Get the Most Out of Your Ductless Mini Split in Chilly Winter Weather – Sobieski Services | DE, NJ, PA, MD

Get the Most Out of Your Ductless Mini Split in Chilly Winter Weather

If you’re thinking about having a ductless mini split installed in your home, you may wonder how well it will perform this winter. Rest assured that, with the right advice, you’ll stay toasty warm even when it’s bitterly cold outside.

Reduce the heating loadGive your ductless mini split a leg up by reducing the amount of heat that escapes your home. Seal air leaks, improve attic insulation, and replace single-pane windows. Reduce the heating load and you reduce overall energy use this winter.

Size the system properly

Size the unit based on average low temperatures. Oversizing the ductless mini split heat pump may keep your home comfortable in the winter, but remember that you count on the ductless mini split for cooling in the summer as well. An oversized mini split fails to dehumidify your home in cooling mode, leaving you cool but clammy.Size the conduit, tooIt’s advisable to install the outdoor condensing unit relatively far away from the indoor air handler to reduce noise transfer, but the longer the conduit has to stretch, the lower the efficiency.

Protect the outdoor unit

You can’t stop the snow, but you can install an overhang above the outdoor compressor to protect it. You should also install the unit a foot or two above the ground so snow falls below it, not around it. If snow plugs the unit, it drastically reduces performance, since it goes into defrost mode to melt the snow instead of putting that energy toward heating your home.

Mount the indoor unit correctly

If you only rely on the mini split for heating, it makes sense to position the indoor unit near the floor, but if you want efficient air conditioning in the summer, a higher-up installation could be better. The best advice is to follow the particular manufacturer’s guidelines.

For more information about operating a ductless mini split in cold weather, please contact Sobieski Services, Inc. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

Image Credit: Tom Bee

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