Getting The Square Footage
Weve tackled sizing a mini split. Now its time to size up the space. While BTU ratings are straightforward, calculating the room size is more complicated. Since rooms come in all shapes and sizes, heres how to determine the square footage:
Square and rectangular spaces:
- Multiple the length by the width
Triangular spaces:
- Multiply the length by the width, then divide by two
Non-standard linear spaces:
- Divide the room into squares, rectangles or triangles as applicable
- Determine the size of each subplot, then add everything together
Circular spaces:
If you happen to have an oval office, dont worry theres a formula for that too.
- Measure the diameter
- Divide it by two
- Multiply the result by
Gree Multi 21+ # Multi36hp230v1co Quad Zone 36000 Btu
Gree, the worlds largest air conditioning manufacturer, isnt as well-known in North America as other brands, but this 36,000 BTU quad zone unit is dependable, efficient, and well-priced.
Installed Cost: $8,500 $12,500.
Efficiency: 21 SEER, 12.5 EER, 11.5 HSPF
BTUs/Coverage: 36,000 BTUs / 1,100 1,700 sq. ft.
Top Features: This unit includes remote and wired control options, multiple fan speeds, a self-diagnosis function, washable air filters, and an operating range of -5°F to 118°F. Choose from 5 styles of air handlers.
Pros and Cons: Grees G 10 inverter technology provides enhanced system performance, low power consumption, low noise, and precise temperature control. Gree offers a 10-year warranty on parts and compressor if purchased and installed by a certified Gree Dealer, otherwise the warranty becomes 5 years on parts and compressor.
Best ROI: Gree is known for making dependable mini split heat pumps, and you will get the best return on this unit in a warm climate.
Why It Made the List: This is a quality, efficient unit representing a good value at a fair price.
Fujitsu provides exceptional reliability and efficiencies in this five-zone 45,000 BTU system.
Installed Cost: $11,500 $14,500.
Efficiency: 19.7 SEER, 10.5 EER, 10.3 HSPF
BTUs/Coverage: 45,000 BTU Cooling, 48,000 BTU heating / 1,800 2,350 sq. ft.
Best ROI: This system can efficiently heat and cool in all but the coldest climates.
Installed Cost: $10,500 $13,500.
Installed Cost: $13,500 $18,500.
What’s The Ideal Situation For Ductless
Depending on your homes construction, ductless systems can make sense in a variety of applications, including whole-house heating and cooling. But there are certain situations where ductless has a clear advantage:
New additions: garage apartments, bonus rooms, sunrooms. And man caves, Bowman adds. If you smoke cigars in there, you wont be sharing ductwork with the rest of the house. The main benefit of ductless here is that it will be properly sized for the new space and wont steal air from other rooms or overload your old HVAC system.
Downsizing efforts for larger homes. Many retirees, for example, dont want to heat and cool rooms they arent using, Bowman says. But they often shut HVAC grilles in empty rooms, creating pressure imbalances and mold problems. Its far better to install a ductless system in, say, the master bedroom and set the houses main thermostat to run minimally.
Serving multiple needs under one roof. Does your family constantly fight over the thermostat? Ductless is ideal for creating independent temperature zones in different rooms, and although you can install zoning in a traditional ducted system, it wont be as efficient.
Giving support to a room with specific heating/cooling problems. If you have a small kitchen with a giant stove, a southwest view and big picture windows, a ductless unit can make your Fourth of July party far less sweaty without having to install new ductwork.
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Who Should Get This
If you want to cool or heat specific rooms with better efficiency and less clutter than window ACs and space heatersand less complexity than central HVACconsider a mini-split system. Central HVAC usually forces air through several roomsor the entire houseoften heating or cooling rooms that arent even being used. If you turn the water faucet on in the kitchen and every other water faucet turned on throughout the house…how efficient is that? Thats what central systems do, says Mike Smith, senior marketing manager of Mitsubishi Electric, one of the prominent mini-split brands sold in North America.
Some, but not all, mini-splits are also heat pumps this refers to a different method of moving heat in and out of a room. Conversely, some but not all heat pumps are also available as mini-splits. For this guide, were focusing on mini-splits more broadly, regardless of whether theyre heat pumps or cooling-only units or something. If youre specifically interested in heat pumps, we have a guide for that, too.
Further reading
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Heres the single biggest change you can make to reduce your homes energy use.
What Is Ductless Mini
Contrary to old beliefs carried over from decades past, homeowners in cold northern climates are experiencing warmth and comfort with todays high-performance ductless mini-split heat pumps. Available in ducted and ductless varieties, these high performance mini split systems provide comfortable heating at temperatures as low as -13° F.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Mitsubishi Electric, for example, uses a proprietary process referred to as flash injection allowing the heat pump to produce optimal heating levels even in extreme climates. A standard refrigerant system in a heat pump collects heat energy from the outside air and pumps it inside. Flash injection employs a bypass circuit to re-route a portion of the refrigerant to two places.
