Best Heat Pump Mini Split: Reviews and Top-Rated Models
Clark Gable Jun 1, 2023 11:11 PM
A heat pump mini split is a great way to heat and cool your home while saving money on your energy bill. There are many different brands and models of heat pump mini splits on the market, so it can be difficult to know which one is the best for your home.
In this article, we will provide an overview of the best heat pump mini split brands and models, as well as their pros and cons. We will also provide a buyer’s guide to help you choose the best heat pump mini split for your home.
Top Choice: Best heat pump mini split
Last update on 2023-06-01 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Senville AURA Series Mini Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump
Source: Amazon
Product highlights:
- 24000 BTU cooling and heating capacity
- Energy Star rated for efficiency
- Comes with a wireless remote control and can also be controlled via Alexa voice commands
- Advanced inverter technology provides consistent temperature control and reduces energy consumption
- Includes a 16-foot installation kit with copper refrigeration lines, communication wire, and a drainage hose
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- High cooling and heating capacity suitable for large rooms or open spaces
- Energy Star rated for efficiency, which can lead to cost savings on energy bills
- Advanced inverter technology provides consistent temperature control and energy savings
- Can be controlled with a wireless remote or via Alexa voice commands
- Includes an installation kit with everything needed for installation
Cons:
- May require professional installation, which can add to the overall cost
- May be more expensive than other mini-split air conditioner heat pump options on the market
2. Senville LETO Series Mini Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump
Source: Amazon
Product highlights:
- 12000 BTU cooling and heating capacity
- Energy-efficient and eco-friendly
- Can be controlled via remote or app
- Works with Alexa for voice control
- Comes with installation kit
- Whisper-quiet operation
- Auto-restart and turbo mode features
- Washable and reusable filters
- Self-cleaning feature
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Energy-efficient and eco-friendly
- Can be controlled via remote or app
- Works with Alexa for voice control
- Comes with installation kit
- Whisper-quiet operation
- Auto-restart and turbo mode features
- Washable and reusable filters
- Self-cleaning feature
Cons:
- Requires professional installation
- May not be suitable for very large rooms or spaces
3. Pioneer Diamante Series Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner Inverter Heat Pump
Source: Amazon
Product highlights:
- Energy efficient inverter technology with up to 22.5 SEER rating
- Dual swing louver design for improved air flow
- Includes a complete installation kit with 16ft line set and communication wires
- Can cool and heat spaces up to 500 sq. ft.
- 5-year warranty for the compressor and 1-year for the other parts
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Efficient inverter technology helps save on energy bills
- Dual swing louver design improves air flow and distribution
- Comes with a complete installation kit for added convenience
- Can be used for both cooling and heating
- Offers a 5-year warranty for the compressor, which is longer than some competitors
Cons:
- Can only cool/heat a relatively small space, so may not be suitable for larger homes or commercial buildings
- Installation can be complex and may require professional assistance
- Some customers report issues with the remote control, which may require replacement
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Types of Heat Pumps
Ducted Air-Source Heat Pump
Similar to a central air conditioner in both appearance and operation, this kind of heat pump. A refrigerant line carrying a fluid that transfers heat between the two units connects the two units, which are an outdoor unit and an indoor unit with aluminum fins and coils for heat release and collection, respectively. The turbine in the outside unit both compresses and distributes the refrigerant. The interior unit is connected to the ductwork inside your home, and a blower pumps warm or cold air via the ductwork and out-of-air vents strategically positioned throughout your home. The median cost for the acquisition and installation of a ducted heating system between 2016 and 2021, as reported by CR's member surveys, was $7,791, while brand differences exist.
Ductless (aka Mini-Split) Air-Source Heat Pump
Similar to a ducted system, this type of system can heat and cool the air in your home, but it does not utilize ductwork to do it. Instead, the interior air handlers, often known as "heads," that are placed throughout your house are connected to the outside unit. It's a typical, simple technique to add a heat pump to a house or part of a house without ducts. The air-handler heads are often mounted high on a wall, although some heads may be installed within the ceiling or the floor if the homeowner doesn't like the aesthetic or doesn't have the room. Because they minimize the energy disadvantages associated with ductwork, mini-splits are also more energy-efficient than piped heat pumps. According to HomeAdvisor, the completed cost of ductless mini-splits can vary from $2,000 to $14,500 based on the capacity and the number of zones. CR does not currently have enough brand-specific information to reflect on the costs members spent to buy and install these systems.
