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Thinking about Switching from a Ducted HVAC System to Ductless Mini Splits

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Thinking about Switching from a Ducted HVAC System to Ductless Mini Splits

Posted On: August 11, 2023

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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See What Our Customers Are Saying:

by Tony Forde on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We have been shopping for a heat pump for our home. We had 3 reps come in and make recommendations and provide a quote. Of the 3, Bob was so clearly so much more qualified, thorough and informed than the other two that the decision was a no brainer. As soon as we get our audit results Twintech will be installing our heat pump.

by Private User, Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

knowledgeable sales person, did not try to up-sell unneeded features,
and was easily contacted to ensure customer satisfaction.
Installation was expertly done by friendly guys, everything explained for use of the products. Old products were removed and returned to rental company as part of the service. Follow up call was received to check all was well. This is my second time using this company as I was fully satisfied with my previous air conditioning unit installation

by Private User, Courtice on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Twintech recently installed a new furnace for me. Bob did a great job assessing what I had and needed. All details well explained including the importance of proper sizing of furnace and the value of multi stage heating and the variable speed blower. As a nurse, indoor air quality is a high priority so the variable speed motor running continuous is so good. 24/7 air cleaning. Greg did a great job on install, attention to detail so appreciated. Already notice such an improved comfort and heat. Thank you Twintech! You come as advertised. I will recommend to anyone in need of heating or cooling!

by Walter, Whitby on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We received various quotes from 4 different companies and right away, the prompt and thorough communication from Bob from TwinTech stood out. He introduced himself, sent sample sites and information, and always confirmed any agreed to dates and times.

Bob was friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the topic of HVAC and it was clear he was passionate about his profession. He approached the job as if he was installing in his own home.

Prior to the new furnace & A/C installation, our old units were loud and inefficient - having several rooms feeling too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. After installing the recommended units, all rooms stay at a consistent temperature- even the finished basement.

I highly recommend the TwinTech team - just an outstanding job at a reasonable price point.

by Private User on Twintech Heating and Cooling

The experience with Twintech was great from the start. Bob the sales manager was friendly and professional and did not use any pressure tactics. He was very knowledgeable.
The installation was completed by the twin owners in about 6-7 hours. Clean quiet easy going didn't mind when I poked my head in to see progress. Highly recommend

by Private User on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Just choose Twintech!

I do not usually write reviews and should have done this a few days sooner. But I was and still am enjoying the increased comfort in my home from the new furnace installed by Twintech.

From my initial call and conversation with Bob, I already had a good feeling that I would like this company.

I was provided information, pictures of great quality work previously completed.

When Bob came for the inspection of the furnace he was amazing. He gave so much great advice and told me all the areas that his team would resolve. I was very impressed as some of what he had suggested I had only seen in Youtube videos. The honesty and options for payment made this a no brainer. I decided I would like Twintech to replace my furnace.

The work was scheduled promptly week and took place within half a day. Gregg came to install the new furnace. Again amazing they carried out all the work promised. What was left was the best I have seen and speaks to how they take pride in the work they do and deliver. Gregg was really polite and professional and the furnace in my basement is a work of art.

by Private User on Twintech Heating and Cooling

They were friendly, fast, clean, & answered any questions I had. They are also offering an interest free 12 month payment plan - that really helped me out since this was an unexpected expense.

by Jamie, Windsor on Twintech Heating and Cooling

I had Twintech heating install a new furnace and ac unit. Bob, the sales rep, the installation team of Greg and Mitch were a 10 across the board. They were never pushy, gave me time to think about it. Once we decided , they were there in 24hrs. Great company to deal with. And they were nearly 5k less than a competitors quote for a top of the line furnace/ac unit verse mid level.
I highly recommend Twintech heating to anyone interested in anything HVAC.

by Private User on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Our hot water tank died and with an after hours phone called Bob the sales guy jumped into action. Friendly, courteous and genuinely wanted to do whats best for our house hold we were given options and he awaited an answer with no pressure.

We decided on what we wanted and it was installed asap and Greg and team worked and cleaned up so well, you would never know there was a hot water tank there before!

We love our hot water tank and being able to have back to back to back showers without having to wait for the hot water tank to heat the water!

by Gary Grieves, Ajax on Twintech Heating and Cooling

I had heard of Twin Tech from a good friend of mine.
I needed to get a new Air Conditioner. It was not working properly and was 19 years old. I decided to get a new furnace at the same time.
I gave them a call on Saturday June 28.
I spoke to Bob Graham. I made arrangements for him to attend my house the following day.
I saw him on Sunday June 29 at 1100 AM.
He was on time and looked professional.
He spent 2 hours with me going over what I needed. He also suggested that I purchase a Humidifier. He gave me a quote of just under $11,000.00 for the purchase and installation of a Air Conditioner, Furnace and Humidifier. He was not pushy and gave me time to speak to my wife.
I called Bob on Monday June 30 and made arrangements to have it installed by the end of the week.
On Friday June 3 they arrived at 830 AM.
Again, right on time.
Greg and Mitch worked all day and finished the installation by 430 PM.
They made sure that everything was working properly and the basement was just as clean as it was before they came.
I will now be using Twin Tech to perform any maintenance needed on this equipment.
I was completely satisfied from start to finish with the service provided.

Thank You,
Gary Grieves.
Upchurch Ave.
Ajax.

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See What Our Customers Are Saying:

by Robert Rogers on Twintech Heating and Cooling

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.

by Robert Mizuno on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We were new homeowners in need of a second opinion. TwinTech Heating & Cooling were Amazing and professional. Very knowledgeable and great service all around. Recommend to anyone looking for honest and reliable services. Treated with respect and care. Thank you Greg, Mitch and Bob!

by Ruth on Twintech Heating and Cooling

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!

by Anna Chin on Twintech Heating and Cooling

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!

by Connor Agnew on Twintech Heating and Cooling

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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