Guide to Mini-Splits vs. Heat Pumps

Are you shopping for a dependable, affordable home comfort system? If electricity is the ideal or only choice 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 year-round comfort. So, what’s it going to be — heat pump or mini-split? If you’re still trying to figure it out, get the details about each HVAC system to help you settle on a make and model. 

What Is a Heat Pump? 

A heat pump is a kind of central climate control system. As opposed to a furnace, which generates usable heat for the home by combusting 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 deposits it inside. Then, a built-in reversing valve allows it to complete this process backward in the summer, working the same as an air conditioner to transfer heat and humidity from indoor air and vent it outside. 

What Is a Mini-Split? 

A mini-split is designed on the same principle as a heat pump. In fact, it is a kind of heat pump — just without the ductwork. This is 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 portion links directly to an outdoor condensing unit from a small hole drilled into the wall. Multiple indoor units can link up with a single outdoor unit, providing whole-home comfort with no ductwork required. 

Making Your Decision 

Here are significant details to review when deciding between a heat pump and a mini-split for your Winnipeg home. 

Ductwork & Installation 

If your home is currently heated and cooled with a conventional furnace and AC unit, the needed ductwork infrastructure is already in place. So in this case, installing a heat pump is potentially the more practical choice. 

That being said, if you live in an older home or have added on to the home, you may not have ductwork accessible to use that space year-round. In this case, installing a mini-split is much less involved and costs far less than adding in the ductwork required for a heat pump. 

Unit Control 

Heat pumps are controlled very much like most other central heating and cooling systems: by setting a wall-mounted thermostat installed in a central location. Having said that, ductless mini-splits use a remote that lets you control each wall-mounted unit from anywhere in the room. 

Zoning 

If you’re satisfied with adjusting the temperature throughout the house using a single thermostat, zoning may not be worth the effort. But you can enhance home comfort and conserve energy by heating and cooling separate rooms individually. 

Such ‘zoned’ temperature control can be integrated into a central heat pump system by setting up multiple thermostats and ductwork dampers. But it may be simpler and more affordable to install mini-splits in rooms with precise temperature requirements, whether they’re heated and cooled by a central HVAC system or not. 

Design Adaptability 

Heat pumps don’t prioritize flexibility. Instead, they can replace your existing furnace and air conditioner and offer whole-house comfort thanks to a network of air ducts. 

Mini-splits have more choices for where you can put the unit. You can add one in a single room that you would otherwise find tough to keep comfortable. You can mount one in a modified garage or other home addition without extending the ductwork. You can also equip the entire home with a mini-split air handler in each room, all connected to the outdoor condensing unit for affordable operation. 

Energy Efficiency 

Today’s heat pumps are more efficient than ever. There are even cold-climate versions offered 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. The average home wastes more than 20% of the air passing through the ductwork to inadequate air sealing or a lack of insulation. This means that a mini-split is likely to provide the same quantity of hot or cold air at a lower cost. 

Appearance 

Heat pumps look pretty much the same as central air conditioners. The outdoor unit is nearly indistinguishable, and the indoor air handler is]] {hidden within a utility closet or somewhere in the basement. 

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

Schedule Heat Pump or Mini-Split Installation 

No matter which decision you make, Winnipeg Supply Service Experts can perform the professional installation you expect. Our technicians are ready to deliver excellent products and services supported by our one-year 100% satisfaction guarantee. To learn more about heat pumps vs. mini-splits or request an installation estimate, please contact your nearest Winnipeg Supply Service Experts office today.