Using Ductless As A Supplemental Heat Source
Heating is a necessity for many homes and buildings during the cold winter months. To combat the discomfort, many homeowners use a central heating system, which can be expensive to run. This is particularly true for homes that have rooms that are not in use. As a result, many homeowners have found that using supplemental ductless heating can provide the comfort they require in an efficient manner. Ductless systems are becoming the preferred choice for many residential and commercial uses due to their efficiency and convenience. Is this the right option for you?
Supplemental Ductless Heating: Is This A Good Option For You?
Contents
In this article, we discuss what a ductless heat pump is and why it may be a good fit for your home heating needs.
What Is A Ductless Heat Pump?
A ductless or mini-split system is composed of two main components: the outdoor condenser or compressor and the indoor air handler. These components are connected via a conduit, which also contains the refrigerant and suction tubing, the condensate drain, and the power cable.
A ductless system is one of the best options for adding supplemental heat because it is well-suited as a retrofit add-on for heating systems without ductwork. Ductless heat pumps are also excellent for use in room extensions and additions, along with other areas of a home or building where getting ductwork installed is not possible.
For homes that do have ductwork, ductless units are also a good option. Every room in the home is heated due to the design of central heating systems. Shutting vents to unused rooms creates a pressure imbalance that only leads to further wear and tear and higher energy costs. Therefore, homeowners are only left with the choice of heating the entire home. With a ductless heat pump, homeowners can reduce the temperature of their central unit and install a ductless mini-split in rooms/areas that are more frequently used. This gives them the option to reduce their energy costs while improving their comfort.
Energy Efficiency Of Ductless Mini-Splits
One of the main concerns of home and business owners when considering the installation of a heating system is the cost of operation. This is especially true in regions that experience colder weather. Fortunately, ductless heat pumps have plenty to offer when it comes to high-efficiency heating and cooling.
Benefits Of Using A Ductless Heat Pump For Supplemental Heat
There are several advantages that a ductless heat pump can offer should you decide to use it as a source of supplemental heat. These include:
Customized Comfort
With the zoning capabilities mentioned above, a ductless heat pump system can be programmed to heat certain rooms in a home at specific temperatures, depending on where you install a ductless indoor air handler. When everyone is downstairs, for example, you can set the temperature of your ductless unit at a higher setting than the upstairs rooms. If you have one bedroom that is primarily used, you can lower the temperature of your central unit and run your ductless heat pump instead. As a result, you won’t have to constantly run your central unit and pay to heat the entire home. You can primarily rely on your ductless system in one specific room or zone.
Reduced Energy Cost
High-efficiency heat pumps save on the cost of energy because they do not only maximize the energy they consume but also provide heating/cooling more effectively. The lack of ductwork in mini-splits ensures that they can deliver warm/cool air more effectively and without the problems associated with the use of ducts.
Mini-Splits Do Not Require Ductwork
A network of ducts is necessary for central air systems but not with mini-splits. This feature allows a ductless system to deliver conditioned air directly to the rooms/zones. Many homeowners may not realize it but ducts actually reduce the efficiency of air systems because they do develop cracks, holes, and gaps over time, causing air to leak. This wastes a good amount of energy. With mini-splits, this is not an issue.
HVAC Zoning
Ductless mini-splits have zoning capabilities. With zoning, it is possible to divide a home into several zones, each zone with its unique temperature setting. The kitchen, for example, can be assigned as a single zone where the temperature is set at a lower setting since this area is typically warmer due to the presence of stoves and other cooking devices. The bedrooms, on the other hand, can be set at a higher temperature to keep them warmer.
Zones are excellent for ensuring that all heating and cooling needs are met, regardless of the number of people present. This is a highly useful feature to use for homes with multiple stories or with larger buildings.
All-Year-Round Comfort
An AC system, no matter how efficient, can only provide comfort during the summer months while a furnace that generates warmth during the winter cannot provide comfort in summer. A ductless heat pump, on the other hand, has the potential to keep your home comfortable regardless of the season. In summer, you can turn on the cooling feature. In winter, simply switch the system to heat mode. This implies that ductless units can serve as a supplement heating or cooling source throughout the year.
Increased Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a concern for all homes and buildings. With excessive dust, too high/too low humidity, and insufficient ventilation, indoor comfort can be compromised. All these issues can reduce the efficiency of any heating and cooling system. Ductless heat pumps, however, are built with features, such as advanced filtration systems, that help reduce the effects of these issues. These systems often come with dehumidification systems and high-efficiency air filters to promote better air quality.
High Energy Efficiency
The best heat pumps are those that have a high HSPF or heating season performance factor. Heat pumps typically have higher HSPF ratings, with some ranging from 8 to 10. Ductless units have some of the best HSPF ratings on the market. They also have a higher SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating), which measures their cooling efficiency. Any heat pump unit that has a minimum HSPF rating of 8.2 and a SEER rating of at least 14.5 receives an Energy Star mark from the U.S. EPA. Units with these ratings are considered the best-performing heat pumps in the market. Most ductless models come with the highest HSPF and SEER ratings, making them Energy Star qualified.
To add, due to the efficiency of ductless mini-splits, many homeowners are using them to supplement their central heating and cooling systems. Many find that ductless units are far more efficient than their older, central HVAC units. Therefore, they use their ductless units as their primary source of comfort during extreme outdoor temperatures.
Using Ductless As A Supplemental Heat Source
In homes and structures where certain parts of the building are not accessible to conventional sources of heat and cooled air, a ductless system can be installed as a supplemental source of heat. This ensures that all areas of the building that requires heating/cooling are covered. As such, comfort is assured regardless of where you might be at any moment. This adaptability and capability to generate heated or cooled air independent of a central system makes ductless heat pumps the best choice for structures that conventional systems cannot service. These include standalone sheds, garages, attics, additions, and basements.
Call McAllister Energy To Learn More About Ductless HVAC Systems
McAllister Energy provides the best cooling and heating services in the area. Our team consists of experienced certified technicians who can assist you with first-rate HVAC installations, repairs, tune-ups, and replacements. All of our technicians have years of experience and advanced knowledge to provide proper HVAC service.
McAllister Energy offers very competitive rates for HVAC services in the area. We can recommend the best HVAC replacement systems for you while staying within your budget. Our top priorities are comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency, to name a few. Get in touch with McAllister Energy today for your free in-house estimate or to schedule an appointment.
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