I have an older Lennox heat pump that is 10 years old, using existing duct work. It works down only to 38 degrees. In CT, in the cold of winter, I go back to oil during the nights (and days) when it is below that point. I am going to do research to understand how low the center heat pumps go today. The system I have now probably will need replacement in the next few years and this video is encouraging that it may work with a lower temperature.
Have a energy audit of your home, do the best you can on thermal envelope of the home, insulated doors, dual pane windows air sealing. Is your duct work and runs that are really well insulated, make sure. New Cold Climate Heat Pumps can easily do the job if installed and run properly. See NH study and pilot using heat pumps somewhere here nTH-cam. Inverter model with COP at mid 4’s or above.
@@Pierceb2 We did an energy audit before installing the old heat pump 10 years ago. May do a new one before we install another heat pump. I just saw Lennox is the first US company to develop a heat pump that works down to 2 Fahrenheit with 100 percent efficiency, and down to -10 Fahrenheit with 80% efficacy (this is following US government tests). That would work for almost any condition I face in New England. If my unit lasts a few more years (and it should) I can probably replace it with the same brand and much lower temperatures which would be very nice.
@@Buc_Stops_Here Great, I too had Lennox 14 SEER A/C here in MA with separate Oil Boiler Radiant Heat. My Lennox dealer of 29 years had first opportunity to bid on Heat Pump for whole house. Did not do Manual J measurements of house for Heat Load or Heat Loss etc. No recommendation even to upgrade 29 year old A/C runs to rooms with now available R9 runs. Calls me with quote with no presentation and tried to bluff me with BS. Went with Daikin Aurora Cold Weather Heat Pump. But LG, Mitsubishi, Samsung we’re all contenders. Yea, your older heat pump is not really a true cold weather heat pump like todays top models. True cold weather heat pumps today are Inverters, COP’s close to 5, 20 SEER for A/C
@@Pierceb2 Good to know, thanks for sharing. I note that all the suppliers you mention are Korean and Japanese. Good to see the American manufactures are moving in that direction as well.
This video is a bit old. Mitsubishi and LG both make cold climate models. Ducted and ductless indoor units are available. Mitsubishi even makes a dual fuel system. Make sure to size the unit to the heating load.
I thought the idea behind these minisplits was being able to service up to 8 zones efficiently. I’m remodeling an older home now and will need four zones to properly service the home. Is that bad?
It isn't bad per se, but the efficiency of these systems generally goes down the more zones are on a condenser. Put another way, 8 single-zone systems or 4x dual zone systems would achieve higher efficiency, such as SEER. However, then you have many more condensers in your yard taking up space. It is a little bit of a tradeoff, but try not to let it get in your way. An 8 zone system will still be more efficient than central aircon thru old ductwork.
Some are air to air. But others are air to water. So you use a normal water radiator system instead of central air. Personally I'd go for air to air for central air as it's cheaper.
There are ways, but when the house is above 1500sqft then it typically isn't worth getting minisplits. The house becomes too big and you would need multiple minisplits to cover each corner of the house. I've still installed minisplits in houses that are up to 2500sqft, but those houses had few rooms, 4 rooms i believe. Then the downstairs was basically open, very few walls. I installed a 4 zone minisplit upstairs where the rooms were and then installed another 4 zone minisplit down stairs. It worked perfectly and they're super happy because they thought they'd need to install gas or invest in ductwork. It saved them 7k$. Plus the system is much cheaper to run, so their bills are pretty modest. But the only reason I got away with this was because their house was configured in a way that minisplits could still work. In most house in the US people like to have dedicated rooms to things and put up a lot of walls. This makes minisplits a pain because the walls will get in the way.
According to the laws of thermodynamics, heat flows from hot to cold surfaces. So, if it's cold outside, how can these heat pumps possibly draw warmth into the property?
The laws of thermodynamics apply to opening a window or having poorly insulated walls. However a heat PUMP can pump heat energy "uphill" from cold outside, to further warm up the inside.
