(quack...quack...Duck less ) Ductless Heating and [Cooling System] (how many BUCKS should I spend)??

LS123

Hello friends,

"Once American currency replaced animal skins as a way to pay for goods, the term "buck" remained as a slang term for one dollar."

Today I had a heating and cooling system specialist who came to give me an estimate to replace my old boiler suggested; that I could use Ductless heating and cooling with option to have zones. He also suggested that, if I want to keep my old beast 70 year old oil steam boiler as back up. I can keep it as a back up because, it can run on a generator on 120V. if there is a extended power outage.) Diversifying is one of my thingies..... so I have options....

He also stated that, if I want have a ductless heating and cooling (for the whole house) for about the same cost or slightly below, what it would cost to replacing the old oil steam boiler with a new one.

Last week I paid very little amount for heating oil bill, but it used to be so much more expensive, before Russians and Saudis started pumping so much oil, a barrel of crude was about $10 (ok.... this is a fact, so I can price it, I hope without getting in trouble)

Most-likely oil price will climb back up in while... especially after we have a huge recession....

I was also told that ductless systems depends on electricity (240 V) and, expect to have my electric bill to be about twice more than what I am currently paying during heating and cooling seasons.

My monthly electric bill is so low, everyone is wondering how and why? hint... only one person (me) occupy the house (except on couple of weekends with few others, andI have all energy star rating appliances, etc)

(Q-1) Anyone know what below numbers mean?

AHRI Rated Ductless Heating and Cooling System of Matched Assembly
Single indoor unit SEER ≥ 20.0, EER ≥ 12.5, HSPF ≥ 10
Multiple indoor unit SEER ≥ 18.0, EER ≥ 12.5, HSPF ≥ 9

I have seen many local small businesses having Mitsubishi Electric unit(s) outside of their buildings....

(Q-2) Would anyone have experience with ductless units for heating and cooling?

(Q-3) Pros and cons of having ductless system ( my generator is 120/240V should there be need to run the ductless system during a extended power outage)?

Let me know your thoughts please. I am eagerly waiting to hear your experiences and or what you hear about ductless heating (and cooling.)

Thank you!
\-LS

EBEBRATT-Ed

Need to know where you are located. In a cold climate you may not be satisfied with ductless heating compared to steam. In mid country or in the south it is a better option in my opinion

Jamie Hall

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

Need to know where you are located. In a cold climate you may not be satisfied with ductless heating compared to steam. In mid country or in the south it is a better option in my opinion

Somewhere in the Boston area, I think, @EBEBRATT-Ed . I don't think he'll be happy, but... that's a personal opinion.

LS123

@EBEBRATT-Ed , I live in northwest CT, closer to south west mass (about 60 miles south to mass border. We get few days a month -5 to -10 degrees during Dec to Feb, March. The tech who came to my house told me that he has rental property, three story house, and how much he spends average ( i been informed I am not to post specific pricing on the site) What the specialist told me what he spends average month for 12 months on electricity (for all one house, three apartments about 15 miles from me, is about $1000 or more less, during heating, than what I spend on oil (please note that my boiler is old, oil price was much higher a month ago)

LS123

I have not made a decision, This is the first time I was told that I have a ductless heating and cooling option, Obviously, the specialist has to make money, so I would think person would double sugar code what he wants to sell... so I will wait for more info from all of you. I have not abandon the idea of my Mega Steam yet...

EBEBRATT-Ed

The key to that is Rental property! he has to provide them with 68 degrees of heat. This does not necessarly =comfort.

In a warehouse you hang a bunch of unit heaters to heat it ......and it does.....but it's not comfortable.

Find a good heating contractor........summer is coming up you have time. Try @Charlie from wmass he's busy get on his list

GW

I do tons of ductless systems. I really don’t understand why some heating guys want to pull out the main heating system to install Minisplit. Are there local rebates that are driving this decision?

Did he explain to you that your bathrooms will be freezing in the middle of winter? Did he tell you how happy he will be if you call him with a no heat situation in the middle of the cold winter night, and he has to work outside? Of course not.

I guess we really can’t go into costs, but it blows my mind that he can install mini split to heat your whole house for less cost than it takes to change the boiler. I do lots of steam boilers also, that math is not adding up at all.

LS123

@Jamie Hall , @EBEBRATT-Ed, @GW,
Thanks all... this is a good start....I was wondering how the bathrooms would get heated. No he did't tell me how expensive should the system go out in the winter, that is why I chose to still keep the old iol steam system....

LS123

@GW - yes, there are state programs to update heating systems. Most are toward gas based, one for hot water oil, there are no rebates for oil steam. Regardless I had set up my mind for Mega Steam or at lease keep the oil steam radiator system in place....

GW

ok I wasn't talking 'costs for service' if the mini system needs service. We have polite paperwork indicating that the mini system we are installing is not to be considered the 'main heating system'. in other words, you need some back up heat of the system stops working (like---your steam system). I was talking costs when comparing doing mini vs changing a boiler. Some companies, that's all they know how to do- is install mini.

SuperTech

Mini splits get pretty nasty with the black stuff growing on me blower wheels of the indoor units. Every one I've seen this year needed major cleaning. Not a fan these systems.

LS123

@GW , @SuperTech - thank you! Today is my first day learning about mini ductless systems. It looks to me so far from what I gather from all of your responses, I am better of staying with my oil steam, and wood stove, and a electric generator that power the oil boiler burner. I had no idea it involved cleaning etc.

pecmsg

Most of the winter and all summer you will love the ductless. (If sized properly)
Now in December or January NE Winds30+. You’ll miss the steam.

GW

> @SuperTech said:
> Mini splits get pretty nasty with the black stuff growing on me blower wheels of the indoor units. Every one I've seen this year needed major cleaning. Not a fan these systems.

Super - the customers need some more or better training when they take ownership. This is not a fault of Ductless