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For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space into a warm, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house; during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide up to 4 times the amount of energy they consume.
The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. If you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30% - 40%. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. However, the efficiency of most air-source heat pumps as a heat source drops dramatically at low temperatures, generally making them unsuitable for cold climates, although there are systems that can overcome that problem.
For homes without ducts, air-source heat pumps are also available in a ductless version called a mini-split heat pump. In addition, a special type of air-source heat pump called a "reverse cycle chiller" generates hot and cold water rather than air, allowing it to be used with radiant floor heating systems in heating mode.
Higher efficiencies are achieved with geothermal (ground-source or water-source) heat pumps, which transfer heat between your house and the ground or a nearby water source. Although they cost more to install, geothermal heat pumps have low operating costs because they take advantage of relatively constant ground or water temperatures. However, the installation depends on the size of your lot, the subsoil and landscape. Ground-source or water-source heat pumps can be used in more extreme climatic conditions than air-source heat pumps, and customer satisfaction with the systems is very high.
A new type of heat pump for residential systems is the absorption heat pump, also called a gas-fired heat pump. Absorption heat pumps use heat as their energy source, and can be driven with a wide variety of heat sources.
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Mini-Split Air Conditioners FAQs
How do I choose a mini split air conditioner?
Like all air conditioners you need to know how many BTUs you need to cool the area you are trying to cool. You also need to consider the number of air handlers that you need normally one air handler per room is what you would need but, if your home has open areas you may be able to cool multiple rooms.
There are many options for types of air vents that you can purchase some sit in the home and are mounted on the walls and some can be mounted in the ceiling. It is important that you talk to a person who is certified to install air conditioning about your options to help you decide which would meet your needs.
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What are the pros and cons of a mini split air conditioner?
Mini split air conditioners is a cost effective choice to center air conditioning. They are typically more expensive than wall or window air conditioners and you need an HVAC professional to install the unit. Since the compressor sits outside they mini split air conditioners are very quiet and efficient.
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How do I install a mini split air conditioner, why do I need a HVAC Professional?
Install a mini split air conditioner is more complicated that a window unit but far less complicated than installing central air. A professional will need to run lines for the coolant, electricity, and drainage. You will also need a professional HVAC person to charge it with the right amount of coolants.
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How big will the hole be in my wall?
This slightly varies depending on the unit you buy but, it is generally 2-3/4" to 3" in diameter.
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Do I need to purchase tubing?
Yes, you do need to purchase tubing to install your mini split air conditioner. This is what will connect the indoor and outdoor units. The size of the tubing depends on how far the inside unit is going to be from the outdoor unit.
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Do some mini split air conditioners have heat?
Some through the mini split air conditioners have electric heat strips and a few have heat pumps for more information on the heating options go here.
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What is dual zone and triple zone?
Dual zone means that there are two air handlers and triple zone means there are three air handlers. It is best to get an air handler for each room you are trying to cool but, if you are trying to cool open areas that consist of more than one room you may be able to use one air handler just make sure the BTUs are enough to cover the square foot area of all of the rooms.
General Air Conditioner FAQs
What is the difference between manual and electronic controls?
Basically, this is as simple as a digital display for knobs. Keep in mind that you must have electronic (digital) controls to use a remote control.
Could you explain the difference from between electric heat and a heat pump?
When a unit says that there is electric heat there is a heat strip in the unit that uses the fan to distribute the heat. Electric heat is meant to subsidies an existing heat source.
A heat pump function is similar to an air conditioner however instead of cooling the air like it would in the summer it heats the air and redistributes it into the room. It often will not work when it is colder than 40 (except some PTAC units) degrees outside but, most unit have electric heat backup. If heat is very important to you a PTAC unit could be your best choice. Please look at the air conditioner description or call an air conditioning expert.
What does Energy Star mean?
Energy star is a government backed program that backs products that are extraordinarily energy efficient. Products that meet strict energy efficient requirements determined by the EPA and the US Department of Energy that do not compromise the performance and features of a product receive the Energy Star logo.
What are EER and SEER Ratings?
The Energy Efficiently Rating (EER) is determined by The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration that equals the ration of cooling capacity in BTUs to the power input in watts. This rating determines the state of the air conditioner when it is up and running.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) is commonly used to measure central and ductless air conditioning. All air conditioners must have a SEER rating of at least 10 to be sold in the United States.
What is a chassis and do I want one that slides out?
A chassis is the guts of an air conditioner. When the air conditioner is described as fixed that means that the chassis does not slide out. Air conditioners with slide out chassis are easier to repair especially if the air conditioner is a through the wall air conditioner.
How do I determine the noise level?
All air conditioners will make some sort of noise however the air conditioners on the market have been engineered to be quieter than older units. Mini split air conditioners are the most quiet since the compressor sits outside.
What are air flow and output options?
This determines how you can move the vents to determine where the air flows in your room. Air deflection means that you can move the vents to the side and up and down manually. Air swing means that the vents move electronically?
What are fan settings?
Air conditioners come with many levels of setting some just come with two settings (on and off) or with more like low, medium, and high.
How do I determine my plug type or how many volts I need?
Your plug type will let you know how many volts you need. You can look here to compare your outlet to see how many volts you need and also what type of plug your air conditioner requires.
Also Read:
- A Cool Alternative
- A Light at the End of the Tunnel
- 'Cool' To Care
- Ductless System
- Ductless Air Conditioning
- Ductless, Mini-Split Heat Pumps
- The Future of HVAC
- How an Air Conditioner Works
- How a Heat Pump Works
- Improving Indoor Air Quality
- Seeing the Future from the Past
- Stronger Economy
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Ductless split air conditioning offer higher efficiency and reduced noise without a large hole in the wall or an open window. By separating compressor and condenser fan from indoor blower, the noisiest components are outside and away from the room. The indoor part of the ductless air conditioner has remote control capabilities and a timer to cycle the system only when needed.
Since mini split air conditioners have no ducts, they avoid energy losses associated with ductwork of central forced air AC systems. Duct losses can account for a significant portion of energy consumption for space conditioning, especially if the ducts are in a unconditioned space such as an attic.
Ductless air conditioning offers Higher Efficiency vs. window air conditioning, less noise, and no costly ductwork.
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