Heck of a Mini Split Deal

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by CowTimes

I’m not sure how to compare cost to heat vs cool as they are very different, but the mini splits are generally much more efficient heating than electric heat or oil, which is why there is the push with rebates, etc. The a/c technology hasn’t changed all that much in decades; it is the advancements in the heat pump technology that is the real advancement and, in my view, the biggest advantage of the mini splits.

That said, my experience is limited to the Mitsubishi and Fujitsu mini splits with the “hyper heat” (ie low outside temperature) models, and am not familiar with this brand.

Mini Splits are good, for electric. But Oil and Propane is still cheaper to run.

Order of cost to run

Wood
Oil
Propane
HeatPump
Electric BaseBoard

But I may end up with Solar eventually. Then that puts HeatPump back up on top.
Or if you have electricity way cheaper than Eversource.

[CowTimes]

Originally Posted by mswlogo

Mini Splits are good, for electric. But Oil and Propane is still cheaper to run.

Have to disagree from experience on the heat pump vs. oil. We have oil hydronic baseboards in our house, and put the mini splits in mainly for the A/C, which was lacking. But we use them almost exclusively in the winter for heat and leave the oil baseboards off, unless it gets really cold (around 10 degrees or lower). We save well over a hundred dollars a month (more in the coldest months) compared to oil, after factoring in the additional electric. We also find them more comfortable than the baseboards that turn on and off, as they keep the temperature much more constant.

The “hyper heat” heat pumps they have out now go down to about 20 or 25 degrees outside at 100% efficiency, and only start to drop from there (to about 75% at 15 below zero).

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by CowTimes

Have to disagree from experience on the heat pump vs. oil. We have oil hydronic baseboards in our house, and put the mini splits in mainly for the A/C, which was lacking. But we use them almost exclusively in the winter for heat and leave the oil baseboards off, unless it gets really cold (around 10 degrees or lower). We save well over a hundred dollars a month (more in the coldest months) compared to oil, after factoring in the additional electric. We also find them more comfortable than the baseboards that turn on and off, as they keep the temperature much more constant.

The “hyper heat” heat pumps they have out now go down to about 20 or 25 degrees outside at 100% efficiency, and only start to drop from there (to about 75% at 15 below zero).

I stand corrected. Heat pumps (variable speed mini splits) are better than I thought.

I did a calculation based on how many BTU's per watt my baseboard produces and how many the HeatPump should produce per watt and I came up with cost to run as being half.

My sister has a Heat Pump in MA (not a ductless mini split). She pays a fortune for fuel for a small Condo. Electric rates are much higher MA ($0.26 kWh).

But the claims for the Mini Splits cost to run are 1/3 cost of electric baseboard. But they said things like "up to 1/3". Problem is as temps go down they do get less efficient. So I rounded it to costing 1/2.

But according to this data from Maine (see link below), they are close to 1/4 over electric baseboard for an entire season. And oil is more expensive than I thought.

We used 200 gallons of oil a year in NH (new 2x6 construction very well insulated). That is heated through winter. But we didn't use it too much in Winter.

We have natural gas in MA and pay $645 for the entire year. Super insulated and 96% efficient system. That's kept at 70F all winter.

I paid $500.00 for 2 weeks of electric baseboard in our new place in NH. Very Small and poorly insulated.

This table is nice. The default electric rates are close to NH which is $0.17/kWh

So based on the above experience I really didn't expect to see ductless mini splits so cheap to operate vs almost anything. Even with above average electric rates in NH.
In MA, Electricity is so expensive that Natural Gas is cheaper than a Mini Split and about equal with a Oil Furnace.

https://www.efficiencymaine.com/at-h...st-comparison/

Thanks for the correction. Glad I went with the mini split.

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by CowTimes

Have to disagree from experience on the heat pump vs. oil. We have oil hydronic baseboards in our house, and put the mini splits in mainly for the A/C, which was lacking. But we use them almost exclusively in the winter for heat and leave the oil baseboards off, unless it gets really cold (around 10 degrees or lower). We save well over a hundred dollars a month (more in the coldest months) compared to oil, after factoring in the additional electric. We also find them more comfortable than the baseboards that turn on and off, as they keep the temperature much more constant.

The “hyper heat” heat pumps they have out now go down to about 20 or 25 degrees outside at 100% efficiency, and only start to drop from there (to about 75% at 15 below zero).

Oil hydronic baseboards are electric heat using the oil to balance and hold the heat generated from electricity. The “oil” heat people are talking about here is heat from an oil fired boiler or furnace.

I am a mini split owner in MA (unfortunately purchased prior to “hyper heat”). I use them for a majority of heat during spring/late winter, fall/early winter and shut them down in the real cold months. Over the past 5 years we have saved several hundred $ a year when comparing oil + electric costs to previous years.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[CowTimes]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

Oil hydronic baseboards are electric heat using the oil to balance and hold the heat generated from electricity. The “oil” heat people are talking about here is heat from an oil fired boiler or furnace.

Oil fired hydronic baseboard heat refers to an oil-fired boiler that heats water, and the water is circulated to baseboard style radiators. Not sure what type of oil/electric heat this refers to, but “hydronic” means circulated water.

[mswlogo]

Originally Posted by CowTimes

Oil fired hydronic baseboard heat refers to an oil-fired boiler that heats water, and the water is circulated to baseboard style radiators. Not sure what type of oil/electric heat this refers to, but “hydronic” means circulated water.

It actually covers both, but I knew what you meant.

I usually call it Force Hot Water or Forced Hot Air (oil or gas) furnace.

[BroadHopper]

I converted my old gas boiler and separate hot water heater to a condensing on-demand combination boiler. Gas usage was cut almost in half! Of course there are rebates on condensing boilers if it is on the energy.gov list.

[Dad207]

Originally Posted by CowTimes

Have to disagree from experience on the heat pump vs. oil. We have oil hydronic baseboards in our house, and put the mini splits in mainly for the A/C, which was lacking. But we use them almost exclusively in the winter for heat and leave the oil baseboards off, unless it gets really cold (around 10 degrees or lower). We save well over a hundred dollars a month (more in the coldest months) compared to oil, after factoring in the additional electric. We also find them more comfortable than the baseboards that turn on and off, as they keep the temperature much more constant.

The “hyper heat” heat pumps they have out now go down to about 20 or 25 degrees outside at 100% efficiency, and only start to drop from there (to about 75% at 15 below zero).

So, am I correct that you use your mini splits, over oil heat, to about 10 degrees? My installer told me that that the efficiency limit was about average 30 degrees. Interested in your experience.