What’s Better in Maine: A Ductless Mini-Split or a Central Air Heat Pump?

There are various reasons why ductless mini-splits are often the ideal solution for Maine homes in need of supplemental heating during cooler months and limited cooling during the summer.

Ductless Heat Pumps Are Fundamentally More Efficient

Based on design and how it functions, a ductless heat pump will always be more energy efficient – not necessarily based on SEER rating but because of how it’s used.

A ducted heat pump will heat or cool your entire home through ductwork, which will inevitably require more energy than a mini-split zone heat pump that’s only consuming enough energy to heat or cool a limited space. Homeowners with ductless mini-split systems only pay to heat or cool active living spaces and not those they aren’t occupying.

Many mini-splits also feature variable-speed compressors, while some central air heat pumps rely on two-speed compressors that must switch on and off more frequently and can reduce their overall efficiency.

Multi-Zone Mini-Split Heat Pumps Provide Better Precision Temperature Control

People in your family may have different temperature preferences in their bedrooms or living spaces. A multi-zone ductless heat pump offers multiple indoor air handlers that can be adjusted based on individual needs.

Very few ducted homes have perfectly distributed cooling or heating. Your home may have rooms that are always too cool while other parts of the house get too warm. Ductless heat pumps can be the ideal solution. You can add supplemental heating or cooling exactly where needed and avoid boosting the thermostat and increasing the temperature in your entire home. This saves energy in the long run.

No Large Modification Projects Necessary

There are many rooms in your home where it’s not convenient to add ductwork, like garages, finished basements, or attics. Even if you can expand or add ductwork, it’s often an expensive, complicated process that may result in reduced furnace efficiency or performance.

Ductless mini-split heat pumps can be installed in a variety of situations, even in places where installing traditional ductwork may be inconvenient or impossible.

No Need to Maintain, Clean or Repair Ductwork

Leaky or poorly insulated ductwork can sap the efficiency of your home’s central heating or cooling system leading to wasted fuel and added wear and tear on your furnace.

Ductwork may be buried in your home’s floors and walls, but it is still susceptible to damage or wear, especially at the seams. This can result in heated or cooled air escaping into attics or other spaces where it isn’t providing any meaningful temperature control. Those leaks also force your furnace to work harder to push out enough air to get your home up to the temperature you set.

Faster to Install

Modifying or adding ductwork, vents, returns, or large furnaces or heat pumps to a home can be a laborious process during which your home may be forced to go without effective heating or cooling. There are certain times in Maine when that delay isn’t a workable option for families.

If you’re looking for a quick solution to your home’s heating or cooling deficiencies, ductless mini-splits are far faster to install than ducted central air heat pumps. Mini-split installation is just a matter of mounting the outdoor condenser and the indoor air handler, then running the electric, condensate, and refrigerant line between the two.

Excellent Heat Pump Rebates from Efficiency Maine

Many energy-efficient ductless mini-split systems are eligible for great instant rebates from Efficiency Maine. This can reduce the cost of your heat pump installation by potentially thousands of dollars.

The ductless heat pump experts at Valley Home Services are uniquely qualified to help you understand which rebates you might be eligible to receive. Our team would be happy to help you with the process to ensure you get the best, most efficient heat pump possible for your money.

Get a Great Deal on Ductless Heat Pumps in the Bangor Area

If you’re interested in installing a ductless heat pump in your home or business – or you’d just like to learn more about ductless heat pumps as an option for your temperature control – give our team a call at (800) 316-7815.

Our heat pump specialists can also help protect your ductless mini-split investment with exceptional maintenance and fast repairs.