Thinking about how ductless air conditioners work? The short answer is that ductless ACs, also known as mini-split ACs, work the same way as central air conditioners do—the difference is that they’re just without the ducts. Like central air conditioners, ductless ACs produce cool air in a given space by sucking in warm air, absorbing the moisture and heat from that air, and then dumping the heat or moisture outside.