Ductless
Ductless air source heat pumps can provide heating and air conditioning without the need for central ductwork. A ductless system includes one or more outdoor condenser units connected to one (single-zone) or more (multi-zone) indoor wall, floor or ceiling air distribution units. Ductless ASHPs are often referred to as ductless mini-splits. Ductless air source heat pumps are the most efficient air source systems and can be installed either as a primary source of heating and cooling or as a supplement to existing systems.
These supplemental applications could include, for example:
- Installing indoor units in the most frequently used larger rooms like family rooms or master bedrooms to displace heating or cooling from an existing system
- Installing indoor units in new additions as the sole/primary source of heating or cooling
- Adding indoor units in hot or cold spots of your home that can’t seem to be fixed with better insulation or more invasive modifications.
Ductless indoor air distribution units come with remote or wireless controls (or smartphone apps) that allow you to control each unit and allow you to use them for heating, cooling, dehumidification, or as a fan. Because each indoor unit can be controlled individually (forming independent heating/cooling “zones”), you can heat or cool different parts of your home to different temperatures depending on personal comfort preferences. This can allow you to reduce energy use even more by heating or cooling only the zones that you wish to use.
Ducted
Ducted air source heat pumps use one or more outdoor condenser units that are connected to an air handler and a building’s ductwork, which is used to heat or cool the building. Ducted (also known as “central” or “unitary”) ASHPs are not much different from central air conditioners or furnaces, except that they provide heating as well as cooling in a single system. Ducted ASHPs can work with your home’s existing ductwork, though some modifications may be necessary to make it suitable for use with a heat pump.
Homeowners switching to heat pumps from inefficient systems that run on fuel oil, propane, or traditional electric resistance can save close to $1,000 per year.