What’s the Difference Between Ducted & Ductless Heat Pumps?

If you want to have a heat pump installed in your home, you may be wondering about the differences between a ducted heat pump and a ductless heat pump. While both models are very similar in how they operate, they also have some key differences.

You can give our team a call to schedule heat pump service in Florissant, MO where we can go over your heat pump installation options and help you decide which model is going to work best for your family. You can also keep reading to learn more about some of the key differences between a ducted and ductless heat pump, as well as the pros and cons of each one.

Ducted Heat Pump Pros and Cons

Having a ducted heat pump means that you have a more traditional central heat pump that attaches to a network of ducts either in your attic or in your basement. Your heat pump produces heated and cooled air that then blows through the ductwork and into your home through the vents. The fact that the heat pump can both heat and cool all within the single system is one of the greatest benefits.

If you don’t have a heat pump, you have a separate heater and air conditioner. A heat pump operates very similarly to a central air conditioner for cooling. It also has a few unique components that allow it to reverse the direction of refrigerant and bring heat into your home during the winter season.

A heat pump is very efficient at heating because it is not in fact creating heat, it’s transferring heat energy from the outside into your home. The only potential downside is that a heat pump may struggle with heating your home when the temperatures outside drop lower and lower. When there’s less heat in the air, there’s less available warmth to bring into your home.

You also have to consider the downside of having attached ductwork. If the ductwork has holes and broken seals, then some of the heated and cooled air can escape before ever reaching your home. Inevitably, some heated and cooled air will also get trapped in the ductwork.

Ductless Heat Pump Pros and Cons

One of the greatest benefits of a ductless heat pump, also called a ductless mini split unit, is that these miniature units are installed directly in rooms of your home and blow air without needing any attached ductwork. As a result, 100% of the heated or cooled air reaches your home without any of it getting lost in air ducts.

Because of this unique method of operation, a ductless mini split unit has the potential to cut your energy bills by as much as half for heating and cooling. These units offer unmatched energy efficiency, although they are more expensive to install upfront. The trade-off is that while you spend more for installation you also save over the entire lifetime of the unit on monthly energy costs. The savings can add up very quickly.

Of course, ductless heat pumps do have slightly more maintenance than a more traditional central unit. This is because you need to clean filters for and maintain all of the individual units around your home instead of completing the tasks for one single central unit.

Selecting a Heat Pump Model

You might select a ductless mini split unit if you don’t have a lot of extra space for ductwork in your home. If you already have existing ductwork installed, it may make more sense to install a more traditional ducted heat pump. The decision is completely up to you. We encourage you to consider the energy efficiency ratings when selecting either type of heat pump.

Heat pumps receive ratings for air conditioning and heating since they offer both. In our area where it tends to be colder during the winters and slightly milder during the summer, the overall efficiency of a heat pump as a heater should be the priority.

Warm People, Cool Ideas, Quality Solutions. Give our team at Swiss Air Heating and Cooling a call today to schedule an appointment for heat pump service.