Though heat pump adoption to heat a home is growing in popularity, selecting the best heat pump model does not necessarily mean that capacity is the most important factor.
The first thing that homeowners must decide is whether ductless and ducted heat pump options are suitable for their homes.
Heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular way to heat and cool homes, but choosing the right one isn’t only about capacity.
Before planning the installation of a new heat pump system, homeowners first need to decide whether a ducted or ductless option is the better fit for their home.
Is Your Home Better Suited to a Ducted or Ductless Heat Pump?
The most important consideration is having appropriate ductwork in your home. A ducted heat pump utilizes an arrangement of ducts to convey conditioned air around the home.
This can render this a sensible choice for:
- If you have already a well maintained ductwork in your home.
- A system utilizing central HVAC designed for new construction.
- No larger homes were found that specialize in whole-house heating and cooling.
- House owners who desire behaviour control and uniform airflow.
Requirements would vary between a multi-level house in open spaces and a small house in multiple rooms.
Which System Provides Better Comfort and Temperature Control?
For a greater degree of flexibility, there are ductless systems. A multi-zone mini-split lets you control each room separately. You can adjust some indoor units independently.
This can be helpful when:
- Bedrooms are maintained cooler than other living spaces.
- There are a few rooms that are seldom used.
- Household members have their own temperature preferences.
- Some rooms are much more lit by the sun than others.
However, some homeowners prefer a cleaner look. They may find wall or ceiling units less appealing than a concealed ducted system.
Which Heat Pump Is Easier and Less Expensive to Install?
In comparing ducted vs ductless mini-split air conditioning systems, installation needs can make quite a difference in terms of total cost and disturbance. Duct losses may consume over 30 percent of energy utilized in space conditioning processes.
Where existing ductwork exists, it can sometimes be relatively easy to install a ducted heat pump. Comfort Monster, a qualified HVAC professional, can inspect the building and determine what works best for the building.
How Does Your Climate Affect the Choice?
Another factor to consider when building zaires is climate. The temperatures that heat pumps are expected to operate in must be taken into consideration.
There are other climate considerations such as:
- Typical winter temperatures
- The heat of the summer combined with the humidity will do the rest.
- Seasonal temperature fluctuations
- Breathing in snow and/or ice.
- The insulating properties of the dwelling.
- Local electricity costs
Cooling systems may also extract moisture from the air in the house, which can be an advantage, depending on the system and conditions of operation, for humidity control.
What Are the Main Pros and Cons of Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps?
There are pros and cons with each choice.
Ducted Heat Pumps
Pros:
- Has central heating and cooling.
- Ensures distribution of air throughout the whole house
- Much of the indoor equipment can be camouflaged.
- Works well with current ductwork system
Cons:
- Ductwork replacement may cause disruptions
- When there are duct losses, there is a chance that it would also decrease the efficiency.
- Must have adequate space for ductwork
- Any sort of repair work or modification of ductwork can cost extra.
Ductless Heat Pumps
Pros:
- Incorporates no ducting at all.
- Typically easier to install
- Offers temperature control in each room.
- Great for new additions and older houses.
Cons:
- Indoor units can be seen
- There may be multiple indoor units needed for multiple rooms
- Filters and units of the indoor air reclamation machine need frequent maintenance
- There will be less uniformity of air distribution between rooms.
What Should You Check Before Choosing a Heat Pump?
When choosing either system, don’t forget to consider more than the price of the equipment.
Consider:
- Home size: For larger homes, a home a/c system may need to have a number of zones or a central system.
- Old ductwork: Have the ductwork checked to make sure it is not damaged, leaking, and the correct size.
- Design space plan: Determine if each room requires zone temperature controls.
- Climate: Use equipment suitable to the climate.
- Installation requirements: Determine the amount of structural work required to perform the installation.
Plans may factor into this, so if they have plans for any home extensions or renovations, that could lead to another area to consider.
In Conclusion
There is no universal choice when considering ducted vs ductless mini-split systems. Homes can require whole-house heating and cooling, and existing ductwork systems may make this an ideal situation for a ducted whole-home air conditioning system.
A qualified HVAC professional can bring a lot of value to a homeowner because the HVAC system can be the correct size and fit for one’s specific house needs.
