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Thinking about Switching from a Ducted HVAC System to Ductless Mini Splits
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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What more could you ask for! Grant and Greg Dainty provided a professional,diligent and thorough approach to the installation of my furnace. I would highly recommend there services.
Last week our Furnace failed overnight. We called Twintech to help us get it running again. They did a really thorough check on it, and got it running in less than an hour. Given that it was an old Furnace (+20 years old), we were giving two options: repair it or replace it. Instead of doing a repair on it that could break in a week or two, they recommended us to change it. I like that they were honest on the recommendation, not forcing a new furnace on us. At the end we went with a new Furnace. Twintech solutions service & salesman gave us recommendation on the size of the unit and many options that could work for our home. They ended up doing an excellent work in our furnace, replacing the filter to a better option and replacing some pieces that had water damage. They cleaned after themselves and leave everything even better than what they found. They even went far and beyond tiding up the hose connections that we had on the basement.
I am in the process of finishing my basement and wanted to make sure I got the low hanging duct work fixed in advance. After reviewing 5 quotes I selected Twintech to award the contract to. The price was competitive however what won me over was Grant's (co-owner) attention to detail and his ability to focus on what my goals and priorities were for the project. His team completed the job over 3 days as there was significant duct work changes and the relocation of all of the equipment. They also completed the job with little downtime so we weren't left overnight without heat during freezing winter temperatures.
My father woke up to no heat one Saturday morning. We had a few names that friends had recommended but while checking out the companies' ratings on HomeStars, we found Twintech with great ratings too. The other companies either didn't get back to us or didn't have time to come at such short notice. TwinTech made the time in their schedule for what they judged to be an emergency: no heat in the home of an elderly person. At no extra fee for a short notice, weekend visit. They recommended an upgraded furnace unit and explained that we would qualify for a rebate that would bring the price down to that of a lower model. They set us up with the rep from the MNR that covers the rebate so that we didn't have to deal with the paperwork & phone calls ourselves. Installation was quick, efficient, & smooth. We were so pleased with their service we ordered a new water heater too. Both are working great (efficient & quiet!) & my father is safe & comfortable. We can't say enough about how pleased we are with their service. We have already recommended them to others.
Twintech Heating & Cooling. I just want to say thanks for helping me . My Furnace stopped working. And l phone Dave Getgley he set me up with Greg. What an amazing team they did a great job in setting me up with a new Furnace. Anyone that needed a new Furnace these are the guys to call. Thanks again for a job well done.
Our home has had poor heating and air conditioning the past couple of years. Dave recommended a Goodman solution with more power than we had. Grant and Greg installed the units in late November. Heating is better than ever. We have a warm home again and look forward to the winter. Can't wait to see how the AC runs in 2018. Job was super clean and professionally done. Highly recommended.
Received a new range and needed someone to disconnect the old range and connect the new gas range. They did a thorough job and were kind enough to remove the old range from the house. Thank you!
Very satisfied with this company! Salesperson Dave was very good, very knowledgeable and gave me the impression that he wanted to sell me what I needed rather than what would put the most money in the company's pocket. He also called back after the installation to see if I was satisfied with the result. The installation crew of Greg, Grant and Peter did a great job. They arrived on time, completed the job quickly, answered all my questions and thoroughly cleaned up. They told me to call if I had any further questions. They left me with the impression that they really cared about their work and my satisfaction and that it wasn't " just a job". Prior to researching for a new furnace, I had never heard of this company but I'm glad that I did and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a new furnace or air conditioning unit. They may be small but they do a great job!!
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Very pleased with the professional service that TwinTech Heating and Cooling provided in replacing my furnace. I got several quotes from different service providers. Their price was excellent and they explained the features very well. We are very glad we went with TwinTech and highly recommend their services.
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TwinTech is an excellent and honest company! I called them for a second opinion after being told by another company that I needed to replace my furnace. Turns out this was not the case at all! I did not need a new furnace. TwinTech did not push to make an unnecessary sale and saved me from a huge expense. Bob and Mitch were extremely professional and above all honest! I definitely recommend TwinTech!
Amazing experience with TwinTech Heating & Cooling! Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and efficient from start to finish. They installed my new furnace quickly and left everything spotless. The technicians took the time to explain everything and made sure I was comfortable with the system before they left. Great customer service and fair pricing. I highly recommend them for anyone needing HVAC services!
Great experience all around. Bob was sharp and easy to talk to, and Greg handled the installation perfectly. Would hire them again in a heartbeat.
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