Where a mini-split makes sense
Garage conversions, additions, sunrooms, and backyard studios usually don’t have ducts, and running new ones from the main system rarely works well. A bonus room over the garage or a back bedroom that never cools is another common case. A mini-split has a wall-mounted unit in the room, called a head, and an outdoor unit, joined by a small line carrying refrigerant, the fluid that moves heat. The room gets its own thermostat setting.
Single-zone and multi-zone systems
A single-zone system pairs one outdoor unit with one indoor head for one room. A multi-zone system uses one outdoor unit and several heads, so you can set each room on its own. It can cover a whole house with no ducts at all. We size the heads room by room using a load calculation, an estimate of how much heating and cooling each room needs, just as we size central systems.
How we install a mini-split
When possible, we mount the indoor head high on an outside wall so the line set, the refrigerant lines connecting the units, has a short path through the wall. We run the line set, drain, and wiring inside a cover on the outside wall, and set the outdoor unit on a pad or wall bracket. We pressure-test the lines with nitrogen and pull them into a vacuum before the system runs. Before we leave, we show you how to use the remote or wall controller.
Mini-split installation cost
Angi (updated April 2026) publishes a range of $2,000 to $5,000 for professional mini-split installation and a range of $4,800 to $18,000 for five-zone systems. Our cost guide puts mini-split prices beside central systems.
Licensing, rebates, and efficiency
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation treats a mini-split as a split AC system, so installing one for the public takes a state air conditioning contractor license. SEER2 measures cooling efficiency. Austin Energy’s rebate tiers cover mini-split ACs and heat pump mini-splits at the same SEER2 levels as central systems.
Mini-split questions
Do mini-splits heat as well as cool?
Yes. Most mini-splits are heat pumps that heat and cool your home. Cooling-only mini-splits are available too, and Austin Energy lists separate rebate tiers for heat pump and cooling-only models.
Can mini-splits cool a whole house?
Yes, a multi-zone mini-split system can cool a whole house with an indoor unit in each main room. That setup suits homes with no ducts or ducts too far gone to save.
Where does the outdoor unit go?
The outdoor unit goes on a pad on the ground or on a wall bracket, close to the room so the line run stays short. We’ll pick the spot with you at the visit.