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We recently installed a new set of Daikin Emura ductless mini splits into a home in South Barrington, IL. The homeowner has been working from home, and using their covered patio and pool space as a working space as well. The only issue was that there was no heating or cooling out there, and it wasn’t comfortable enough to use all year long.
I have seen many homes like this one, and installed systems that address this issue. Instead of redesigning the entire HVAC system or suggesting replacing the old one, we needed to add some sort of solution to take care of the space in question.
Our recommendation was adding a supplemental ductless mini split system. There was no need to replace the old HVAC system, because it was doing a great job of heating and cooling the inside of the home. Instead, we needed to add a system that could take care of the office space independently.
There are a few other key factors that made a ductless mini split the right solution to this problem:
Ductless mini splits are some of the most energy-efficient technology you can use to heat or cool your home. They are heat pumps and use a heat transfer process to heat and cool your home. This process is more efficient than a traditional heating system that uses combustion.
They also use electricity, which is a much cleaner and environmentally friendly source of energy. Ductless mini splits tend to use 10-30% less energy than traditional HVAC systems.
Unlike traditional HVAC systems, you can heat and cool a particular zone using a mini split, without having to have the rest of your home at the same temperature. One of the best things about a ductless mini split is that you can run different units independently, at different speeds and temperatures.
For example, one room in your house can be 72 degrees, while the other is at 68. If you aren’t using that room, you can leave the system off to save energy.
In this case, being able to shut the system off and keep the rest of the home comfortable was essential to being energy efficient and cost-effective.
One of the biggest drawbacks of putting an HVAC system in an office setting is the noise it creates, but not with ductless mini splits. You may notice these systems in more and more offices, bars, and restaurants because they are so quiet.
Ductless mini splits were designed to be unnoticeable when it comes to emitting noise. They operate at the level of a whisper, or leaves rustling. AC window units and traditional condensers make LOTS of noise, and can be distracting and bothersome.
In this situation, the ducts didn’t run to the room they wanted to install HVAC in. This means that if they wanted the main system to comfort this space, we would have had to make adjustments to the ductwork. This can get messy and adds extra costs to the job.
Instead, a ductless mini split requires no ductwork at all. Instead, we run a bit of tubing through a small piece of line set from the outdoor condenser to the air handler inside. This allows for a much less invasive HVAC installation.
Ductless mini splits are heat pumps, and function in the same way. Mini splits use a heat transfer process to treat the air. In the winter, the outdoor condenser brings in heat from the air outside. There isn’t much, but still enough for the heat pump to bring it in. It then adds more heat to the air, and delivers it to your air handler.
In the summer, the process is reversed. Heat is taken from the air inside, and extracted to the heat pump. There it is run over a refrigerant coil and pushed back to the air handler inside.
In both cases, there is no combustion, but instead the heat transfer process. This process allows your ductless mini splits to works as heating and air conditioning systems.
One of the great benefits of deciding to add a heat pump to your home is the savings. Depending on the efficiency of your new heat pump, it could qualify for rebates from ComEd, and tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act.
The reason these rebates and tax credits are available is because these systems reduce energy consumption, and therefore help the environment. The less energy we use, the better it is for emissions and our carbon footprint. Not only will you save money on your energy bills, but you will also save money on the initial installation of your new system.
At Compass Heating and Air, we have installed ductless mini split heat pumps in many homes in Barrington, IL, and the surrounding areas. We can help you choose the right HVAC system for your home, and make sure that you get the best rebates and savings available.
Give us a call at (630) 504-8688, or click here to contact us online!