In the U.S., it’s safe to say there’s a single appliance style that dominates the HVAC market: central air and heating. According to estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, around two-thirds of American households use a central AC or heater to keep their home comfortable. These ducted systems are great for the larger homes we often see throughout the Cape Coral area, but they’re far from the only options to consider.

Less popular choices like mini-split heating systems offer a lot of benefits you may not want to miss. From high energy efficiency to more nuanced heating control, these smaller units might surprise you.

If you’re in the market for a new heating system and you’ve never seriously considered mini-splits, it’s time to read up! Here’s what you should know about these small but powerful heaters.

Basics of Mini-Split Heating

Mini-splits are ductless, electric-powered home heating systems. You might also hear them called “ductless heat pumps.”

How They Work

Instead of circulating air through a network of ducts in your home, mini-splits deliver air from each indoor unit. These units can be mounted on the wall or in the ceiling.

Mini-splits use refrigerant lines to connect each indoor unit to your outdoor unit(s). The refrigerant lines work for both air conditioning and heating. Due to this setup, mini-splits have high energy efficiency.

You’ll control your mini-split with a remote control or wall thermostat. These devices allow you to change the unique temperature of each unit in your home.

Single-Zone vs. Multi-Zone Systems

Depending on your needs, you might choose a single- or multi-zone heating system.

With a single-zone system, you’ll have one outdoor unit for each indoor mini-split. This system is often cheaper and easier to install than a multi-zone system, with less equipment needed.

With a multi-zone system, you’ll have multiple indoor units connected to a single outdoor unit. This is ideal when you prefer fewer outdoor units for space-saving or aesthetic reasons. Though it’s more expensive up front, a mini-split system can be more affordable to run in the long term.

Basics of Traditional Heating

When we say traditional heating, we often mean a central furnace or heat pump. These systems come in a wide variety of styles and sizes.

How They Work

With traditional systems, you can choose from several different sources for heat generation, including natural gas, oil, and propane. Electric systems are growing more popular as well, especially given their eco-friendliness and higher furnace safety ratings. These systems use their given energy source to create or transfer heat.

Furnaces vs. Boilers vs. Heat Pumps

In the U.S., most central heating systems will be either a furnace or a heat pump, though boilers and radiator systems are still somewhat common.

Furnaces are also called forced air distribution systems. With this option, your system will heat air and force it through a series of ducts, vents, and registers in your home.

Boilers are more likely to heat older homes and apartments. With these systems, a central unit will boil water, circulating the hot water or steam through pipes around the property. Radiator units help deliver heat in individual rooms.

Heat pumps are modern systems that allow your AC unit to provide heat by operating in reverse. When you want heat, your system takes warm air from the ground or air outside and pushes it into your home.

Mini-Split vs. Traditional Heating

Both of these heating systems are great choices for your home. However, you may prefer to choose one over the other based on the advantages:

Benefits of a Mini-Split

It’s hard to beat mini-splits in terms of energy efficiency. These units offer some of the highest SEER ratings in the HVAC industry, making them great for the environment and your wallet. In some cases, you might even qualify for rebates and tax credits.

Because they’re electric, they’re often safer to use. Keep in mind that older homes may need to upgrade their outdated electrical systems.

The built-in zoning of a mini-split means you’ll have nuanced control over the temperature in each area of your home. The precision is great for properties that are colder in some rooms than others (not to mention families who argue about the perfect ambient temperature).

In smaller homes, mini-splits can be a great way to get heating with less construction work. As ductless systems, these involve less effort during the installation. You also won’t have to worry about cleaning your ducts down the line!

Mini-splits are also better than certain traditional systems like furnaces or boilers because they offer both heat and cooling with a single installation.

Benefits of Traditional Systems

For larger homes, central heating is often the way to go, as long as your home has consistent heating needs throughout.

Though these systems may cost more in the long run due to their lower energy efficiency, you’ll benefit from the lower up-front cost if you have existing ductwork.

Indoor air quality is often higher with traditional systems like furnaces and heat pumps, as their powerful filters catch more airborne contaminants. Even better, these units often have built-in air purifiers, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers.

Aesthetically, central heating can be more pleasing to the eye. Unlike mini-splits, which have visible units in each room and refrigerant lines running to the outdoor unit, traditional systems are hidden away.

Get the Right Heating for Your Home

Choosing your new heating system can be time-intensive, but you can rest assured that both traditional and mini-split heating systems are great ways to keep your home cozy all winter long. Figuring out your preferences and navigating the nuances can help you find a system you’ll enjoy for years to come.

When you’re ready to upgrade, reach out to our expert team for help! Here at Florida Cooling Solutions Inc., we’re experienced in a huge range of heater makes and models, and we’d be happy to help you find the right option for your home’s comfort. Based in Cape Coral, we proudly serve the entire Lee County of Southwest Florida.

Contact us today for a free heating system estimate.