October 28, 2024
A ductless mini-split heat pump is the ultimate home heating solution for houses without an existing network of air ducts. They’re known for their quiet efficiency and saving Californians money on energy costs. Energy Star estimates that ductless mini-split heat pumps use up to 60% less energy than standard home electric radiators.
Most Northern Californians use furnaces or heat pumps to keep their homes warm in the wet, chilly winters. Each type of system has pros and cons. If you’d like to discuss the best home heating method for your needs, the HVAC technicians at Service Champions are here to help.
Ductless mini-split heat pumps, also known as “mini-splits” or “zoned HVAC,” are a type of electric heating and cooling system that doesn’t rely on ducts to condition the air, but rather uses refrigerant to conduct heat into — or out of — the home.
Ductless systems are often the best solution for home add-ons and renovations that don’t have existing ductwork or in cases when installing a new duct system is impractical. In the warmer months, mini-splits can also cool your home, keeping families throughout Northern California comfortable year-round.
If you own a large home, you may also prefer the flexibility and convenience of ductless mini-splits. They provide more control over the temperature by only heating and cooling the rooms that are in use. Who knows? There may even be fewer family quarrels over who touched the thermostat.
There are two main components of a ductless mini-split system:
The indoor air handling unit: The indoor unit is usually suspended from the ceiling or mounted high on a wall, and its job is to send conditioned air directly into the living space.
The outdoor compressor/condenser: The outdoor portion of the mini-split looks like a box with a large fan. The fan pulls heat from the cold outdoor air and transfers it into the house using refrigerant.
The indoor unit is directly connected to the outdoor compressor via a refrigerant line, a power cable, suction tubing, and a condensate drain line. You can connect as many as four indoor air handling units to one outdoor unit. The multiple indoor units can be independently controlled, but they all use the same outdoor heat pump unit to either absorb or dispense heat.
How do mini-splits work? Like traditional heat pumps, ductless mini-splits connect an indoor air handling unit to an outdoor compressor/condenser. They remove heat from the outdoor environment using extremely cold refrigerant to absorb heat and transfer it indoors, which is essentially the same way an air conditioner works, but in reverse.
Because the refrigerant is even colder than the air outdoors and heat naturally flows from a warmer body to a colder body, heat is absorbed (2nd Law of Thermodynamics). Remarkably, a heat pump can absorb heat even when it is freezing outside (as low as -4 °F).
Rather than pumping heated air through ducts and vents in your home, we install one or more head units on an interior wall or in the ceiling. These units are connected to an outdoor piece that extracts heat from the air, even in cold weather, and brings it inside.
When you have multiple indoor air handling units, each unit is assigned to a specific area, zone, or room of your home. With the help of a qualified HVAC technician you can design the zones to create the most energy-efficient and convenient areas for your family. For example, if you spend most of the day on the first floor, you can save energy by keeping the other areas, like the garage, at a lower temperature to save energy.
The biggest advantages of ductless mini-split heat pumps over traditional HVAC systems are:
No ductwork: Allows for more flexible installation options.
Zone convenience: Individual room climates with a remote control allows for better convenience.
Quiet operation: Mini-spits operate at about 20 to 30 decibels or the volume of a loud whisper..
Low footprint: They’re small in size, and hookup only requires a three-inch hole in the wall for the conduit.
Efficient: Better energy efficiency saves money and is better for the environment.
Long lifespans: Some models can last up to 15 years with regular maintenance, leading to long-term money savings.
Visually appealing: Many have a sleek, modern look that blends in with most interior design schemes.
Dual function: They provide heating and cooling capabilities and improved indoor air quality.
Credits and rebates: You may be eligible for various tax credits, rebates, and other incentives for heat pump upgrades.
Consider the following when choosing to install a mini-split:
Higher upfront costs than some systems
Requires professional installation
Some people may not like the look of the indoor units
Maintenance and filter cleaning is required to keep your mini-split running efficiently
Finding a qualified HVAC contractor to install and service your mini-split system can be one of the greatest disadvantages. Luckily, if you live in Northern California, you have the mini-split experts at Service Champions.
Contact Service Champions for locally-based professional mini-split installation. We’ll help you find the right size system for your home. We offer helpful financing and MVP+ maintenance plans to make the process as stress-free as possible.
If you’re ready to install a mini-split in your new addition or want to speak to one of our technicians about the best heating solution for your home, contact us today or schedule your appointment using our online calendar.
The heat pump reverses its process to switch from heating to cooling, extracting heat from inside the home and sending it outside rather than moving heat inward from outdoors.
Inverter compressors use technology that tells the compressor in the mini-split to adjust speed based on the indoor temperature of your home. This allows your mini-split to deliver heat in smaller, more precise amounts.
The process is minimally invasive. The indoor unit is connected to the outdoor piece through a small hole in the wall. Installation and setup are quick, especially when you rely on professional Service Champions installers.