How a Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump Works
3 pros!
A ductless heat pump delivers zoned heating and cooling in a unique way.
The wonder of technology never ceases. With the efficiency and ultra-comfort of the heat pump combined with the compact, install-it-anywhere ductless mini-split unit, manufacturers have achieved a milestone in home heating and cooling. More and more homeowners are choosing ductless mini-split heat pumps when replacing an old, outdated furnace or AC, or when transitioning from electric-resistance or boiler-based systems.
Benefits of ductless mini-splits
It used to be that the homeowner's sole option for heating and cooling consisted of installing a massive piece of HVAC equipment in the center of the home (usually in the basement), with large metal ducts meandering through the home's floors, ceilings and walls..
Ductless mini-splits don't need ducts to deliver conditioned air, nor do they need a large area dedicated to the equipment. Instead small, single ductless units install directly in the rooms in which they'll deliver air, connected via a 1-inch conduit that extends to the outdoor unit (which houses the compressor and fan) through a wall or floor.
One of the benefits owners of ductless mini-splits reap include zoned control over heating and cooling, because each individual room unit can be controlled via a remote device. You can enjoy higher temperatures in one area, while lowering the temperature — or turning off the device — in unoccupied rooms to save energy.
A ductless heat pump operates more efficiently, simply because it can bypass the use of ductwork, which contributes as much as a 20 to 30 percent loss of energy through cracks and uninsulated portions.
Some ductless systems function with as many as eight indoor units housing the evaporator and air handler that connect to a single outdoor unit, which gives homeowners lots of options and custom configurations for heating and cooling.
Advantages of a heat pump
It's possible to purchase a ductless mini-split that offers air conditioning only. Ductless heat pumps, however, deliver air conditioning and heating. That's because they function just like standard heat pumps, but in ductless mini-split form.
Along with the benefits of a mini split, the air-source heat pump portion of the system offers even more benefits, such as:
• Consistent temperature and air flow: A forced-air furnace emits strong blasts of heated air intermittently that's around 90 to 100 degrees. On the other hand, heat pumps release air that's hotter, between 120 and 125 degrees, but it's released continuously, so you won't feel those hot and cold blasts common to forced-air systems. The home's temperature remains more consistent, too.
• Runs efficiently: Air-source pumps move heat around, instead of generating heating and cooling from scratch, which generally requires more energy. In the winter, the heater will find energy in the outdoor air (as long as temperatures are above 30 degrees or so), and move it into the home. The system works in reverse during summer, ejecting heat found inside the home. Air-source pumps are economical because they consume one unit of energy (to power the pump that moves heat) to generate as much as three times the amount of conditioned air.
• Dehumidifies: Simply due to the fact that heat pumps run continuously at lower speeds, they dehumidify the home during summer better than a standard AC unit. Some models include a dry cycle, which allows the system to operate without running the AC and still achieve dehumidification.
Who should install ductless mini-split heat pumps?
Homeowners across the South, Southwest, Northwest and in portions of the West benefit most from installing ductless mini-split heat pumps, as they lose their efficiency in extremely cold temperatures. Talk to your local HVAC company about the costs to install the ductless mini-split. Prices vary depending on how many units you want to install in your home and their capacity.
Have you installed a ductless mini-split heat pump system? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below.