Ductless minisplit heat pumps are becoming more popular every year. They are more efficient than most air source heat pumps, and they can be used to heat and cool zones not served by a central HVAC system. The cost for minisplit systems is quite affordable.

You’ll often hear these systems referred to either as ductless or minisplit systems, or sometimes by both names.

What is a Ductless Minisplit System?

A ductless heat pump is a heating and cooling system designed to serve one to four zones rather than an entire home or business. The term “minisplit” refers to the fact that they are smaller than standard heat pump split systems that supply centralized heating and cooling.

How Does a Ductless Minisplit Heat Pump Work?

These systems work by moving heat from one location to another. In summer, they remove heat from inside the building and pump it outside. In cold weather, they capture heat outside – they can be effective until temperatures drop to about freezing – and move it indoors to heat the space.

A small condensing unit is installed outside, on the ground, the roof or in some cases attached to the side of the building. The indoor unit, sometimes called an air handler, is mounted high on a wall or on the ceiling. Refrigerant travels between the two units. The liquid captures heat inside the building when the unit is in cooling mode. It carries the heat outside, releasing it in the outdoor unit where it radiates out. This process cools the inside of the building.

For heating, the process is reversed with the use of specialized valves. The refrigerant captures heat outside, carries it indoors and releases it.

A single outside unit serves 1-4 indoor air handlers placed in different rooms or zones.

What are the Most Common Brands of Minisplit Heat Pumps?

The leading brands of ductless minisplit heat pumps are Air-Con, Friedrich, Fujitsu, Klimaire, Lennox, LG, Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Shinco and YMGI.

How Much Does a Ductless Heat Pump Cost?

Ductless minisplit heat pump systems range in size from about 6,000 BTU units that will serve up to 250 square feet to 36,000 BTU units that will serve approximately 1,500 square feet. These systems can be the most cost effective when you are installing in a small space or on a tight budget . Small, single zone ductless heat pumps cost less than $600. The largest multi-zone minisplit heat pump systems cost more than $4,000. Units with 9,000 to 18,000 capacity are most common and range in price from about $800 to $1,600.

Installation is extra and will vary based on the number of indoor air handlers as well as the complexity of the job. Expect complete costs for an installed system to range from $1,200 to $6,500.

Ductless Minisplit Heat Pumps

How do minisplit heat pumps compare with standard heat pump split systems? When homeowners are looking for the best way to heat and cool their home, this is a common question. In the minisplit system versus standard heat pump system debate, what are each type’s relative advantages?

Heat Pump System Size

For compact size, minisplit systems are unbeatable. The condensing unit is less than half the size of a standard heat pump condensing unit, so less room is required outside your home. The compact size makes roof installation more feasible on some homes.

Inside your home, minisplit systems don’t necessarily take up less space but the space they use is distributed. They don’t have a single large air handler that is installed in the basement, for example. In an average-size home, a minisplit system may require 4 smaller air handlers in 4 separate zones, installed on or near the ceiling where they are unobtrusive.

The Ductless Difference

Equipment costs for minisplit systems are often lower in part because most don’t require duct work. The air handler is located in the zone it serves, with a power line, refrigerant line and drain line connected to it through the wall and out of sight. There are no ducts to clean, insulate or maintain. This attractive features is just one more reason ductless minisplit systems are growing in popularity.

Balanced Temperatures

Here, the advantage goes to a traditional heat pump system and ducts. While a single zone will have just one air handler with a minisplit system, with a standard heat pump system the same zone may have 2-5 air vents distributing heated or cooled air to the room. Minisplit systems do contain quiet but powerful distribution fans that do a good job of circulating treated air throughout the zone, but slight temperature differences may be noticeable, though generally not uncomfortable.

Heat Pump Cost

Prices are more competitive than they’ve ever been, though for an average-size home, total equipment costs will still be higher for a minisplit system in most cases. For smaller homes where just one outdoor unit is required along with 2-4 indoor units, a minisplit system can be very cost-effective, especially since total installation costs are usually less.

The type of heat pump system you choose depends on the specific factors of your home and heating/cooling needs. It may make sense to get written estimates from several contractors for each type of system so you can compare them head to head in all the important factors.

MiniSplit Heat Pumps Versus Split Systems