Other Types of Heat Pumps
Other heat pump designs have been demonstrated to perform admirably in select circumstances, although they are less prevalent than air-source heating systems.
Underneath, where the temperature is a consistent 50° to 60° F all year round, ground-source or geothermal energy pumps collect and heat up. They are very efficient because, unlike air-source heat pumps, they are not required to make large temperature adjustments. Ground-source systems, however, might be difficult for small lots or those with particular types of soils or landscapes since the heat-exchanging pipes are buried beneath (either horizontally or vertically). Ground-source energy systems might cost anywhere from $6,000 and $30,000 or more. Federal and municipal incentives may greatly lower the cost, and the devices are so energy-efficient that even with conservative projections, the cost savings from your electricity bills might pay for the implementation within 10 years.
Unlike ground-source systems, water-source heat exchangers are installed at the bottom of a body of water rather than beneath. These may be simpler and less costly to install than ground-source systems if your property has an adequate body of water.
Similar to air-to-air types, air-to-water heat pumps employ exterior units, but they disperse heat using a hot-water radiator system. Although many homes in the Northeast and Midwest rely on hydronic radiators for heat, air-to-water heat pumps are currently uncommon in the United States.
Why Buy a Heat Pump?
You may have just recently heard about heat pumps if you reside somewhere with frigid winters. Nearly 14% of American households, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, utilize heat pumps as their main heating (and cooling) system in 2018. Therefore, if your home already uses a heat pump and you're satisfied with it, replacing it with a similar type, which will certainly be more efficient, is the easiest thing to do when it wears out (often after 10 to 15 years of operation). Based on the results of our member poll, CR members can learn which brands of ducted heat pumps provide their owners the most satisfaction.
Your central AC needs to be replaced (or add new built-in air conditioning). A heat pump functions precisely like an air conditioning unit while it is cooling. Both systems require the same installation procedure. Though the precise amount might vary, installing a heat pump often costs more than installing a central air conditioner with a comparable efficiency rating and capacity. A comparison of numerous models revealed installation cost variations ranging from 2% to more than 35%. If you install a heat pump, some state and local governments and utility providers can provide tax breaks or cash refunds to help offset the expense.
Therefore, if you're going to replace (or add) an AC anyway, whether it be a central system or a room unit, it might make sense to spend a little more money on a heat pump. You can keep your current heating system as a backup for the coldest days and benefit from elevated heating on the fairly mild days of the year (more on this kind of hybrid system later).
You want to make a chilly room warmer. An inexpensive and efficient option to bring climate control to areas of your home where the main system doesn't quite work—like a completed attic, garage workspace, or home addition—is with a ductless, mini-split heat pump.
You either use an electric-resistance furnace or electric baseboard heater or "delivered" fuels like propane or heating oil. These are all pricey methods of home heating, but depending on your location and the price of power, switching to a heat pump is likely to result in long-term financial savings, even after the cost of installation.
Your carbon impact has to be substantially less. A typical home uses about half of its energy for heating. As a result, everything you do to heat your home more effectively and with cleaner energy sources will significantly increase its sustainability. According to 2022 research from the University of California, Davis, replacing a gas furnace with a heat pump will lower the carbon emissions associated with heating a home by an average of 40%. It's one of the most effective strategies to lessen your environmental impact and doesn't call for a lifestyle change.
There are ducts in your house. The United States already uses ducts to deliver heating and cooling in more than half of all houses. For whole-home heating and cooling, a ducted heat pump may be attached to the preexisting ductwork. The sole restriction is that poorly insulated, leaky ducts are detrimental to heat pumps more than any other type of heating system.
You reside in a place where heat pumps are subsidized. Heat pumps often cost more upfront than conventional heating systems, especially ones that perform well in extremely cold areas. For instance, the median cost to buy and install a heat pump was $7,791 among CR members polled as opposed to $6,870 for gas furnaces. A whole-house heat pump for a cold region can cost nearly more than $10,000, according to the people we spoke with. (However, keep in mind that heat pumps also offer to cool.) But a heat pump can be less expensive than alternative heat-only systems with state- or utility-based subsidies, whether they take the form of tax credits or cash refunds. Currently, ground-source heat pump systems are eligible for federal tax breaks but air-source heat pump systems are not.
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