Ductless Mini-Split Installation in Galveston, TX

A ductless mini-split is the right choice for a coastal home if you need to heat or cool a space that doesn't have ductwork, if your existing duct system is causing mold or moisture problems, or if you want to add climate control to a room that your central system can't reach. For many Galveston homeowners, mini-splits solve problems that no amount of duct repair or window unit shuffling can fix.

The Gulf Coast Case for Going Ductless

Galveston has a housing stock that makes ductless systems especially practical. Older island homes built in the early 1900s were designed for open windows and sea breezes, not central air. When AC was added later, ductwork was squeezed into attics, crawlspaces, and soffits where it was never meant to go. Those ducts sit in some of the hottest, most humid spaces in the house.

Here's the problem. In Galveston's climate, the temperature difference between the attic and the conditioned air inside the duct causes condensation on the outer duct surface. That moisture soaks through insulation, pools in low spots, and creates ideal conditions for mold. We've pulled duct insulation out of Galveston attics that was black with mold growth on the inside. The homeowner had no idea. They just knew their house smelled musty and their allergies were worse when the AC ran.

Mini-splits eliminate the duct entirely. Cooled or heated air goes directly from the wall-mounted unit into the room. No duct to sweat, no hidden mold, no energy lost to a 140°F attic.

Garage apartments, mother-in-law suites, enclosed porches, and room additions are the other common use case. Running ductwork from the main system to an addition is expensive, often impractical, and usually undersizes the existing system. A dedicated mini-split gives the added space its own independent climate control without affecting the rest of the house.

How a Mini-Split System Works

The setup is simple. An outdoor compressor/condenser unit connects to an indoor air handler through a small conduit — about 3 inches in diameter — that passes through an exterior wall. The conduit carries refrigerant lines, a condensate drain, and power wiring. That's it. No ductwork, no major construction.

The indoor unit mounts high on a wall and distributes conditioned air across the room. Each unit has its own remote control and thermostat. You can set it to cool, heat, dehumidify, or fan-only mode.

For homes that need multiple rooms covered, a single outdoor unit can connect to 2, 3, 4, or even 5 indoor units. Each one operates independently. Cool the bedroom to 68°F for sleeping while the living room sits at 74°F. Turn off the guest room entirely when nobody's using it. This zone control is one of the biggest advantages over central systems that cool the entire house to one temperature.

What Coastal Installation Requires

This is where Gulf Coast installation differs from what you'd get in Dallas or Austin. Standard mini-split equipment corrodes rapidly in salt air. Our installations include specific protections.

Corrosion-resistant outdoor units. We install units with factory-applied anti-corrosion coil coatings — Blue Fin or Gold Fin treatments that resist salt deposit buildup and make the coils easier to clean. For homes on the island or within a couple miles of the Gulf, this isn't optional. A standard uncoated outdoor unit on Galveston Island will show significant coil deterioration within 2-3 years.

Elevated mounting. Outdoor units go on raised brackets or stands, not sitting on the ground where storm water, lawn sprinkler splash, and sand accumulation accelerate corrosion. Elevated placement also improves airflow and makes maintenance access easier.

Marine-rated electrical. Disconnect boxes, wiring connections, and the conduit itself use materials rated for coastal exposure. Standard residential electrical components corrode in salt air and become failure points.

Sealed wall penetrations. The conduit hole through the exterior wall is sealed against wind-driven rain, which Galveston gets plenty of during hurricane season. A poorly sealed penetration lets water into the wall cavity and can cause rot and mold.

Cost Comparison: Mini-Split vs. Other Options

Here's how mini-split costs stack up against the alternatives for a typical single-room application in the Galveston area:

- Window unit: $300-$800 for the unit. Cheap upfront but inefficient, noisy, blocks the window, no heating capability, and they corrode fast in salt air. Most last 2-3 seasons on the island.
- Extending existing ductwork: $2,000-$5,000 depending on how far the run is and how accessible the route is. Often undersizes the existing system and adds more duct surface area for moisture problems. Not always physically possible in older homes.
- Mini-split (single zone): $3,000-$6,000 installed with coastal protection. Efficient, quiet, heats and cools, lasts 15+ years with proper maintenance, and doesn't stress the existing system or add ductwork.
- Mini-split (multi-zone, 2-4 rooms): $6,000-$14,000 installed depending on the number of zones and system capacity.

The mini-split costs more upfront than a window unit but pays back through efficiency. Mini-splits are rated at 20-25 SEER vs. 10-12 for window units. On a CenterPoint Energy residential rate, that efficiency difference saves $30-$60 per month per unit during the cooling season. Over 15 years of equipment life, the mini-split is the cheaper option by a wide margin.

Our $129 Tune-Up

We offer a $129 tune-up for existing mini-split systems (regular price $225). This covers refrigerant pressure check, coil cleaning on both indoor and outdoor units, condensate drain flush, electrical inspection, filter cleaning, and operational test. For coastal homes, we also inspect the outdoor unit for corrosion progression and clean salt deposits from the coils and cabinet. Regular maintenance keeps efficiency high and catches problems early.

Getting a Free Estimate

Every home is different. Room size, insulation quality, sun exposure, ceiling height, and distance from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit all affect what system and size you need. Our techs do a site visit, measure the space, evaluate mounting options for both indoor and outdoor units, and check your electrical panel for capacity. You get a written estimate with equipment specs, installation details, and total cost. No guessing, no surprises on installation day.

If you're dealing with a room your central system can't handle, a duct system that's causing moisture problems, or an addition that needs its own climate control, a mini-split is probably the answer. Reach out for a free estimate and we'll confirm whether it's the right fit for your home.