Case Studies

We got a call from the owner of a beautiful ranch home in Bensalem, PA. From outside, the house looked like a perfect time capsule from the 50s and 60s. Inside, unfortunately, that meant outdated baseboard heat. 

Now, with an upgrade to ductless heating and cooling, our homeowner’s gone from old-fashioned electric heat to electric that’s much more comfortable and way more energy efficient. 

Baseboard heaters were popular before PECO installed gas lines in the area. But they don’t work as well as other options. And they’re becoming more expensive as winters get colder. 

Meanwhile, no forced-air ductwork means no central air conditioning. So, every spring, our homeowner lugged a few window-unit air conditioners out of storage. 

It was time for a change. After researching his options, our homeowner called ECI. He’d heard about ductless mini splits and wanted to see if it was the right option for his house. 

In this post, we’ll explore a brief history of homes in Bucks County’s largest township. Then, we’ll look at the solution our homeowner found: Mitsubishi ductless. 

We’ll see why the benefits of these systems were such a good fit here. 

Meanwhile, if you have any questions, or want to know if ductless is right for your home, call or email us here at ECI Comfort. 

Starting with a free consultation, we’ll help you make the best choice for your heating and cooling needs, and we’ll make sure you’re cared for well after the installation. 

Problem: A Bensalem homeowner was tired of his heating expenses skyrocketing in the winter. And his home didn’t have central air. 

Solution: Replaced electric baseboard heaters and window air conditioners with a Mitsubishi mini split for heating and cooling.

Heating and Cooling in Bensalem Homes

People have been building homes in Bensalem for centuries. And, of course, their heating and cooling needs — and methods — have changed and improved over the years. 

Founded in 1692, Bensalem, PA, is one of the oldest settlements in what’s now Bucks County. You can still find old mansions and estates from centuries past along the Delaware River. 

Nearby Levittown always gets spotlighted as one of the nation’s first suburbs. But Bensalem wasn’t far behind. And this house is proof. 

Classic Suburban Ranch Homes in Bensalem

Our homeowner lived in a classic one-story ranch home. These houses were a stable of suburbs across the country by the 60s. 

And, in this case, a previous owner converted part of the garage into a mother-in-law suite. 

However, the home’s then-state-of-the-art heating system was now pretty outdated. 

Back when the suburbs were first popping up, these neighborhoods didn’t have gas lines. That would have raised the prices of the homes. And, a big selling point back then was how they were very affordable. 

So, electric heat was touted as state-of-the-art back then. You’d find ads featuring baseboard heat and electric stoves. Today, however, they’re a part of the past that’s probably best left there. 

Drawbacks of Baseboard Heaters

Baseboard heat was popular in the 50s and 60s because you didn’t need gas lines for forced air. Nor did you need a company to ship oil to your house every few months. 

In this home, the addition isn’t directly attached to the main living area. So, it’s much cheaper to install more baseboard heaters than run ductwork. 

But baseboards use a lot of electricity. As a result, our homeowner’s electric bill got bigger every winter. 

And, it could take up to an hour for a room to warm up. Even more if the units were dirty. 

Finally, he had to design the room around them: If you put furniture in front of the strips, the heat won’t radiate. 

Ductless Mini Split Replaces Baseboard Heaters

Our homeowner was interested in a ductless mini split because it provided the benefits of his electric heating system without the drawbacks. Now, he could heat and cool his home more comfortably while lowering his bills. And he didn’t need ductwork.

How Ductless Works

You can read up on the specifics of how this all works in our learning library here and here. But for now, here’s an overview. 

The system sends a refrigerant liquid in a closed loop between an outdoor heat pump and indoor air handlers.

The refrigerant transfers heat into the house in the winter, and out of the house in the summer. 

Inside, we install air handlers in different zones of the house. Each one has a thermostat. So, they all work independently.

To connect the system, we use a line set that’s only a few inches wide. We can often run it behind the walls where they don’t take up any space. 

Installing a Ductless Mini Split in a Ranch Home

Our design for this ranch home’s ductless mini split used two types of air handlers. In a few rooms, we used wall-mounted units. These sit high up, near the ceiling. 

To help them blend into the room, we match the lines and contours of doors and windows. 

Now, our homeowner uses one for the main living area. There’s another in the addition on the other side of the garage. 

Then, we installed another air handler in the attic. From there, we ran short-run ducts into each bedroom. 

This way, each bedroom has a vent, but all the ductwork is in the attic. It doesn’t take up any space in the rooms. 

And, since the air doesn’t travel throughout the house, it was more efficient than conventional forced air. 

Our last step was running line sets with refrigerant to a heat pump in the back of the house. It looks like a conventional AC compressor. But, it’s much smaller and virtually silent. 

In all, the installation only took a few days. Now, our homeowner never has to drag an air conditioner out of the garage again. And, he doesn’t have to wait an hour for a room to warm up. 

Meanwhile, his electric bill has never been lower. For this old-fashioned house, a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system finally makes it feel like the perfect suburban home. 

Are you interested in updating the HVAC system in your ranch or early suburban home? Find out how ECI can help! Contact us for a free consultation.