Mini-split installs for New Orleans additions, attics and shotgun homes
A mini-split cools one room or several without a single foot of ductwork. It is the cleanest answer for additions, converted attics and older homes where ducts would mean tearing into plaster.
Answered 24/7Mid-City service officeSlidell head officeEvery major brand
A ductless mini-split in New Orleans needs only a three-inch wall opening for the line set, and a single-zone install usually takes one day. Each indoor head has its own thermostat, so rooms that the central system never reached finally cool, and in historic districts the outdoor unit placement is planned around preservation review.
Where a mini-split beats extending the ducts
Updated September 2026
Extending central air into a converted attic or a rear addition usually means a longer duct run from an air handler that was already working hard. The new room gets the weakest airflow in the house. A mini-split gives that space its own system, sized for its heat load, controlled separately.
In older homes the case is stronger. Plaster walls, tall ceilings and no attic path make ducts disruptive and expensive, while a mini-split head mounts high on a wall and connects to the outdoor unit through one small opening.
What sets the price of a mini-split installation
We quote ductless jobs after seeing the space; these are the factors that move the number.
Number of zones
Each indoor head adds equipment, line set and labor.
Capacity
Heads and outdoor units are sized to each room's load.
Line-set route
An interior or crawl-space route takes longer than a short outside run.
Head style
Wall heads cost least; ceiling cassettes and ducted mini units cost more.
Electrical
A new circuit and disconnect are usually required.
Outdoor placement
Stands, brackets and screening in historic districts add materials.
What comes with every ductless install
- Load check for each room served
- Dedicated circuit and outdoor disconnect
- Insulated copper line set, sealed at the wall
- Condensate drain routed away from the house
- Vacuum test before refrigerant release
- Outdoor pad, stand or wall bracket
- Remote and schedule setup
Mini-split or extending central air
| Single-zone mini-split | Multi-zone mini-split | Extend central ducts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | One room or addition | Whole older home | Room close to the air handler |
| Ductwork | None | None | New runs needed |
| Room control | Its own thermostat | One per head | Shares the house thermostat |
| Install time | About a day | Two to three days | Varies with access |
Single-Zone Mini-Split
One outdoor unit, one indoor head. This is the setup for a single room: a bonus room over the garage, a sunroom, a home office or a bedroom that runs ten degrees warmer than the rest of the house. We size the unit to the room's actual load, which matters here because an oversized head cools fast, shuts off and leaves the air damp. Most single-zone installs are finished in a day, including the line set, electrical disconnect and condensate drain.
Multi-Zone Mini-Split
One outdoor unit can run two to five indoor heads, each on its own thermostat. It suits a whole shotgun or cottage that never had central air, or a second floor the main system cannot keep up with. The tradeoff is that every head shares one compressor, so sizing and head placement need more care. We plan the line-set routes, the condensate path from each head and the outdoor location before quoting, and a multi-zone job typically takes two to three days.
Garage and Addition Cooling
Garages, workshops and rear additions are the spaces central systems handle worst: poor insulation, a big door or a long distance from the air handler. A ductless unit handles them independently, so the rest of the house is not paying for it. For a garage we check insulation and the door seal first, because a mini-split in an uninsulated metal-door garage will run constantly. We tell you honestly when a little insulation work will do more than a bigger unit.
Mini-splits in historic homes
In the historic districts, wall-mounted condensers and exposed conduit on a visible facade go past preservation review, and staff have pushed back on mini-split line sets running up the side of houses in St. Roch and Treme. We route line sets through the interior or the rear where we can. On the raised pier homes common along Esplanade Ridge, the crawl space often gives a hidden path from the outdoor unit to the rooms above.
Brands we service and install
We repair and install Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, Ruud and the other major lines, plus Mitsubishi Electric ductless.
How a mini-split installation runs
- 1
Room-by-room load check
We measure each space, its windows and insulation.
- 2
Placement plan
Head locations, line-set route, drain path and outdoor unit agreed with you.
- 3
Electrical and mounting
Circuit, disconnect, wall bracket and outdoor pad or stand set.
- 4
Line set and drain
Copper run, insulated and sealed; condensate routed to drain away.
- 5
Evacuate and charge
Vacuum pulled and held, refrigerant released and verified.
- 6
Setup and handoff
Remote, schedules and filter cleaning shown.
Questions about Ductless Mini-Split Installation in New Orleans
About three inches through the wall for the line set, drain and wire, sealed and covered after install.
Yes. A multi-zone outdoor unit runs two to five heads, each with its own thermostat.
Yes. They are heat pumps and heat efficiently through a New Orleans winter.
Yes, when sized correctly. An oversized head short cycles and leaves the room damp, which is why we size to the room.
Yes, but visible exterior equipment and conduit go through review. We plan placement to keep them out of view.
One day for a single zone; two to three days for multi-zone systems.
Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, Carrier and several others. We recommend based on the space and parts support.
Every month or two during cooling season. They slide out of the head and rinse in a sink.
More ductless & ductwork we handle in New Orleans
Ductwork Repair & Sealing
Leaky duct joints, crushed flex duct and more.
Our ductwork repair & sealing serviceDuctwork Replacement & New Duct Installation
Full duct replacement, adding supply runs and more.
Ductwork Replacement & New Duct Installation in New OrleansA room the AC never reaches?
Call and we will size a mini-split for it and plan a clean install.
Browse every service