Centralized HVAC systems are the standard in Boston homes and have held that title for decades. But more and more homeowners are starting to invest in ductless heat pumps. These systems have an abundance of advantages, but they’re best known for their energy efficiency especially when compared with traditional versions. To help Boston homeowners better understand the energy benefits of ductless systems, let’s explore the inefficiencies of central air units and why heat pumps outshine these conventional units.
Up to 30% of air is lost through ductwork.
The biggest downside to having traditional ducted systems is the ductwork itself. The US Department of Energy reports that up to 30% of air is lost when flowing through ductwork due to poor connections, cracks, and other issues. This leakage requires central air units to burn more energy just to make up for the lost air, resulting in unnecessarily high energy bills.
Ductless heat pumps, on the other hand, don’t suffer from any air loss because these systems don’t rely on ductwork. Instead of distributing air throughout a home, heat pumps have indoor handling units that control the temperature of individual rooms. With the help of an outdoor compressor, these units can heat and cool the air in a room without having to redistribute it.
Centralized systems only have one temperature setting.
Families fighting over the thermostat might sound like a cliche until you experience it for yourself. Since centralized units can only keep the air in your home at a single temperature, homeowners end up constantly adjusting the temperature setting to address everyone’s needs. Unfortunately, this just leads to increased utility bills as your system burns more energy every time the temperature is changed.
With a ductless system, you can easily avoid the thermostat dilemma. Every indoor handling unit comes with an individual thermostat where you can manage the temperature in a room. This process of dividing up a home’s heating and cooling needs into individual spaces is known as zoning. Every member of your household can set their room’s thermostat to the desired temperature without disturbing others. Zoned heating and cooling reduce the amount of energy your HVAC system uses to make your home comfortable for everyone.
Traditional units can’t adjust their output.
Conventional HVAC systems are designed to heat and cool your entire home. Every room where you want temperature control capabilities is hooked up to the central unit via ductwork. Even when you’re not using a room, traditional units are still burning energy to force air throughout your home’s entire network of ducts. You can close registers in rooms where you want to impede the flow of air, but that doesn’t keep your central unit from using more energy than needed.
As mentioned before, heat pumps are uniquely designed to control the temperature in a single room instead of an entire home. Boston homeowners have the ability to control which areas of the home are heated or cooled. This flexibility allows ductless systems to only use the amount of energy needed to meet desired temperatures. And for all of the energy you’re saving due to the increased efficiency of ductless systems, you’re also saving a lot of money.
The Bottom Line: Ductless units are superior
Your home’s heating and cooling needs are always evolving, and centralized HVAC units simply don’t have the flexibility to strategically meet these changes. These conventional systems are rife with inefficiencies that end up costing homeowners more money in the long run. Ductless mini-splits are significantly more energy-efficient than their traditional counterparts and are the perfect heating and cooling alternative for those looking to make the switch.
If you’re interested in learning more about the advantages of ductless systems or you’re ready to schedule an appointment, contact New England Ductless today. We have years of experience helping Boston homeowners make the switch to ductless systems. You could be next!