For some homes, a couple of well-placed indoor units can handle the heating and cooling needs for most of the year. A single-zone mini-split system is when you have a single outdoor unit powering one indoor unit. Because of their energy savings and environmental benefits, some states and utility companies offer rebates or otherincentives to homeownerswho install heat pumps. Regardless of what youre looking for, theres a good chance that Pioneer makes it. We independently review everything we recommend. Ground-source systems can cost from $6,000 to $30,000 or more. You heat with delivered fuels like propane or heating oil, or with an electric-resistance furnace or electric baseboard heaters. Ground-source or geothermal heat pumps absorb and release heat underground, where the temperature is a constant 50F to 60F all year. However, the low price tag attached to Mr. Fujitsu also produces one of the best mini-splits for cold weather environments, the Fujitsu Halycon. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the mini-split system is. If this isn't enough for you, there are other single-stage mini split sizes available. An exceptional alternative to traditional HVAC systems, the BOSCH Climate 5000 series focuses on heating and cooling individual rooms by utilizing a combination of efficient technologies to . Note that heat pumps need far less capacity to heat a space than a furnace or boiler would because theyre much more energy-efficient. This is incredible efficiency, and Mitsubishi comes as close as producing models that get upwards of 28 to 30. This is not always the case. The higher the SEER rating is, the more efficient your mini-split will be and the more money youll save on your electric bill. A ducted heat pump can be connected to the existing ductwork to provide whole-home heating and cooling. There are other manufacturers out there, but we cant really imagine bypassing these four options for a niche brand with weaker availability, selection, and customer support. We do not test or recommend specific heat pump models because the systems are highly customized to individual houses and climates. ReliabilityAccording to our member survey, reliability is by far the top predictor of an owners overall satisfaction with a heat pump. They tend to include noise estimates across a variety of outdoor temperatures and fan speeds, measured in decibels. However, theyve quickly made a name for themselves as one of the best mid-level mini-split companies in the country. and local utilities offer rebates for lots of Fujitsu equipment, both in mini-split and conventional AC machinery. In heating mode, the measurement used is heating seasonal performance factor, or HSPF. We have the best options for portable air conditioners, if a window unit or central air wont work for you. Bosch The Climate 5000 Ductless Minisplit Heat Pump System delivers up to a 22 SEER rating, with an operating range of -13 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Weve reviewed this guide, and we still stand by all of our advice. This decreases efficiency, stresses components, and leaves your home less comfortable. There are some experienced HVAC people that buy from us and they like them because they're really fast to install. The Bosch Climate 5000 ductless mini split series provides energy-efficient, on-demand comfort that is flexible, simple to install, and easy to maintain. Electric strip:Common in mild climates, a simple electric heating element can be built into the heat pump itself or the indoor air handler. So if youre replacing (or adding) an AC anyway, whether its a central system or a room unit, it may make sense to pay a little extra for a heat pump and keep your existing heating system as a backup for the coldest days and reap the rewards of high-efficiency heating on the milder days of the year (more on this kind of hybrid system later). The tasks themselves are things that a homeowner can do, but a professional is going to know how to do them safely and how to do them thoroughly.. Remember that you may have to rent a few tools to do the job. Your house has no ducts. If you have poor insulation, youll notice drafts and cold spots more often than you would with the higher temps of a traditional system. The pucks can be wall mounted or stand alone and look like miniature Nest units though they arent as substantial. Todays cold-climate heat pumps can efficiently collect that free heat and move it into your home. Plus, since they are so pervasive in the market, it's not hard to find parts or service . This is a multi-thousand-dollar job, but wed advise this even for simpler workit really gives you a clear sense of what the market for this work is like and often helps you weed out options youre less comfortable with, giving you the confidence to commit to the best place available. Heres Everything to Know.Heres the single biggest change you can make to reduce your homes energy use. 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. Almost half of a typical homes energy use goes toward heating. We found four leading brands in our research: Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu, LG, Daikin, and Panasonic (and a handful of smaller names, like Mirage). In our bedroom, the unit is a little closer to the side wall than I'd like because they couldn't access the coupling without putting the unit where it is. The other option in this situation is to have the pipes do a short run along the interior wall before going through it, but, as he said, Generally, the units look best when the punch-through is hidden behind the unit rather than to the left or right of the unit.. The main categories are ductless mini-split systems, inverter ducted systems, standard heat pumps, or entry-level HVAC heat pumps. A heat pump heats and cools your home, functioning like a combined furnace and central air conditioner. A good HVAC firm will know what equipment to useespecially for tricky jobs that require some expertise and experience to design aroundand the technical skill the pros bring to the installation will affect its initial performance as well as whatever service calls you make over the years. You need to replace your central AC (or add new built-in air conditioning). Carrier produces several great mini-splits, but their 9,000 BTU single-zone system with a SEER rating of 42 might be their best. Our experience with customer support was good but not great. Mini-splits also make sense in rooms that are off-kilter from the rest of the homes heating system. