Ductless mini-splits in South Florida: when they're the right answer

What a mini-split is

An outdoor heat-pump unit connected by a small line set to one or more indoor units: wall-mounted heads, ceiling cassettes or concealed ducted units. Each indoor unit has its own control. No ductwork is needed, only a small hole through the wall for the lines and drain.

Where they win

• Additions and enclosed porches the central system was never sized for.
• Garage conversions, in-law suites and ADUs, where extending ducts is costly and inefficient.
• Historic homes (Coral Gables, parts of Miami and Fort Lauderdale) with plaster walls and nowhere to run ducts.
• The one room that's always hot, such as a west-facing bedroom or an office full of electronics.
• Workshops and garages where you want cooling without conditioning the whole house to match.

Where they fall short

• Replacing a working central system with good ducts: central is usually cheaper per ton and cools more evenly.
• Whole-house multi-zone systems: several heads on one outdoor unit get expensive, and one outdoor failure takes out every zone.
• Humidity in closed rooms: heads cool the room they're in. Closets and bathrooms without airflow can still get musty.
• Looks: wall heads are visible; concealed options cost more and need space.

South Florida specifics

Condensate drainage matters more here than anywhere: every head produces water, and a clogged head drain drips down the wall. Near the coast, look for outdoor units with coil coatings suited to salt air. And like any AC work, a mini-split install in Florida needs a permit and a state-licensed air-conditioning contractor.