@@ewicky OK. It's interesting that it can, but a fan heater, for example, will create heat much quicker than that. Sometimes you want heat quickly. Why have to wait ages? It's like trying to gather up leaves lying on the lawn instead of using a blower to get them all in a big pile.
@@ianship5058 Hang on a minute, no machine is 100% efficient. If you input 2Kw, you are not going to get back 2Kw unless it is 100% efficient. Therefore, you cannot possibly get a result of 6Kw from an input of only 2Kw. Physically impossible.
@@johnchoice1371 You have obviously failed science at school go and read the laws of Thermodynamics and you might learn something. Go to u Tube and look at some videos they explain it in simple terms.I used to design and install them
It depends on the area you live in and it depends on the heat pump you're talking about. 10 years ago, I'd automatically agree with you. But heat pump technology has drastically improved, which makes them a viable and competitive solution to many people's heat and cooling needs.
Municipal natural gas is going up in price faster than electricity. Meanwhile, heat pumps are gaining efficiency faster than fuel-burning furnaces or boilers.
@@ewicky No they all give a COP of about 3 to1 Which they b were doing in the 1970s no improvement at all. where do you get this info ? I get mine from being and AC design engineer and technical director .
@@ianship5058 3 to 1 hasn’t changed much yeah but the technologies have changed in the range of temperatures the heat pumps can effectively create that heat for one, and for two the amp draw on a new heat pump is 1/3 of what one in the 70s was old compressors could pull 15-30 amps while running while newer ones might reach 7-10 huge cost savings compared to resistive or oil heat.
I have an older Lennox heat pump that is 10 years old, using existing duct work. It works down only to 38 degrees. In CT, in the cold of winter, I go back to oil during the nights (and days) when it is below that point. I am going to do research to understand how low the center heat pumps go today. The system I have now probably will need replacement in the next few years and this video is encouraging that it may work with a lower temperature.
Have a energy audit of your home, do the best you can on thermal envelope of the home, insulated doors, dual pane windows air sealing. Is your duct work and runs that are really well insulated, make sure. New Cold Climate Heat Pumps can easily do the job if installed and run properly. See NH study and pilot using heat pumps somewhere here nTH-cam. Inverter model with COP at mid 4’s or above.
@@Pierceb2 We did an energy audit before installing the old heat pump 10 years ago. May do a new one before we install another heat pump. I just saw Lennox is the first US company to develop a heat pump that works down to 2 Fahrenheit with 100 percent efficiency, and down to -10 Fahrenheit with 80% efficacy (this is following US government tests). That would work for almost any condition I face in New England. If my unit lasts a few more years (and it should) I can probably replace it with the same brand and much lower temperatures which would be very nice.
@@Buc_Stops_Here Great, I too had Lennox 14 SEER A/C here in MA with separate Oil Boiler Radiant Heat. My Lennox dealer of 29 years had first opportunity to bid on Heat Pump for whole house. Did not do Manual J measurements of house for Heat Load or Heat Loss etc. No recommendation even to upgrade 29 year old A/C runs to rooms with now available R9 runs. Calls me with quote with no presentation and tried to bluff me with BS. Went with Daikin Aurora Cold Weather Heat Pump. But LG, Mitsubishi, Samsung we’re all contenders.
Yea, your older heat pump is not really a true cold weather heat pump like todays top models. True cold weather heat pumps today are Inverters, COP’s close to 5, 20 SEER for A/C
@@Pierceb2 Good to know, thanks for sharing. I note that all the suppliers you mention are Korean and Japanese. Good to see the American manufactures are moving in that direction as well.
This video is a bit old. Mitsubishi and LG both make cold climate models. Ducted and ductless indoor units are available. Mitsubishi even makes a dual fuel system. Make sure to size the unit to the heating load.
Which heat pump is better, Daikon or Hitachi?
All these are in the U.S.A they don't install they throw them in .
What if the system is still? the water are still
I thought the idea behind these minisplits was being able to service up to 8 zones efficiently. I’m remodeling an older home now and will need four zones to properly service the home. Is that bad?
No. You can get a 4 zone system easy. Make sure its the right size for each room.
