For years, the owner of a three-story home in Cheltenham struggled with the heating and cooling in his home. The ductwork was old and didn’t circulate the air well, so he never bothered getting central air. And, his home was often chilly in the winter.
He first called ECI looking for an air conditioning solution only; the summers were rougher than the winters. But when he learned about ductless mini-splits, he realized he could solve all his problems with one solution!
In this case study, we’ll look at how mini-splits work and the benefits they offer. From there, it’s easy to see why our homeowner went with this system for all his HVAC needs.
Ductwork Problems in Cheltenham Home
The ductwork in this home was very old and, as a result, lost a lot of air and pressure throughout the years. That’s why our homeowner was often chilly in the winter.
Not all the heat from his gas furnace would make it to every room — especially the upstairs. A lot of it would seep out in leaks downstairs or behind the walls.
When that happens, you’re also losing pressure that’s essential for the forced-air system. Now, there’s not enough heat for the whole house, plus it’s not circulating because the system can’t push it through to each room.
It’s why our homeowner first came to us. Initially, he was prepared to deal with less-than-optimal winter temperatures. But summers are also getting hotter, and he knew it’d be a waste of money to install central air on those ratty old ducts.
He knew immediately that mini-splits would solve his summer problem, his winter problem, and a few other issues that he hadn't even thought about yet.
How Ductless Heating and Cooling Works
Ductless systems use an outdoor heat pump and air handlers inside to transfer heat, or thermal energy, and circulate the air. They’re called mini splits because of those two components.
In the winter, the heat pump outside draws what little thermal energy there is outside, then amplifies it and sends it inside. There, the air handlers circulate it through the rooms where we install them. Each area of the house gets a different air handler with a built-in thermostat so that each one works on its own.
In the summer, the system works the opposite way: air handlers draw hot air from the rooms and send it outside to the heat pump. They also dehumidify -- an essential step in the air conditioning process.
Installing the System
The key to this is how we connect the heat pump and air handlers. All we need is a small line set that houses the power supply and a few lines. In all, this is less than a foot in diameter and flexible.
Because of this, we often run the lines through the walls and then out to the heat pump. Occasionally, we’ll run them along the wall inside a casing that you can paint to blend with the room.
And that’s it! The lines are sealed tight and hardly noticeable. It’s what made it so attractive to this homeowner.
Year-round heat vs. supplemental heat
Heating is where the customer took his decision to the next level. Originally, he was considering a standard heat pump. These can cool your home even when it’s 130 degrees Fahrenheit outside.
But, when it gets down around 20, they can’t provide heat; there’s not enough thermal energy outside for it to work.
Our homeowner then learned about Hyper-Heat models. These heat pumps are made to make your home comfortable year-round. They can work even when it’s negative 13 degrees outside!
So, our homeowner decided to do away with his gas furnace and old ductwork completely. Now, his home is more comfortable than ever all year.
Our homeowner loves his new ductless system. He pays far less each month for his heat, and his cooling costs much less than traditional central air.
And, for the first time, his entire home is comfortable no matter what time of year.
If you're thinking about upgrading the heating and cooling in your home with a ductless system, click the button below or give us a call at 215 - 245 - 3200.
Starting with a free consultation, we’ll design a system that’s perfect for your home.
