Guide to Mini-Splits vs. Heat Pumps

Are you shopping for a dependable, affordable home comfort system? If electricity is the ideal or only option available to you, a central heat pump or ductless mini-split could be a convenient option. Both systems run on electric power and run in heating and cooling modes for 365 days of comfort. So, have you made your choice? If you’re still trying to decide, get the details about each HVAC system to help you determine the right fit.

What Is a Heat Pump?

A heat pump is a type of central climate control system. Different from a furnace, which creates usable heat for the home by igniting a fuel source, a heat pump moves heat from one place to another. In the winter, it pulls out heat energy from the air outside and redirects it inside. Then, a built-in reversing valve will allow it to operate backward in the summer, working the same as an air conditioner to pull heat and humidity from indoor air and vent it outside.

What Is a Mini-Split?

A mini-split works on the same principle as a heat pump. In fact, it is a kind of heat pump — minus the ductwork. That’s why it’s called a “ductless” system. A mini-split could be a ceiling- or wall-mounted unit with a built-in air handler. This indoor component links directly to an outdoor condensing unit through a small hole drilled into the wall. Various indoor units can link up with a single outdoor unit, providing whole-home comfort with no ductwork necessary.

Making Your Choice

Below are key points to consider when choosing between a heat pump and a mini-split for your the U.S. home.

Ductwork & Installation

If your home is currently heated and cooled with a standard furnace and air conditioner, the needed ductwork infrastructure is already in place. Therefore, installing a heat pump is potentially the more cost-effective choice.

On the other hand, if you live in an older home or have just completed a renovation, you might not have ductwork accessible to use that space year-round. In this case, adding a mini-split is much less complicated and is more affordable than adding in the ductwork required for a heat pump.

Unit Control

Heat pumps are managed the same as most other central heating and cooling systems: by adjusting a wall-mounted thermostat installed in a central location. On the other hand, ductless mini-splits have a remote that lets you control each wall-mounted unit from anywhere in the room.

Zoning

If you’re content with adjusting the temperature throughout the house using a single thermostat, zoning may not be necessary. If it is, you can increase home comfort and reduce wasted energy by heating and cooling separate rooms individually.

Such ‘zoned’ temperature control can be integrated into a central heat pump system by installing multiple thermostats and ductwork dampers. But it may be more straightforward and more cost-effective to install mini-splits in rooms with distinct temperature needs, whether they’re heated and cooled by a central HVAC system or not.

Design Adaptability

Heat pumps don’t focus on flexibility. Instead, they can replace your existing furnace and air conditioner and offer whole-house comfort with help from a network of air ducts.

Mini-splits have more choices for where you can put the unit. Homeowners can place one in a single room that you would otherwise find difficult to keep comfortable. You could mount one in a transformed garage or sunroom without extending the ductwork. You can also equip the entire home with a mini-split air handler in each room, all hooked up to the outdoor condensing unit for affordable operation.

Energy Efficiency

New heat pumps are more efficient than ever. There are even cold-climate versions available for a performance boost at low temperatures.

Even so, ductless mini-splits are usually more efficient because they don’t suffer the energy losses connected with leaky ductwork. A typical home squanders more than 20% of the air passing through the ductwork to spotty air sealing or a lack of insulation. This means that a mini-split is more likely to offer the same quantity of hot or cold air at a lower cost.

Appearance

Heat pumps look similar to central AC units. The outdoor cabinet is nearly indistinguishable, and the indoor air handler is]] {hidden within a utility closet or place in the basement.

By comparison, mini-splits are easier to spot. The air handlers come in sleek jackets designed to be inconspicuous, but they are clearly visible in any room in which they are mounted on the wall or ceiling.

Schedule Heat Pump or Mini-Split Installation

No matter which decision you make, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can accomplish the professional installation you are expecting. Our technicians are ready to provide excellent products and services supported by our one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee. To ask more questions about heat pumps vs. mini-splits or request an installation estimate, please contact your nearby Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing office today.

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