Ductless heat pumps

Exspiravit

Mell-Known Wember
2A Bourbon Hound 2024
Benefactor
Life Member
Supporting Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Messages
5,898
Location
Surry County
Rating - 100%
89   0   0
Does anyone have real world experience with these things?

Right now I heat my house with a wood stove and an Amish heater in the back bedroom, but lately I've been taking stock of my back and realizing I might not be able to keep cutting and splitting enough wood every year to keep things comfortable all winter long.

I'm looking into options for supplementing the wood stove without having to buy an expensive normal heat pump and put a bunch of duct work in my 120 year old house.

Would one of these ductless heaters have enough oomph to warm a 30x15 living space?

Before the wood, when we first moved in there was a kerosene monitor heater that was incapable of keeping the place warm. So, don't want to try that again, but I'm open to other ideas.
 
I love the one in the Tiny House. Doesn't have heat strips though. So not sure how well it will work below 25 degrees or so.
 
I have a Mini Split in my shop which is 22 x 40 with 9' ceilings and it does very well. Mine is a Mitsubishi which received the highest praise from my installer, and it's the only brand he'll install and warrant.
 
We have a Misubishi system at the mountain place and it has been great. It doesn’t do much below around 20degF but the newer ones are supposed to. Ours is a multi zone, three ductless and one ducted upstairs.
 
I don't know if one is available with backup heat strips, but I would get it if it was available.

Mine has emergency heat via strips but it's never gotten cold enough for them to kick on. My shop is very well insulated and on the SW side of the house so it doesn't get a lot of wind. It does have a 16' insulated garage door which I keep closed unless I need to get the boat out.
 
I have one in my Master Bedroom. Mitsubishi . I think it's 20x20 with a vaulted ceiling.
We usually have the ceiling fan on to keep the heat from staying up high. works great.
Oh, keep the filter clean...


I don't know if one is available with backup heat strips, but I would get it if it was available.

There are.
 
Mine has emergency heat via strips but it's never gotten cold enough for them to kick on. My shop is very well insulated and on the SW side of the house so it doesn't get a lot of wind. It does have a 16' insulated garage door which I keep closed unless I need to get the boat out.


What size breaker is that on? Mine will only operate as a heat pump and it's on a 15 amp breaker. If it only took 20 amps to run heat strips, I'll look into upgrading.
 
This all sounds promising. When it's really cold I'd just use it to supplement the stove, so I'm not worried about that- I just want to cut back on wood consumption a bit.

Where have y'all gone to get a unit? Online? Local dealer?
 
This all sounds promising. When it's really cold I'd just use it to supplement the stove, so I'm not worried about that- I just want to cut back on wood consumption a bit.

Where have y'all gone to get a unit? Online? Local dealer?

My go to guy (Mike Hartz @Hartz HVAC 704-455-1566) was able to buy it (Mitsubishi) cheaper than I could on line.

We've a Mitsubishi doing a great job of heating/cooling a well insulated 30'x 24' shop at a very low cost for two years and no issues. I'd do it again.

I can't tell any difference in my power bill with it on or off, but there's a hell of a difference in the comfort of the shop.
 
My go to guy (Mike Hartz @Hartz HVAC 704-455-1566) was able to buy it (Mitsubishi) cheaper than I could on line.

Just called, and unfortunately I'm too far out from them.
 
I've been a dealer/installer for a very long time of Mitsubishi and have put in hundreds of system.

Facts:

1. No unit mounted on a wall has any electric heat in them. None. A ducted air handler or unitary Mitsubishi unit may but most do not.
2. They heat to +5 degrees if installed properly. But they have a reduced capacity at lower temps. No need for heat strips if sized correct.
3. Western regions need to use the Hyper Heat Mitsubishi model. They will heat to -5 degrees.
4. Snow regions (mountains) may need a heater inn the condenser drain pan and should be mounted on a bracket 16" or more off the ground.
5. There are three models- builder series (way less equipment price), regular, and Hyper Heat models. Hyper is by far the best. Builder series was made for cheap as American contractors and buyers who are Walmart buyers.
6. Never use an installer who cannot prove he has been to training. These units have critical needs for install and sizing. Any jackleg can put one in but it may not last but a few years.
7. Damn best heating and cooling system in the world. Japanese made. Any other unit but Mitsubishi or Carrier's unit are pure Korean or Chinese junk.
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys for all the input. Managed to find a reputable installer locally who's going to get me squared away.
 
Just FYI the dealer mark up is ridiculous on these units....my wife works for (an unnamed place) and we get employee pricing....had a quote for $36k to do our down stairs.... two out side units and a heat/ac unit in every room (11 units) we got a quote for her price and it was $11k for all units and parts needed....passed the info onto the contractor and asked him to split labor permitting misc out and they got upset that we had a direct price vs letting them get her price and mark it up to us......
 
Last edited:
I have a Mini Split in my shop which is 22 x 40 with 9' ceilings and it does very well. Mine is a Mitsubishi which received the highest praise from my installer, and it's the only brand he'll install and warrant.
Had one of these installed 2 weeks ago. A 2 ton Mitsubishi. It Is Wonderful!!!! It is in a room 40 X 14 with 10 foot ceilings and Lotsa insulation. The installer said we should be able to hang meat in the summer and walk around in our drawers in the winter.
All in installation, turn key was $2,660.
 
Back
Top Bottom