Do Mini Splits Heat and Cool?

Understanding What is a Mini Split System

Do mini splits heat and cool your home?

That’s the question a lot of homeowners ask as they shop for a new HVAC system.

Once you stumble upon the cost savings and long-term energy bill reduction, it’s a natural secondary question.

Whether you’re just starting your search for a quality heating and cooling device or want to know what is the best ductless heating and cooling system, we’ve answered your questions below.

Do Mini Splits Heat and Cool Your Home?

Yes, mini splits can heat and cool your home. The heat pump system can be used all year round to offer up both cooling and heating support. These ductless air conditioning unit provides heating depending on the outdoor temperature.

How Do Mini Splits Work?

But what exactly is a mini split? How do they work? A mini split is simply a heat pump system that transfers heat energy into various parts of your home using physics. 

It does this through Heat Transfer

According to the laws of physics, thermal energy moves toward cold spaces. Mini splits push heat into cold refrigerant liquid. This refrigerant absorbs heat in the air around the device.

Once heat is absorbed, the refrigerant moves through the mini split’s pipping to transport heat to various parts of the system.

Heat pumps in the unit regulate the amount of refrigerant moved from outdoor to indoor units. This determines how much heating or cooling your home has.

Next, there are air handlers.

These air handlers have an evaporator coil, air filter, and blower fan

This allows the unit to suck air from the room into the unit where it is either warmed or cooled, according to the unit’s temperature settings.

How do mini splits work in cold weather?

They do this by sucking heat from outside air and transferring it indoors through the refrigerant line. The indoor units are then responsible for pushing the air out into the room to heat it.  

How do they cool a house?

During the summertime, mini splits work by removing heat from inside the home and move it outside via the refrigerant line. It also removes humidity from the air inside the home, further reducing the temperature.

Once the hot air is removed, the air handler infuses cool air into the room.

Do Mini Splits use a Lot of Electricity?

No, mini splits don’t use an overabundance of electricity

During the winter months, mini splits use approximately 10-15 kWh of energy per day based on a 12,000 BTU unit. However, the temperature outdoors and the indoor air temperature settings affect how much electricity is used.

In summer, that same sized unit will take up about 8-12 kWh per day, again that’s dependent on the outdoor temperatures and indoor settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do mini splits both heat and cool?

Yes, they both heat and cool your home from the same unit.

What are the disadvantages of a mini split?

Some common concerns homeowners have about mini splits include:

• Aesthetically displeasing
• Weather conditions affect efficiency
• Maintenance is more demanding

Can a mini split be used as a heater?

Yes. You can use a ductless mini split system to heat the indoor of your home. They are capable of being the only source of heat for a home.

Can a mini split heat and cool an entire house?

Yes. You may need more zones for a larger home than you do a smaller indoor space, but they can handle heating and cooling for an entire home

Do mini splits use a lot of electricity for heat?

A ductless mini split system doesn’t use more energy than a traditional HVAC. The amount of electricity you use depends on the unit and size of your space.

Central HVACs use about 2,000 watts per hour, Window units use about 900 watts per hour, and electric furnaces use about 6,000 watts per hour.

How many mini splits do I need for 2000 square feet?

You will need about a 48,000 BTUs unit mini split system to cool and heat 2,000 square feet

Do mini splits work in extreme cold?

Extreme temperatures place greater demand on your mini split’s system. Search for mini splits labeled “low ambient” for “cold climates” to have the greatest success with functionality.

Can mini splits be used as primary heat?

Yes, you can use ductless mini splits for your primary source of indoor heat.