Multisplit

A multisplit system is a type of air conditioning or heat pump arrangement in which a single outdoor unit is connected to two or more indoor units via refrigerant piping, allowing independent temperature control in different rooms or zones. Unlike a conventional single-split system, where one outdoor unit serves one indoor unit, a multisplit shares the outdoor capacity among several indoor units.

Typical configurations include wall-mounted units, ceiling cassette units, floor-mounted units, or ducted air handlers. The outdoor unit may house one or more compressors, and many modern multisplits use inverter-driven compressors to modulate capacity and improve efficiency.

Indoor units communicate with a central controller or individual remotes, allowing each zone to set different temperatures. Because only the needed rooms are cooled or heated, multisplits can offer energy savings and reduce or eliminate the need for ductwork in some installations.

Benefits of multisplit systems include zoning flexibility, space-saving installation, and suitability for retrofits where expanding ducted systems is impractical. They can provide heating and cooling across multiple rooms from a single outdoor unit. Limitations include higher upfront cost per indoor unit, potential complexity in refrigerant piping, and constraints on maximum total capacity and compatibility between indoor units.

Applications typically include residential homes, apartments, small commercial spaces, and retrofit projects where ducted systems are undesirable or infeasible. Proper design and professional installation are important to ensure balanced cooling and heating, correct refrigerant charge, and compliance with local codes and standards.