Ductless mini splits in Santa Monica
Cooling and heating room by room, for apartments, condos and houses without ducts.
Most of Santa Monica lives in apartments and condos, and many of those buildings were never built for central air.
Apartments and condos make up most of the city, with single-family streets mainly North of Montana and in Sunset Park. A ductless mini split fits that stock well: an indoor head on the wall, a small hole through it, and an outdoor unit that can serve several rooms. Each room gets its own control.
Where the outdoor unit goes
This is the part that needs planning in Santa Monica. Exterior work on anything other than a single-family property needs Architectural Review Board approval, and mechanical equipment has to meet the city's setback and screening standards. On an apartment building that often means a roof spot or a screened side yard rather than a balcony. We work out the location before we quote, so the price includes what the review asks for.
Where ductless fits
Apartments and condos
Units with a wall heater and a window unit, or nothing at all.
The room central air misses
A converted garage, a top-floor bedroom or a home office.
Heating too
Every mini split is a heat pump, so it replaces an old wall heater as well.
Clean electricity
Since 2019 the city's default supply is Clean Power Alliance, 100% renewable by default.
Tenant-occupied buildings
If the building has tenants, the city requires an approved Means and Methods Plan before it issues the permit. We prepare it with the owner, so tenants know when we will be in each unit and how the work is done. For a whole house with ducts, compare a central heat pump or central AC.
How we plan a ductless system
Walk the rooms
Which rooms need cooling and heat, the wall space and the outdoor spot.
Layout and quote
Heads, outdoor unit location, review needs, permit and price.
Install
Heads mounted, line sets sealed and covered, vacuum pulled, system charged and tested.
Care
Filters rinsed every few weeks in use and a yearly service. If a head stops cooling, our repair team handles it.
Ductless questions from Santa Monica
Does a mini split on a Santa Monica apartment building need design review?
Exterior work on anything other than a single-family property needs Architectural Review Board approval, and the outdoor unit must meet setback and screening standards.
Can a mini split go in while tenants live in the building?
Yes, once the city has approved a Means and Methods Plan for the work, which it requires before issuing the permit on a tenant-occupied building.
How many indoor heads will a Santa Monica apartment need?
Usually one per room you want to control separately; an open living and dining room can often share one.
Thinking about ductless for an apartment or building? We will lay it out for you.
Comfort without ducts
Call us, or send the form and we will call you back, every day, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Also look at Home.