This heated refrigerant circulates back to the indoor coil for greatly improved heating performance.
In cold climates, older technology heat pumps experience a decrease in overall heating capacity. Variable-capacity inverter heat pumps with Hyper-Heating Inverter technology allow for improved heating capacity even at lower outdoor air temperatures.
Cold-climate Inverter heat pumps produce 100% of the rated heating capacity down to -5° F outdoor temperature. This technology allows homeowners in all climates to enjoy the benefits of INVERTER-driven, variable-capacity heat pumps in a wide variety of capacities and applications.
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Types Of The Best Split Unit Ac Heat Pump
There are different types of split unit AC heat pumps, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Here’s a look at some of the most popular options:
1. Central air conditioners:
Central air conditioners are the most common type of AC heat pump. They’re also the most expensive, but they’re very efficient and can cool a large area.
2. Window air conditioners:
Window air conditioners are the most popular type of AC heat pump for small homes and apartments. They’re less expensive than central air conditioners, but they’re not as efficient.
3. Portable air conditioners:
Portable air conditioners are a good option for people who want to be able to move their AC heat pump from one room to another. They’re also a good choice for people who have limited space.
4. ductless air conditioners:
Ductless air conditioners are a good option for people who want to avoid the hassle of installing ductwork. They’re also a good choice for people who have allergies or asthma.
5. Geothermal heat pumps:
Geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient type of AC heat pump. They’re also the most expensive, but they’re worth it if you’re looking for an energy-efficient way to cool your home
Ductless Mini Split Options
Mini split heat pumps offer a wide range of options that allow you to tailor your system to fit the layout of your home or other area you want to heat and air condition.
In open areas, a single-zone system, or a two-zone system with one indoor air handler at each end of the space is ideal.
In areas divided into smaller rooms, a multi-zone system or multiple single-zone systems make more sense, depending on the size of the rooms/zones.
Here is an overview of your equipment choices.
Compressor/Condenser capacity: 1.0 ton to 5.0 tons, or 12,000 to 60,000 BTUs. In most systems, the largest size is 48,000 BTU.
Air Handler capacity: 9,000 to 30,000 BTUs per handler.
Efficiency 18.0 SEER cooling efficiency and 9 HSPF heating efficiency to 42 SEER and 15 HSPF. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. In our opinion, the growing efficiency ratings of mini split and even standard air source heat pumps will continue to threaten the geothermal heat pump industry and cause prices of geothermal systems to become increasingly competitive.
Installed cost range: $4,000 to $18,500
Average Cost: A four zone, 36,000 to 48,000 BTU system installed will cost $9,500 $13,500.
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Are Ductless Air Conditioner Systems A Proven Technology
You may have gotten this far and still found yourself wondering if mini-splits have proven their value. The reality is simple:
YES, they have!
In most cases, a strong argument can always be made for choosing a ductless mini-split. There are obviously situations where they wont be your most cost-effective bet, but well cover those here as well.
Heres a fact:
Mini-splits have been used for decades and are widely considered extremely competitive outside the United States. Within the last 20 years, in large part thanks to efforts by Mitsubishi, theyve begun gaining traction in the American market, but the only reason they havent been normal here for years is because distributors were hesitant to carry them.
That wasnt because they werent good, by the way. Its just that the wheels of change sometimes grind quite slow, and many profitable companies are resistant to change when they dont have to do it.
Are they reliable? In our experience and according to manufacturer claims, many ductless AC systems experience substantially fewer mechanical failures than traditional systems.
Mitsubishi has published white papers that indicate their experience with compressor failures is a fraction of the industry standard. And based on our 30+ years of selling ductless air conditioners and heat pumps, we can say that has long been our experience as well.
How We Picked And Tested
In order to choose our Top 10 Split Air Conditioners, we first decided what our criteria in terms of the important features of a split type air conditioner were. We looked through over a thousand user reviews in order to determine our most important criteria in finding an AC. Next, with this in mind, we analyzed the details of over 50 different products, coming up with a short list of 18 candidates. From here, we visited their websites, read their product descriptions in immense details on different store pages as well as reading any individual critiqued reviews that we could find.
With these 18, we were looking at a total of 12 different brands and we looked at these in making our decision for our top ten ACs by doing side-by-side comparisons of their features. We then had a diverse group of volunteers who all tested these products in their homes. In comparing the final reviews of our volunteers, we matched them against our research data that we had sought from the web.
If you would like to see our detailed analysis report, then please like one of our social media pages to gain access. There you will find a wealth of information and statistics all in one handy report.
