Have you ever thought about changing the central air conditioner?

[kenmac]

For those that quoted my comment about not replacing an old AC if it is working. This was simply said for the OP who was wondering if they would see an savings with an air sourced heat pump over a traditional AC unit and did not plan to use the pump for heating. As I stated, if this is the only reason that that someone is thinking about replacing then in my opinion I would not.

If they replaced the unit with a VRF they would save money on their utility bills whether using heat, or A/C .

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

A mini split is seldom a replacement for central air. Do not make the mistake of doing this.

Central air systems tie into the duct work that go to each room in your house, including bedrooms, bathrooms, basements, on multiple floors. A minisplit has a head on the other side of the wall where it was mounted.

These two things are not the same, and are seldom interchangeable.

Just saw this thread. I cool my house with a mini split, don't even have a furnace.

 

[hoozie]

If you have a central furnace (natural gas/propane), with central AC on top of it, there are now furnaces (or even just the AC side) that can be replaced with a heat pump. That lets you keep the central ducting, and use the heat pump for both heating and cooling, with the gas heat as a backup.

Depending on where you are, the heat pump for heat at some points in the season could be cheaper than the gas, especially if you have solar.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Mini splits can either be individual wall units, or they can tie into duct work. We had both in our last home. Both worked great, although the ductwork tied one is less energy efficient.

 

[Sigarms]

Mini splits can either be individual wall units, or they can tie into duct work.

WRONG.

"Mini split" is a term created perhaps in the 90's in the US and it's stuck, because the US it really the only country in the world that uses conventional ductwork to move conditioned air inside the home.

When dealing with a unitary split systems in single phase, you're either looking for a ductless or ducted system, unless the system can do both at the same time (and they are more than available that can do both ducted and ductless).

Throw 3 phase into the mix, can be a whole other ball game although some manufacturers are working their single phase product line into the 3 phase product line finally.

 

[pmsmechanic]

WRONG.

"Mini split" is a term created perhaps in the 90's in the US and it's stuck, because the US it really the only country in the world that uses conventional ductwork to move conditioned air inside the home.

When dealing with a unitary split systems in single phase, you're either looking for a ductless or ducted system, unless the system can do both at the same time (and they are more than available that can do both ducted and ductless).

Throw 3 phase into the mix, can be a whole other ball game although some manufacturers are working their single phase product line into the 3 phase product line finally.

Canada also uses duct work to move cooling air inside a house. As far as I know we are not the same country as the US!

Please explain what the difference between 3 phase and single phase electricity has to do with AC. Here the majority of household AC is single phase. Whether ducted (central AC) or mini split.

 

[Sigarms]

Please explain what the difference between 3 phase and single phase electricity has to do with AC. Here the majority of household AC is single phase. Whether ducted (central AC) or mini split.

Long story short, availability of certain products for certain applications, particularly pertaining to ductless applications. As mentioned, slowly that is changing.

Apologies for neglecting your country. I just know if I lived in the country up there, I'd just go wood burning stove and be done with it

 

[arto98607]

Apologies for neglecting your country. I just know if I lived in the country up there, I'd just go wood burning stove and be done with it

I know you said "the country up there" but Ontario, Canada border is under 400 miles north of NW NC so my Canadian friends may not be too impressed with the wood stove comment?

Been there and it gets pretty hot and muggy during summer!

 

[Sigarms]

I know you said "the country up there" but Ontario, Canada border is about 200 miles north of NW NC so my Canadian friends may not be too impressed with the wood stove comment?

I'm assuming you mean NW NC means North West North Carolina?

If that is the case, you really need to look at your mileage

Never needed central AC living in Vermont, New York, West Virginia or Maine, but I just guess Canadians are more needy? Don't get me wrong, some days out of two months AC would be nice, but you can get by.

Tell me you don't HAVE to have heat when you live in Canada

Not that it matters, but the ductless market is much larger in Canada than the US market. That however is due to the heat that some ductless systems can produce, added the price of electricity in some major areas.

 

[ponytug]

Canada also uses duct work to move cooling air inside a house. As far as I know we are not the same country as the US!

Please explain what the difference between 3 phase and single phase electricity has to do with AC. Here the majority of household AC is single phase. Whether ducted (central AC) or mini split.

I think that @Sigarms might have been referring to refrigerant phase, rather than electrical phase.

All the best,

Peter