Mini-split vs extending ducts

Static pressure and lost air. We run the numbers.

Forty feet of flex in a hot attic can dump a third of the cooling. A head on the wall keeps it in the room.

A mini-split is the honest answer when ducts cannot reach an addition, ADU, or garage conversion cleanly.

Nobody can price mini split vs duct extension honestly from a photo of the outdoor unit. We say that on the phone.

We size the head to the room, check outdoor clearance and electrical, and estimate in-home for free. One oversized head short-cycles just like a bad central unit.

We map mini split vs duct extension to the actual failed part or design limit. Age of the system is a data point, not the diagnosis.

You approve any repair after the findings are written down. Diagnostic visits are a flat $69. New installation estimates are free in-home with a load calculation — not a number invented from square footage on Zillow.

Extending leaky ducts 40 feet through an attic is often worse comfort per dollar than a ductless head.

A company that skips testing on mini split vs duct extension will skip it on the next call too. We would rather lose a job than install the wrong thing.

Related service page on this site: ductwork installation. The article you are reading is the explanation; that page is how to book the work.

OTTER HVAC is based at 2939 Santos Ln, Walnut Creek. Clayton, Orinda, and Lafayette are regular routes, along with the rest of our listed East Bay cities. Hours are 7am–5pm, seven days a week. We do not advertise 24/7 because we do not staff a night shift.

Inland heat (Pleasanton, Livermore, Concord) and marine air (Alameda, Daly City) are different loads. A note written for Clayton is not automatically right for a fog-belt house. We treat them that way.

Category on this guide: Mini-splits. Primary search phrase: mini split vs duct extension.

Call (650) 900-0440 or book online. Tell us the city, the symptom in one sentence, and the brand if you know it. Bring the other company’s quote if you have one — we will test, not just undercut.

Technicians are EPA 608, OSHA, and NATE certified. Public reviews average 5.0 stars across roughly 146 Google and 151 Yelp reviews. That does not replace a test on your unit.

Related service: Ductwork Installation. Book a $69 diagnostic or a free install estimate. Hours: 7:00am–5:00pm, seven days a week. Shop: 2939 Santos Ln, Walnut Creek, CA 94597.

Related: All HVAC guides · Ductwork Installation · Pricing and $69 diagnostic · Contact OTTER HVAC

Call (650) 900-0440 · Book online · View pricing · HVAC FAQ