable space heater to keep the den comfortable throughout the year. Unfortunately, I could not find a photo of what the room looked like when we first built it. Fast forward and my dad recently decided to get a Friedrich Ductless Mini-Split system and remove the window air conditioner.
After the system was installed, my dad called me praising the new unit. He loved how it provided heating and cooling for year-round comfort, energy efficiency, an automatic mode and how it was super quiet. They didn’t have the space for additional ductwork that is required for central air in the den so a mini-split was the best option.
How It Fits Outdoors
I'm sure you are wondering how this unit comes together outdoors. My parents had previously created a beautiful rock garden to the side of their add-on. The outdoor condenser unit fit quite nicely and did not take away from the beauty of that space. And just like the indoor blower unit, the outdoor unit was quiet, too!
When I recorded video for this blog post, I walked around the den to record the unit running in the background for the Sylvane team. The sounds of nature and my footsteps walking in the grass was actually the loudest part of the video. In fact, I had to go back inside to check to see if the blower was "on" because I could barely hear it running!
Personal Observations
Of course, I made my personal observations when I first saw the unit in action...
Impression 1: Wow, that ductless mini-split can move some air! What do you mean? I can explain! The room is about 308 sq. ft. (14’ L x 22’ W) and the couch is across the room at the widest part. When I sat at the couch, I could feel a gentle breeze from my ankles to my head thanks to the air sweep function.
Impression 2: The remote had every feature/function that you could imagine without leaving your seat. You can adjust the temperature, timer, air flow direction, and start/stop the unit. Ideal for binge-watching your favorite TV show and not leaving the couch.
Impression 3: Did I mention it was quiet? I would never knock a window air conditioner because it does have its benefits. Sometimes the best napping occurs when you can hear a window AC purring in the background. However, it was nice to watch television on a normal volume while the air conditioner was running; a luxury that we had never experienced while owning a window AC.
What the heck is a “she-shed”?
When my dad told me that he wanted to build my mom a “she-shed,” I thought to myself “what the heck is a ‘she-shed’?” I had to do my research and started with Pinterest. If you search for “she-shed,” you will see a lot of pins about creative spaces dedicated to relaxing. One pin described a “she-shed” as follows: “These glamorous and zen hang out spots are the best thing to come along since the man-cave made it’s debut.”
Mom wants to use her quiet retreat for hobbies such as reading, gardening, crafting and painting. Basically anything that helps her unwind and makes her smile! And a “she-shed” will be the perfect getaway after a long day teaching 1st graders.
Of course, my dad was thinking about the design of the building and how to keep it comfortable year-round. It didn’t make sense to heat and cool the space with central air because that would be costly and involve ductwork. And with only 144 sq. ft., it didn’t make sense to use any floor space. Therefore, my dad decided to buy another ductless mini-split system from us!
I couldn’t be happier that Sylvane was able to provide so many options for my family’s heating and cooling needs. Our family den has a beautiful unit that keeps us comfortable no matter the season, which is important because that is the heart of our home.
Note: If you would like to learn more about the mini-split my dad bought, you can check out the Friedrich 12,000 BTU Mini-Split Heat Pump. Friedrich has a lot of other sizes available too!