It isn't bad per se, but the efficiency of these systems generally goes down the more zones are on a condenser. Put another way, 8 single-zone systems or 4x dual zone systems would achieve higher efficiency, such as SEER.
However, then you have many more condensers in your yard taking up space. It is a little bit of a tradeoff, but try not to let it get in your way. An 8 zone system will still be more efficient than central aircon thru old ductwork.
That install looks terrible hahaha
So how would the heat get around a 3500 sq ft house without duct work?
www.sandenwaterheater.com
www.warmboard.com
Some are air to air. But others are air to water.
So you use a normal water radiator system instead of central air.
Personally I'd go for air to air for central air as it's cheaper.
There are ways, but when the house is above 1500sqft then it typically isn't worth getting minisplits. The house becomes too big and you would need multiple minisplits to cover each corner of the house.
I've still installed minisplits in houses that are up to 2500sqft, but those houses had few rooms, 4 rooms i believe. Then the downstairs was basically open, very few walls. I installed a 4 zone minisplit upstairs where the rooms were and then installed another 4 zone minisplit down stairs.
It worked perfectly and they're super happy because they thought they'd need to install gas or invest in ductwork. It saved them 7k$. Plus the system is much cheaper to run, so their bills are pretty modest.
But the only reason I got away with this was because their house was configured in a way that minisplits could still work. In most house in the US people like to have dedicated rooms to things and put up a lot of walls. This makes minisplits a pain because the walls will get in the way.
They make a retrofit air handler that works with ducted homes
So spend 25,000 in new windows , doors, and insulation then install the heat pump , got it.
No they just want you to abandon living in single family homes and herd yourself into cities and high density residential buildings.
Some mega esb bills on way
According to the laws of thermodynamics, heat flows from hot to cold surfaces. So, if it's cold outside, how can these heat pumps possibly draw warmth into the property?
The laws of thermodynamics apply to opening a window or having poorly insulated walls. However a heat PUMP can pump heat energy "uphill" from cold outside, to further warm up the inside.
@@ewicky OK. It's interesting that it can, but a fan heater, for example, will create heat much quicker than that. Sometimes you want heat quickly. Why have to wait ages? It's like trying to gather up leaves lying on the lawn instead of using a blower to get them all in a big pile.
@@johnchoice1371 A 2 kw fan heater will give out 2Kw of heat a 2 Kw heat pump will give 6 kw of heat in the right conditions
@@ianship5058 Hang on a minute, no machine is 100% efficient. If you input 2Kw, you are not going to get back 2Kw unless it is 100% efficient. Therefore, you cannot possibly get a result of 6Kw from an input of only 2Kw. Physically impossible.
@@johnchoice1371 You have obviously failed science at school go and read the laws of Thermodynamics and you might learn something. Go to u Tube and look at some videos they explain it in simple terms.I used to design and install them
Not making people understand that getting rid of their oil heater and the power goes out you won't have heat possibly for days.
Your oil heater is also powered by electric 🤦🏻♂️
JBranch. A small generator can run a furnace. No so for a mini split.
No useful information from this video. Thumbs down for you.
What a load of tosh don't believe a word just jumping on the band waggon .Heat pumps are cheaper than oil but nowhere near as cheap as gas heating .
It depends on the area you live in and it depends on the heat pump you're talking about. 10 years ago, I'd automatically agree with you. But heat pump technology has drastically improved, which makes them a viable and competitive solution to many people's heat and cooling needs.
It depends where you live.
Municipal natural gas is going up in price faster than electricity. Meanwhile, heat pumps are gaining efficiency faster than fuel-burning furnaces or boilers.
@@ewicky No they all give a COP of about 3 to1
Which they b
were doing in the 1970s no improvement at all. where do you get this info ? I get mine from being and AC design engineer and technical director .
@@ianship5058 3 to 1 hasn’t changed much yeah but the technologies have changed in the range of temperatures the heat pumps can effectively create that heat for one, and for two the amp draw on a new heat pump is 1/3 of what one in the 70s was old compressors could pull 15-30 amps while running while newer ones might reach 7-10 huge cost savings compared to resistive or oil heat.