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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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.

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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.
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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.
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Gary Grieves.
Upchurch Ave.
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by Kevin, Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We contacted TwinTech after having another ductless air-conditioning company come in to quote on a solution for our townhouse. We had a unique problem where my office was a hot spot - it's at the front of the unit and gets a lot of sun. If it's 20C outside, It's 29C in my office. The other company could not build a solution that would get a ductless unit to that room because of the location - the AC unit would have to be at the rear, and ductless systems would have to be on that side of the interior. TwinTech suggested a hybrid solution to fit our unique problem, where the ductless unit would move cold air to an air exchanger installed in our bedroom closet, and then they built a ducted vent system between all the upper rooms. This was less intrusive than building a central air system, and less expensive. Each room has a vent that I can close off, so I can push more cold air to my office when needed. We really didn't want ductless units sitting on the walls, and this looks and works better. I really appreciate the extra thought and care that went into the design of a solution, and the attention to detail in the installation. They answered all of our questions, and were able to do a bit extra by installing the ducts around the vents and painting them for us. It cost more than we originally planned for, due to our unique needs, but the fact that they offered financing helped us budget for more.
The job was done fast (I think we got lucky with timing where it wasn't the AC install busy season yet), and the team was very friendly and professional. They arrived and finished each day when they said they would. My office is now running at a comfortable temperature! I'm extremely happy with the experience and would whole heartedly recommend them.

by Private User on Twintech Heating and Cooling

How lucky are we to have this team come save us from our broken down, under sold, poorly installed previous unit (mind you there is a reason SEARS went bankrupt). Bob arrived on time to give us a detailed review of our unit and furnace; very knowledgeable. Greg arrived as planned with the new unit and reiterated what Bob explained how our furnace is equipped to handle the new unit and we didnt need to spend more money on a variable speed air conditioner. Cant say enough on how professional, efficient and personable this team is. Thank you so much guys!

by Private User on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We used Twintech for our replacement AC. Bob did a great job assessing what we needed and organized the install and showed up on install date. Greg and Mitch were on time and were very neat. They covered the traffic areas with a drop cloth and did an excellent install. Great clean up after install complete. Would recommend Twintech for heating and cooling.

by Private User on Twintech Heating and Cooling

They were fantastic, clean, freindly, great service. Would definitely recommend. Answered ally questions and more.

by Private User on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We woke up at about 7 a.m. the Sunday morning before Valentine's Day to a house that was barely 15 degrees Celsius on a really cold day. We tried to call some other suppliers but no answer or call back. We did a quick google search and Twintech came up. Had never dealt with them before. They had a chat line and lo & behold, someone answered; Greg. Helped us diagnose that our 40 year old furnace pilot light was out and walked us through how to relight it. All worked well; he even called me during this process. No charge I was told when asked.
15 minutes later, the pilot went out. It would not stay lit. Greg had Bob call us and we set up a meeting for about 11 a.m. that same Sunday.
Bob walked us through the options and even brought 3 electric space heaters for us to use. By Tuesday afternoon, we had a new Furnace and central air installed.

The team was helpful, responsive and respectful. Very glad we found them by accident and looking forward to a nice cool summer after a warm winter.

Thanks guys!

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