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Thinking about Switching from a Ducted HVAC System to Ductless Mini Splits
Posted On: August 11, 2023
I have been looking into purchasing a heat pump for the last few months.
I love DIY, but for this project, I had always assumed I would have an HVAC company do the installation.
My initial impression was that I would replace my existing AC/gas furnace with a Mitsubishi Hyper Heat ducted system.
Recently, I've been reconsidering a ducted system and have been thinking about going entirely ductless with a DIY install.
With the money saved, I could use it for other projects.
I would still use Mitsubishi Hyper Heat units and would implement a combination of ductless wall mounts and ceiling cassettes where practical.
I know Mitsubishi isn't generally considered a DIY install due to the vacuuming required and the loss of warranty, but I feel comfortable enough to do it.
I wanted to see if I could get some general ideas/input, as I'm still at the point where I have a lot of questions.
I feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the options, and any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
I know that I could save some money by going with cheaper units, but I've been very drawn to the Mitsubishi systems.
I am in southern New Jersey (Climate Zone 4A) and have a 2 story house built in 1984.
It's only about 2200 square feet.
All of the insulation is original, and it seems like it's pretty leaky/drafty.
The upstairs is always so hot, and we end up setting the AC to 68 at night, so that it's somewhat bearable to sleep.
I definitely want to have air sealing done along with blown-in cellulose to make it more comfortable.
What attracted me to using ductless mini splits is that we could target specific rooms depending on use.
When we're downstairs, we pretty much only use the kitchen and family room.
I have Mitsubishi dealers in my area, but I haven't actually had anyone out yet.
I feel kind of guilty wasting their time, if I'm not likely to use them for the installation.
I am on a concrete slab with no basement, so I envision the install costs will be extremely high.
If I do the work, I know I can route the linesets through the ceiling/attic and make it look very clean.
The electrical is no issue.
It will be a lot of work, but I don't mind putting in the effort.
My issue is that I'm not quite sure at the moment on the planning and design (specifically placement, number of units, and sizing).
I was thinking that maybe I could hire some type of energy/HVAC consultant to figure this out, rather than an HVAC installer.
Any guidance in this area would be a huge help.
I would like to use single-zone units as much as possible for efficiency reasons and redundancy, but with 3 rooms upstairs and 6 downstairs, I will probably have to use a multi-split for a few them.
I was thinking that maybe this would be a good idea for the rooms that are rarely used.
Another reason for going ductless is that I have no idea if my existing ducts are appropriately sized for a modern heat pump.
Since I have no basement, the main trunk runs through a soffit in the living room of my house.
All of the ductwork is in the ceilings, and one room has a flex duct running through my garage attic.
The accessibility is very poor and would require extensive drywall removal.
I also have a two room addition in the back, and the HVAC has never been great in those rooms.
My only hesitation is that when reading and watching YouTube, it seems that HVAC tradespeople and those in the building science/green industry are obsessed with ducted systems.
They spend a lot of time on the ventilation aspect, and many of the designs include an ERV/HRV.
I watch Matt Risinger's channel, and he always has these elaborate systems that seem somewhat unnecessary for most people.
On the HVAC installer side, I constantly hear them saying how you'll humidity issues and that nothing beats a "properly" ducted system.
Most of the central systems seem poorly designed, and if possible, I wouldn't mind ripping out my air handler to free up space in my small laundry room.
I know this post was long, and I apologize.
Any advice, suggestions, or input are greatly appreciated!.
TL;DR - I currently have a ducted AC/natural gas system.
I had planned to replace this with a ducted Mitsubishi Hyper Heat air handler.
I'm now considering going fully ductless to give me better individual control and make my upstairs more tolerable.
I would do all the work myself to save money.
My preference is to use mostly single-zone units for efficiency and redundancy purposes, but I probably would use a multi-split for lesser used zones (to reduce the number of condensers outside).
I do plan to air seal and replace the insulation in the second floor attic, so that my house is tighter.
I'm unsure if I would be making a mistake as most of the building science and HVAC people are obsessed with ductwork (ie.
you need clean air and good ventilation, you'll have humidity issues, nothing beats a ducted system, etc.
).
Question from user cai24 at heatpumps at reddit.
Answer:
It will take a long time before you recoup costs necessary to have an installation that you will be satisfied with.
Answer from user Sweatycamel at heatpumps at reddit.
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Jun 4, 2018
End to end service. From quote, overseeing installation, contacting and making arrangements for energy audit. Warranty program is comprehensive. Cleaned up mess of assistant walking through my place without proper indoor foot covering when I pointed out that I was not happy about footprints on my floors.