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How Long Does A Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner Last
The typical lifespan of a ductless mini split AC system is around 20 years. However, many systems can last up to 30 years with proper maintenance. The industry is continuously creating ways to improve efficiency as technology advances. Many homeowners choose to upgrade to more efficient systems in as little as 10 or 15 years.
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Introducing Mrcool 4th Generation Diy Mini Splits
You might have heard that MRCOOL has released the 4th Generation Series of their famous DIY Mini Splits just before summertime!
As one of MRCOOL’s closest partners, we wanted to take some time to highlight in this article:
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You Need Supplemental Heating Or Cooling
Ductless mini splits provide a great solution to supplement your homes main heating and cooling system. They are easy to install and can be used in one room or various areas of the home where the central air conditioning and heating unit just dont cut it. They can be used alongside the homes main central air conditioner and heater theres no need to replace these expensive heating and cooling systems when a ductless unit can give them the boost they need!
What Does A Mini
Based on your home’s layout and square footage, the number of units you need dictates the cost of installing a mini-split heat pump. Typically, a ductless heat pump costs $900 to $5,000 per unit, plus the cost of installation.
However, unlike other heating and cooling systems, you can receive tax incentives and rebates for a mini-split system. To see if you qualify, use the Energy Star rebate finder.
Pro Tip: According to Energy Star, heat pumps are more efficient than electric resistance, propane, and oil HVAC systems. Also, systems that require R-32 refrigerant use up to 20% less, saving costs even further.
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So Youre In The Market For A Ductless Air Conditioning System
This could be true for any number of reasons. Are you in the process of adding an extension or additional room onto your home? Are you replacing an outdated heating and air conditioning system, or multiple systems?
Remodeling an office? Enclosing your front porch? Closing off warehouse space to create offices? Creating an all-weather sunroom?
The possibilities are endless, and all of these are excellent reasons to be considering a ductless. But, outside of the obvious , what do you actually know about mini-split systems?
Ductless Mini Split Replacement In Southern Maryland
Most homes these days have forced-air heating and cooling, in which a large central HVAC unit provides heating and cooling for the entire house. However, this type of HVAC system has a few inherent drawbacks. First, it can be very expensive to install and maintain. Second, it is not always very efficient, often wasting energy by heating or cooling areas that are not being used as well as energy loss through ductwork leaks.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to meet your home heating and cooling needs: a ductless mini split system. If youre tired of your old central HVAC unit or its simply time to upgrade your older mini split system, call Boothes Heating, Air, Plumbing & Drains today! Well be happy to help you choose the perfect ductless mini split system for your home and install each new unit appropriately. We also provide a comprehensive satisfaction guarantee on all of our work, so you can be confident that your investment is protected.
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Types Of Acs: Which One Is Right For You
There are several different types of ACs available, but before you read on, you should have a look at which type of air conditioner would be right for you and your circumstances. Primarily there are four types: Split-Type ACs, Window-Mounted ACs, Portable ACs, and Central ACs.
Firstly, Window Air Conditioning units are best for places where you may need to change the location of the unit such as rented homes. They are ideal for small families or small businesses.
Portable ACs are the ideal unit for transporting to multiple locations or for temporary use such as dorm rooms, motels or other small-spaced locations. Because of their portability, they generally have poorer cooling efficiency but are most useful for students or travelers or if you have a more active or even unstable lifestyle.
Central ACs are large units that are installed outside and cool the home or buildings through ducts and vents. Of course, these are big and expensive and require a lot of modifying in the home or business to set them up. They are ideal for cooling whole office buildings or apartment blocks but, in reality, are impractical for a single family or just for personal use.
Easy Installation And Maintenance
Customers can purchase Blueridge mini-splits 1) as standalone systems, which include the condenser/heat pump, air handler, and remote control 2) as kits, which package the standalone system with all the accessories needed to complete 90% of the installation or 3) as DIY models, which include the standalone system plus a line set that is pre-charged with refrigerant, enabling the customer to complete 100% of the installation themselves.
That there even exists a DIY option with mini-splits tells you that they are far easier to install than a traditional HVAC system. Many customers choose to complete some or all of the installation themselves. For those who would prefer to hire a professional, Alpine can help you find a licensed pro in your area. However you decide to handle the installation process, the work can be summarized in 3-4 easy steps:
1) Mount
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Why Choose A Ductless Mini Split System
Ductless mini split heat pumps are heating and cooling systems that can be installed in a home without central ductwork. That is a huge advantage in terms of installation ease and cost.
They are a good choice if your home has hot water or radiant heat, or if you put an addition on your home and dont want the expense of adding ductwork. They can also be used in areas where supplemental heating or cooling is needed many homes have rooms far from the central air handler that always seem to be cool in winter and warm in summer. Theyre ideal locations to be served by a mini split heat pump.