Mini Split

October 29, 2024

I have been hinting around about getting a new HVAC system for our porch in my blog for the last week.  The idea began when Melissa and I took a Maine vacation at my sister’s house in July.  They had installed a compact system in their house and had plans for the shop and the “barn” (more like guest dining hall with a two bedroom apartment upstairs).  When I was director of a conference center in Kansas, we used heat pumps for the 30 hotel rooms and found them very efficient.  These were self-contained window units.  We also had a window mounted heat pump in our shop (it was “taken”) that had worked well, and I plan to put another in “sometime”.  My sister had instead put in an outdoor compressor with a wall mounted blower unit.  The glass we installed on the porch works during the winter keeping temps above 32F (0C), but as it continues to drop it dropped to around 25F (-4C).  Many of Melissa’s succulents were not happy.  We decided it was time to get a mini split.

When I looked online, I found Mini split systems are compact heating and cooling systems with indoor and outdoor components that can be installed in the wall to control the temperature of an individual room.  They are often referred to as ductless mini splits since they do not require ductwork to disperse air throughout a home.  A mini split consists of an outdoor compressor unit and one (or more) indoor unit (air handlers) that delivers the air.  The mini split transfers heat between the indoor and outdoor units through refrigerant lines (via heat pump) to either extract or release heat and allows both heating and cooling capabilities in one system.  Ductless mini split systems are increasingly popular due to their efficiency and versatility.  Not only do they eliminate ductwork, but they also provide more efficient heating and cooling by targeting rooms where heating and cooling is needed.  A targeted system provides significant energy savings and lower utility bills verses a conventional central HVAC system.  Benefits of mini split systems are flexible placement, easy and affordable installation, energy-efficiency, and compact design.  This seemed like the way to go on our porch.

On Friday the electrician arrived and installed the connection box from our electrical panel to the outside of the house.  The HVAC person came by at the same time to get final measurements and drill holes from the garage to the porch in preparation for the mini split arrival on Monday.  We arranged to take the kids to the kennel for foot grooming rather than cooping them up franticly in the back bedroom.  The installation went smoothly, and the system was in place by 1 pm.  I picked up the kids and took them for a walk at the lake (always a treat).  When we got home, they ran outside to survey the unit placed on the ground next to the A/C.  After a good amount of sniffing and inspection, they were happy with this new feature in their yard.  When the temps drop below freezing (32F/0C) this winter the succulents will be happy as well.

THOUGHTS: Another outcome of installing the mini split was finding local HVAC and electrical techs.  We even got the two ceiling fans installed that have been sitting on our floor since January.  Both were surprised to learn we were not looking to cool the porch, but to heat it during the coldest parts of winter.  The porch windows are open most of the year to provide circulation.  The new fan and mini split make Melissa happy.  Happy succulents, happy dogs, happy wife, all makes a happy life!  Ok, it takes a little more than that, but comfortable surroundings are a good start.  A recent Pew Research Center survey found 69% of Americans were “very concerned” about the cost of housing, up from 61% in April 2023.  “Affordable” is defined as 30% of household income and 31.3% of US households were cost burdened in 2023, including 27.1% of households with a mortgage and 49.7% of households that rent.  Affordable, comfortable housing should be a right, not a luxury.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.