Jun 11, 2018
In April we hired Twintech Heating & Cooling to replace our 20 year old water tank & 35 year old air conditioner. We got 5 estimates for the job & decided to go with Twintech for the following reasons.
- The Sales Manager, Dave, was very personable & knowledgeable as all of our questions were answered. (We had a list of questions we asked each of the contractors when we got the estimates)
- We got 5 estimates for the job. All contractors verbally told us they had the required qualifications but Dave was the only one to physically show us their license & insurance documentation.
- Twintech carried the Napoleon air conditioner & we wanted to support Canadian industry as it is assembled in Barrie On.
Safety is important at Twintech as demonstrated when we discussed with Dave, the need to change our install date because of freezing rain. Access was required by navigating a set of outside steps & Dave identified that safety took precedence.
On the installation date, Greg, Peter & Grant showed up on time & methodically accomplished the removal & installation of both units. The guys did a great job cleaning up as well.
When the job was completed we mentioned to Greg that we were pleased with the work they had done & were going to have them come out & do our furnace inspection in Sept. Greg said we can save our money as he had inspected the heat exchanger on the furnace while doing the job & there was no need to have another inspection in Sept. We were very impressed with Gregs initiative. This is top shelf service. Thank you Greg.
As the weather was too cool to complete a functional test of the air conditioner on the installation date, Dave made a follow-up call to us to see how things were going & Greg also came out to check the operation. No problems.
We are very happy we hired professionals like Dave, Greg, Grant & Peter & have no hesitation in recommending Twintech Heating & Cooling. They will now be our "go to" guys.
Nov 18, 2018
These guys are the best. From start to finish they exceeded my expectations and delivered a great product. They accommodated the nuances of my 100 year old home which was really appreciated. The install was easy to schedule and done fantastically. Im so excited to have an efficiently heated and cooled home.
Aug 12, 2018
Twintech were fast and efficient contractors. It only took 48 hours between an initial home visit and complete installation. The workmen were polite and hardworking. The site was left clean with the old furnace etc. removed. They helped arrange an environmental assessment in order that I could receive the maximum rebate. They even called me within a week to determine if I was satisfied with their work and to reassure me that I could call them anytime I experienced heating difficulties or had any questions. I recommend Twintech for your heating problems.
Jul 21, 2018
Courteous and professional service from initial consultation through to the installation. We highly recommend Twintech for outstanding service in the industry. Competitive pricing, professional and accurate advice, attention to detail, respect for their client's home and cleaning up at the completion of installation.
Jul 12, 2018
Last night was the coldest day of the year so far and I woke up to my house being 54 degrees... I called Twintech at 2:45am and Greg was on site by 3:30am. The furnace required a part and he returned to his shop and came back to my home around 4:15am, furnace up and running by 4:30am. THANK YOU TWINTECH! Your service is second to none.
Jun 25, 2018
After much research & getting 4 quotes, we hired Twintech team for our new furnace installation, prices were fair, they carried great product brands & more importantly installation was expertly done by one of the owners (Greg & his assistant Peter) which gave me an added piece of mind. Dave was very organized & answered all my questions in great detail, especially re: the Enbridge & Govt. rebate program.
Jun 10, 2018
My old air conditioner was 20 years old and developed a Freon leak and it was more cost effective to replace rather than repair. There are a large number of heating and air conditioning companies available in my area so I contacted several for quotes. Twintech heating and cooling responded quickly to the inquiry I left on their website and their sales person Dave came by the following day. He was knowledgeable about the field and was able to show copies of the various refrigeration and gas fitting licenses along with workmens compensation, TSSA and other certifications. He also suggested a particular manufacturer and model of AC unit appropriate to my house and gave me a quote. Since the price was reasonable, service had been good and the reviews on the internet were also good, I decided to purchase an AC unit from them. Installation was quickly scheduled. They showed up on time, did a good job installing the new unit including some sheet metal work to get the new heat exchanger to fit in the furnace duct, and cleaned up afterward. In addition, they noticed that my existing AC was installed too close to the furnace exhaust (based on building code) and were able to mount the new AC the appropriate distance from the exhaust. Overall, they did an excellent job and were a pleasure to work with.
Jun 5, 2018
All interactions from sales to installation were Courteous and professional. The installation was seamless and the attention to detail including clean up was outstanding. I highly recommend TwinTech Heating and Cooling.
May 17, 2018
Twintech's Salesman Dave arrived promptly was friendly and courteous, listened and assured us the installation would be completed according to our requests. The crew arrived early morning on May 11th, 2018 and worked through till late afternoon non-stop. They were very friendly, very professional, their expertise was excellent, their workmanship outstanding and the installation was completed in a timely and efficient manner. We were completely satisfied and happy with the quality of the work.
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