There are many ways to cool and heat your home, including heat pumps. Heat pumps pull hot/cold air from outside and pump it inside your home. A ductless mini-split is one choice that doesn't rely on ductwork, making it great if your home doesn't have an existing HVAC system. If you are considering a mini-split heat pump, check out these three facts.

1. They Use Tubes and Wires Instead of Ducts

Furnaces, central air conditioning, and traditional heat pumps rely on ducts to send hot or cold air to different parts of your home. However, if you don't already have ducts, installing them so you can get a furnace, central air conditioning or a heat pump is extremely expensive and invasive. A ductless mini-split heat pump, however, doesn't need ducts to transport air. Instead, they use tubes and wires to transport air and electricity to the interior units. You will need to install the interior units and the tubes, but the damage is much less minimal than install ducts.

2. They Can Provide Zoned Heating and Cooling

More and more people are choosing HVAC systems with zoned heating and cooling because of the energy and money-saving benefits. This perk, however, usually costs extra, and you can't force zoned heating on your own by closing vents. It simply puts stress on the HVAC system. A ductless min-split heat pump, however, automatically comes with zoned heating/cooling because each room needs its own unit. If you don't want to heat or cool that room, turn off the unit. As a result, you'll use less energy without putting a strain on the system that causes it to break down faster.

3. They Are Extremely Energy Efficient

Forced air HVAC systems aren't efficient because of the ducts. Over time, holes, and gaps may appear in the ducts from damage, age or poor construction. About 20 to 30 percent of the heated/cooled air inside the vent escapes through these gaps and holes, forcing you to use more energy and money to get the home warm or cool enough. Because a mini-split heat pump doesn't rely on ducts, it doesn't have this same problem, so you can use less energy to reach the desired temperature.

If you are replacing your HVAC unit, you should consider installing a ductless mini-split heat pump, especially if you don't have ductwork. A mini-split system may not be as effective as forced air heating and cooling, but it will save you money. For more information, contact a ductless air conditioning and heating company like Jahnke  Heating & Air today.