Air Conditioning & Heating Service.Air Conditioning & Heating Service.A ductless mini-split for a Ferndale bungalow usually costs $3,500 to $8,500 installed, set by zone count and unit efficiency. Motor City Comfort handles the full install, common for the low-rise older homes off Nine Mile and the Livernois corridor. Exact price confirmed on-site.
| System configuration | Typical installed range |
|---|---|
| Single-zone (one room / main floor) | $3,500 – $5,000 |
| Two-zone (living area + bedroom) | $5,000 – $7,000 |
| Three-zone (add upstairs half-story) | $6,500 – $8,500 |
| High-efficiency inverter upgrade | +$800 – $1,800 |
| Minimum service charge | $150 |
Ductless mini-split installed price ranges for a Ferndale bungalow
Zone count is the biggest cost factor for a ductless mini-split. Each indoor head added to the outdoor condenser raises the installed price by roughly $1,500 to $2,500. A Ferndale bungalow with an open main floor often needs only one head, while a home with closed-off bedrooms or a finished attic needs two or three. The outdoor unit is sized to the combined load of all connected heads.
The installed price covers the outdoor condenser, indoor heads, refrigerant line sets, wall mounting, condensate drainage, and a dedicated 208/240V electrical circuit. Longer line-set runs and second-story head placement add labor. A mini-split needs no ductwork, which is why it suits older bungalows that were never built for central air. The work is done for the homeowner start to finish.
Higher SEER2 inverter systems cost $800 to $1,800 more than base models. Inverter compressors modulate output instead of cycling on and off, which lowers electricity use during long Ferndale summer stretches. For a small bungalow footprint, a mid-range efficiency unit is often the practical balance between upfront cost and monthly savings.
Many Ferndale bungalows built before 1950 have plaster walls, tight joist bays, and no return-air ducting. Retrofitting central air into these homes is invasive and expensive. A ductless mini-split mounts to an exterior wall and needs only a three-inch penetration for the line set, making it a common choice across the Lower West Side and Woodward Heights.
Ferndale's housing stock is dense with 1920s–1940s bungalows and one-and-a-half-story homes, especially through the Lower West Side, Upper West Side, and Wanda-Vester area. These homes rarely have existing ductwork, so ductless mini-splits are widely installed here. Lots are narrow, which means the outdoor condenser often sits in a tight side yard between neighboring homes — a placement condition that affects line-set length and pricing. Homes near the Nine Mile District and Downtown Ferndale sometimes have finished attic half-stories that justify a second zone. Ferndale requires a mechanical permit for HVAC installation, and the electrical circuit for the condenser must meet current code. Exact price for your bungalow is confirmed on a free on-site visit.
A single-zone ductless mini-split install is usually completed in one day; a multi-zone system may take one to two days depending on line-set routing.
Most modern mini-splits are heat pumps that provide both cooling and heating, though supplemental heat is often kept for the coldest Michigan stretches.
Central air in an older bungalow without ductwork runs higher than a mini-split once duct installation is added; a free on-site visit compares both options.
Yes, Ferndale requires a mechanical permit for mini-split installation, and the electrical hookup must meet current code.