What a Ductless Mini Split Is
Updated September 2026
A ductless mini split is a heat pump with an outdoor condenser and one or more indoor air handlers, usually mounted high on a wall. A narrow line set of refrigerant pipes and a drain line runs through a small hole in the wall. There are no ducts, so you can add cooling and heat to a room, an addition, or a house that never had central air.
If you have only used window units or portable ACs, a mini split is quieter, more efficient, and does not block a window or drip water inside. Mini splits cool through brutal Central Texas summers and handle our mild winters without a furnace. Old West Minisplits posts the same flat installed prices from Austin north to Waco and Killeen and south to San Antonio.
How a mini split works in your house
The outdoor unit sits on a pad or a wall bracket. Each indoor unit blows air across a coil that is cold in summer and warm in winter, because the system is a heat pump. You set each indoor unit on its own, so a bedroom can run cooler than a living room. The only indoor hardware you see is the air handler and a small controller. Old West Minisplits installs new systems only, at posted flat prices.
Why homeowners without ducts look at them
Older Austin houses, garage conversions, and additions often have no ducts, or ducts that are costly to extend. A mini split skips that work. Window units and portable ACs are cheap up front but cool one room loudly, block a window, drip condensate, and are far less efficient. Ductless installs in Central Texas commonly run $3,000-$6,000 per zone on a custom quote. Most local HVAC contractors are quote-based and require an in-home sales visit.
What a Old West Minisplits flat-price install covers
Old West Minisplits posts flat installed prices: 1 zone $2,000, 2 zones $3,700, 3 zones $5,400. Equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup and a Home Depot run for touch-up paint are included. No trip fees or surprise add-ons. Honest exceptions are told up front, never after: a very long line set, a panel upgrade the house already needed, or unusually difficult mounting. Service is new installation only, same pricing along the I-35 corridor.
How we compare
| Factor | Old West Minisplits | The usual |
|---|---|---|
| Installed price | $2,000 for 1 zone, $3,700 for 2 zones, $5,400 for 3 zones, same from Austin to Waco, Killeen, and San Antonio | $3,000-$6,000 per zone on a custom quote |
| How you get a price | Flat prices are posted. Use the quote form. | Most local HVAC contractors are quote-based and require an in-home sales visit |
| What the price includes | Equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, and a Home Depot run for touch-up paint. No trip fees. | A custom quote that may not list every item until later |
| Heating in a Texas winter | Heat pump that handles mild winters without a furnace | Window units and portable ACs usually cool only |
| Exceptions and extras | A very long line set, a panel upgrade the house already needed, or unusually difficult mounting, told up front | Quote-based work that can add charges after the crew is on site |
Straight answers
What does one zone mean?
One indoor air handler covering a room or an open living area. A 1-zone install is $2,000. Two indoor units is $3,700. Three is $5,400.
Will a mini split heat as well as cool?
Yes. Mini splits are heat pumps. They cool through brutal Central Texas summers and handle our mild winters without a furnace.
Do I need ducts or a separate furnace?
No. The indoor units mount on the wall and the outdoor unit sits outside. That is the point of ductless.
How is this different from most local HVAC contractors?
Old West Minisplits posts flat prices instead of custom quotes and keeps the same pricing along the I-35 corridor. The work is new installation only. Use the quote form to get started.
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