Is a Ductless Mini Split Right for You?

December 12, 2016

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So, What Is a Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump?

Ductless heat and air conditioning pumps, or ductless mini split systems (DMS), have made quite a splash in the energy efficiency field as a better way for many people to heat and cool their homes. There's a lot of information out there on both the pros and cons of these units, and it can be a lot to sort through -- so we've put some info together to help you decide if a DMS unit is for you!

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How Do Ductless Mini Splits Work?
These units are usually comprised of an outdoor air compressor unit that cycles heat and/or cooled air to a wall or ceiling mounted unit inside your home. Some units have one "head," which is the indoor equipment attached to your wall, while other options can split into as many as four heads to spread the heat through your home. Often these unit can be operated with a remote control, so you don't even have to get up off the couch to change the temperature.

DMS units are the best of all heating and cooling worlds: they have the quick, responsive heating and cooling of forced hot air or central air conditioning and the quiet of electric baseboard heat. The key feature of these units, however, is that even though they act like central heating and air conditioning systems, they completely forego inefficient, dusty, intrusive, and high-maintenance ductwork. They run on electricity and are hyper-efficient, which makes them about 5.5x cheaper than traditional baseboard and can lower your oil consumption per year by hundreds of gallons.

Advantages of DMS:

Over 100% more efficient than a new standard central air unit and between 30% and 300% more efficient than standard heating systems
Easier on the environment, excellent alternative to fossil fuels to heat your home
A prime heating and cooling option for taking advantage of solar power
Gives your local power grid a break, helping reduce the need for additional sources like fossil fuels or nuclear power facilities
Can be operated with remote controls
With no dusty, high maintenance, inefficient ductwork, DMS cuts allergens and energy loss compared to traditional systems

Is a Ductless Mini Split Right For Your Home?
In most houses, mini splits are best for spot heating and conditioning. If you find yourself cranking the heat up at home to reach specific spots but end up too warm in other places, this may be a great option for you. DMS systems are also perfect for converting basements, attics, and sunrooms/three-season porches into conditioned space.

If you have an open floor plan, your home may be set up to utilize a single-zone DMS as a whole house heating option. In other home layouts, a multi-split can have up to 4 heads spread out throughout your home, which could fully replace an inefficient system to your benefit (so, can extend or replace your heating and conditioning system). An in-home consultation is the best option for assessing your needs based on the construction of your home.

What Does a Ductless Mini Split Cost?
DMS units are an investment, often costing between $4,000 and $20,000 depending on how many units you install. However, there are rebates and financing options readily available and they pay themselves off quickly if your heating costs were high to begin with.

The Long and Short of It:

Ductless heat pumps have two different model types which can be either spot-heating solutions in addition to your current system or a full replacement for your home heating and conditioning systems with a multi-split model.
They're an investment which pays off in savings after you install them.
Excellent for retrofitting and upgrading your heat system.
Require electricity to work. If your power goes out, you will need to rely on your newly demoted original heat source -- which means your furnace or boiler.
Super efficient, eco-friendly option.
By working with a Diamond Contractor from Mitsubishi like The Energy Store, your unit is under warranty for 10 years.

The Energy Store is providing installation services for mini splits right now. Whether you need to heat a room that's always cold or get a jump on installing air conditioning for this summer, call us at (888) 840-6641 or click here to set up a free consultation.

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