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Typically the air-handler heads are placed high on a wall, but for homeowners who dont like the look or dont have the space, there are heads that can be placed inside the ceiling or floor. Ask around. The minimum HSPF is 8.2. Youre likely to need a backup heating system if you live in one of these areas. Well describe the features to look for and share tips on how to find a qualified installer. Ever since, Mitsubishi has been the industry leader in innovation, new technology, and efficiency. There are qualified Panasonic installers scattered throughout major North American markets. They produce similar products but get made by a completely different company, Fujitsu General. A 400 square foot room in New Hampshire requires a different amount of heating and air conditioning than a 400 square foot room in Florida. A good HVAC installer will do a proper heat load calculation, which means, as explained by Todd Washam, director of industry and internal relations at The Air Conditioning Contractors of America, they measure the windows, the tree overhangs for the shading, the pitch of your roof, the square footage, what type of floors, and the insulation in your attic and walls.. To ensure that your heat pump is sized correctly, make sure your contractor does a load calculation based on a recognized method, such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J. Thats a lot, but it may still come in under the cost of a comparable ducted system; on the other hand, the best window units and portables range from about $200 to $700 apiece. De Stasio told us a typical single-unit install costs roughly $3,000-$5,000, but if youre looking to create a whole-house systemwhich needs multiple indoor units and a larger outdoor unit to support themit can start getting cost-prohibitive. In fact, mini-splits can save you up to 30% on your energy bills compared to central air cooling systems. heat pump. You could even think of it as a hybrid setup, rather than a system with a backup. One of the most important things with choosing a mini-split brand is to look at efficiency and reliability. EfficiencySome heat pumps use less energy than others to deliver the same level of comfort. The calculations should be made after any air-sealing or insulation upgrades are made to your home and should be done whether youre replacing a unit or installing a new system. We have thousands of listings and a variety of research tools to help you find the . The 5-zone unit our Hawaii friend installed required a dedicated 40 A breaker for its 230-volt service, and his installation crew used a licensed electrical sub-contractor for the work, adding cost. Mitsubishi mini-split products have an excellent maintenance track record. Can you trust them? Heat pumps arent the most practical heating solution for every home. Theyre similar in style and price point to Pioneer and target the same type of people. Multi-zone systems will cost double or triple this amount. Daikin and Fujitsu offer similar smart-home functions to its competitors. Mitsubishi and Fujitsu have been battling for mini-split dominance since the 1980s. The exact mini-split equipment you need depends on your homes unique heating and cooling requirements, and your options are limited to the qualified installers in your areabut weve researched this topic enough to be able to tell you about the scenarios when mini-split systems make sense and how to decide among the brands available. Consumer Reports members can also viewour heat pump ratingsfor the most reliable brands of ducted heat pumps and the brands with the highest owner satisfaction. Our Favorite Mini Split Systems You Can Buy Online, The Difficulty of Installation and Maintenance. The main reason people opt for mini-splits over traditional heating and cooling systems is efficiency. Mitsubishi is the dominant ductless brand in the US, and for good reason. However, certain mini-split brands specialize in multi-zone systems where a single outdoor unit powers multiple indoor units. In cooling mode, a heat pump works exactly like an air conditioner. Their efficiency and SEER ratings are good but not great. The controller units are not wall mounted but unobtrusive within most modern decor. What is a good SEER rating for a mini-split? They also blow cooler air than furnaces and run almost constantly at a low level, rather than blasting heat for short periods throughout the day. Depending on which LG mini-split you purchase, your warranty ranges from five to twelve years, slightly longer than many competitors. Mini-splits have a broad cost differential, ranging from $750 to $1,500 to between $4,000 and $6,000 for a single unit. Conversely, some but not all heat pumps are also available as mini-splits. Because the indoor unit will be a permanent fixture in your home, its important that you like the way it looks. It may seem counterintuitive, but it takes much less energy to move a tiny bit of heat all the time than to move a lot of heat quickly. Also known as ductless mini-split air conditioners and heaters, they consist of. LGs catalog shows lots of aesthetic options on finishes for the wall units, and LGs SmartThinQ app offers system-wide controls and reliable functionality. But because the heat-exchanging pipes are buried underground (either horizontally or vertically), ground-source systems can be impractical for small lots or those with certain types of soils or landscapes. Get FREE quotes from licensed HVAC contractors in your area today. You also have to commit to a location with the indoor units, and theres no moving them around, like with window air conditioners or portable ACs. The minimum SEER allowed for a new split system heat pump in the U.S. today is 13, and 14 in the southern half of the country. $1,685 at Amazon. Ad-free. There is none of the loud compressor hum that is typical of a window unit. A company with a long history of high-quality mini-splits, Offer various kinds of mini-splits with multiple installation options, Extremely high-efficiency with SEER ratings of 20+, One of the most expensive options with a price range of $3,000 to $15,000, Extremely high-efficiency ratings ranging from 20 for multi-zone systems to 35 for singles, One of the most dependable names in the business, Offer a limited five-year warranty on their products, Partnership with Rheem gives them an advantage, Slightly less expensive than Mitsubishi but still very pricy, ranging between $3,500 and $15,000, Very affordable mini-split systems ranging in price from $1,000 to $10,000, It offers a silent mode feature where the indoor unit is extremely quiet, They dont have as wide a variety of products that other brands do, Not as long-lasting or efficient as other top brands, One of the best cold-weather mini-split brands in the world, Renowned for their reliability and durability, Offer a wide variety of single and multi-zone systems, Theyre at the low end of the spectrum in terms of efficiency, Carry a fairly steep price tag despite their inefficiencies, Affordable pricing compared to other top mini-split brands, Tend to focus on efficiency above all else, Offer several outdoor and indoor installation options, Dont do as well in cold temperatures as other top brands, While efficient, they arent as reliable or long-lasting as other makers. 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