« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: HVAC: 'Standard' air-to-air versus mini-splits? What say ye?  (Read 1505 times)

rcjordan

  • I'm consulting the authorities on the subject
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16415
  • Debbie says...
    • View Profile
HVAC: 'Standard' air-to-air versus mini-splits? What say ye?
« on: May 30, 2021, 06:13:08 PM »
> RC:
>
> We are thinking of replacing our hvac system ad ours is now 13 years old. I’ve been reading a lot about mini split
> systems. Would one be practical for our house ?

I'm considering a couple of mini-splits for our upstairs when I replace the air-to-air unit.  Though some of the secondary brands (Panasonic) have enticing prices, Mitsubishi is the market leader and *seems* to have a longer service life per reviews.  That said, mini-splits also seem (to me) to have a shorter service life than today's 'standard' hvac units. Nor do they have as many qualified service technicians available should you need repairs.

Right now, if I were forced to make a purchase personally, I think I'd forego my min-split idea and replace my old unit with another air-to-air but perhaps with higher SEER if the upgrade price was right. My gut call is that we couldn't make the mini-splits cost effective, even in the long run.

Logged

ergophobe

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9324
    • View Profile
Re: HVAC: 'Standard' air-to-air versus mini-splits? What say ye?
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2021, 11:08:53 PM »
So... neighbors and family have had great experience with their mini-splits.

Our experience has been bad - constant freon leaks. There's a lot more hose and the freon is running through both the compressor and the head unit, so lots of fail points.

Also, we have forced air heat, so if we had done traditional, we could have just tied into the heating ducting and be done with it. Big mistake for us.

So my feeling is that if you are starting from scratch and you will use the minisplits for heating and cooling, it makes a lot of sense (assuming you're in a place where they can heat effectively). If you're adding to an existing house, I think it depends on what you have for ducting and access and how hard it will be to run ducting.
Logged

Drastic

  • Need a bigger hammer...
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3087
  • Resident Redneck
    • View Profile
Re: HVAC: 'Standard' air-to-air versus mini-splits? What say ye?
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2021, 11:17:13 PM »
>My gut call is that we couldn't make the mini-splits cost effective, even in the long run.

This is where I'm at.
Logged

Brad

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4162
  • What, me worry?
    • View Profile
Re: HVAC: 'Standard' air-to-air versus mini-splits? What say ye?
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2021, 12:12:00 PM »
This is an interesting discussion, although I had to duck-duck it to get up to speed on the terminology.  hhh

There is an apartment complex in our neighborhood, each apt. has a Mitsubishi air to air heat pump.  The buildings are newish and well insulated.  I was skeptical that air to air heat pumps would work when they were built but I've heard no complaints.  And frankly, we don't get the extended extreme cold weather we used to get in the Chicago area like we did 60 years ago.

A neighbor has all heat pumps on their new house.  Each room has a box unit up on the wall or ceiling so I assume this means a mini-split system.  Again Mitsubishi.  The house is all super insulated built with SIP panels.  I've asked them several times, over the years, how their costs to heat and cool compare with neighbors who are all conventional natural gas furnaces and A/C and they compare well.  That's impressive for a home that is all electric in this area.
Logged

ergophobe

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9324
    • View Profile
Re: HVAC: 'Standard' air-to-air versus mini-splits? What say ye?
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2021, 04:50:11 PM »
>>well insulated

That's another consideration. The poorly insulated house across the street has a compressor that runs non-stop if it gets below 20F. I assume that's not an issue for RC's friend.

Do A/C systems start to simply fail in extremely high heat as the heat pumps fail in extremely low temperatures? I've never lived somewhere where it gets above 95.
Logged

rcjordan

  • I'm consulting the authorities on the subject
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16415
  • Debbie says...
    • View Profile
Re: HVAC: 'Standard' air-to-air versus mini-splits? What say ye?
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2021, 05:03:05 PM »
>95

Good question.  One source says up to 100f, another says "typically, heat pumps have cooling operating temperature range of 15°F to 115°F (-10°C to 46°C). This means that if you live in ANY part of USA, a heat pump will provide adequate cooling"

But I couldn't find any really authoritative sites mentioning AC temp ranges, most were about heating only.
Logged

Brad

  • Inner Core
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4162
  • What, me worry?
    • View Profile
Re: HVAC: 'Standard' air-to-air versus mini-splits? What say ye?
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2021, 01:29:46 PM »
> Again Mitsubishi.

I was wrong the neighbors had Fujitsu heat pumps and after 7 years they just had to replace all the units.  The Fujitsu units all started failing just after the warranty expired, on one it was the bearings another something else.   They got replaced by Mitsubishi units.

If you are going to go all electric, I still think heat pumps are the way forward for all but the most extreme climates.
Logged
Pages: [1]
« previous next »