Ductless Split Heat Pumps: A ductless split heat pump (mini split) can be installed in homes that lack adequate ductwork. This type contains two key units. The outdoor unit, contains a condenser coil, compressor, and fan. The indoor unit is the head, which contains an evaporator coil and a fan. A ductless split system can have multiple heads to provide heat or cooling to various parts of your home.
The indoor heads can be installed on a wall, floor or ceiling. A remote control can be used to set and manage different desired temperatures in each room that contains a head. Refrigerant is circulated through tubing which connects the outdoor and indoor units.
One of the key advantages of split ductless systems is the energy savings when compared to ducted systems. One of the bigger disadvantages is the costs associated with installing a ductless split heat pump. It can get expensive to install multiple indoor units.
Aesthetically, newer models look better than older versions. But many homeowners do not like how the indoor head units look within their décor.
Geothermal Heat Pumps
A Geothermal or ground-source heat pump operates in the same manner as an air-sourced heat pump, except instead of absorbing and expelling heat into the air, it does so into the ground. They use the earth and/or ground water to source heat. The more even temperatures found in the ground, allow this kind of heat pump to operate more efficiently during the hotter and colder days of the year.
Read our post about the Benefits of Geothermal Heating and Cooling.
The Benefits of Heat Pumps
- A heat pump can both cool and heat your home
- Heat pumps run on electricity and consequently may produce lower CO2 emissions than a furnace that burns natural gas. Most electricity in Canada is produced through non-carbon emitting sources, especially in British Columbia and Ontario.
- Since your furnace won’t be running as much, you could significantly reduce your home’s CO2 emissions.
- Energy savings – You can potentially reduce your energy bills due to higher efficiencies on the heat pump in milder weather
- Flexibility – Shield yourself from increases in natural gas prices by giving yourself the choice of heating your home with either natural gas or electricity
- Comfort – The temperature in your home could be more even and work on a more continuous basis vs. a single stage furnace
- Performance – Quiet-running heat pumps come with an ecobee smart thermostat. The ecobee switches automatically from your heat pump to your furnace when needed
- Today’s heat pumps can heat your homes even when it’s below zero