Heating Tech? Mini split vs oil

Hi- I’ve got a three family brownstone that unfortunately is a single zoned and I’m wondering if it may be more efficient to install a mini split heating system to create three zones. I wonder if this will make for exorbitant electrical bills to replace my exorbitant oil bills? Does anyone have a suggestion of a reliable knowledgable tech to work with on this? Thank you.

deebeeeye

in General Discussion 2 years and 10 months ago

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jrs84o | 2 years and 10 months ago

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Just another “heads up” if you do go with splits….

Dont install the inwall ducted versions of the air handlers (the bit that sits in the room.)

Thinking I was clever I installed “ducted units” in the cocks loft, to feed upstairs and “on wall units” downstairs.

The ducted versions do not have a “dehumidify mode.”

It’s a subtle point I have never seen emphasized anywhere….

In the summer you can simply run the on wall unit air handlers in “dehumidify mode” (not cooling mode) and that “mode” will save you a boat load of money by sucking uncomfortable water out of the air using just the internal fan.

jrs84o | 2 years and 10 months ago

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Heatpumps CAN work in these latitudes in a NEW BUILD which commonly has a plastic envelope around the whole house (under cladding) AND modern insulated windows….

Retrofitting into a 100 year old house looks GREAT on paper… but unless you add a supplemental heat source, say, electric baseboard you simply won’t get the cozy feeling of radiators or forced air.

At Coned’s 30 cents a KwH, the Mitsu’s run at over $1+/hour — That’s $25/day for EACH outside unit.

Just one guys opinion with Mitsu Hyper heats.

jrs84o | 2 years and 10 months ago

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The other point is, again resulting from poor insulation which is hard to correct—

Heat-pumps will run 100% of the time. Yes they are advertised as INVERTERs, and are made to slowly cycle up and down around a set point….but you will find that they NEVER reach even a moderate set point of, say 72 degrees even in the shoulder months.

Yes, 72 degrees INSIDE may be warm compared to 12 degrees OUTSIDE, but YOUR PERCEPTION will be that it’s cold inside.

jrs84o | 2 years and 10 months ago

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It’s all about insulation.

Forced air blows at 160 degrees at the vent. Hyper Heat Mitsubishi heatpumps blow at 120 degrees.

By the time the heated air mixes with existing air and travels to the center of a room it’s at less than skin temperature— So it feels cold— Although it IS warming the room compared to the OUTSIDE temperature.

I have had Mitsu Hyper Heat units for 8 or 9 years in a poorly insulated limestone.

I don’t disagree that they will “work” 80% of the time — That leaves over 2 months (usually Jan an day Feb) where you will FEEL exceptionally cold.

Stick with forced air unless you are going to insulate everywhere— which unfortunately is tough with a 100 year old home.

carolina-moscoso | 2 years and 10 months ago

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Disagree with 850’s assertion. HyperHeat is more than sufficient to handle full load heating for 80% of the winter. Keep oil for fallback on deep freeze days. Source: Me living in a drafty AF brownstone.

ellenlourie | 2 years and 10 months ago

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you can do upgrades to your heating system to significantly reduce heating bills. The boiler is just a part of the heating system and there are many ways to increase comfort and lower bills.

jrs84o | 2 years and 10 months ago

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Oh… And if you DO go with mini splits… DO NOT let the contractor run pipes through existing ductwork… I’m sure this is against some sort of code.. but you may decide to go back to forced air at some point.

jrs84o | 2 years and 10 months ago

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Stay with oil… In these latitudes heat-pumps— No matter what size, or labeled “hyper heat”— will simply NOT pump enough heat into a non/moderately insulated brownstone.

Guest User | 2 years and 10 months ago

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https://www.supplyhouse.com/Honeywell-T775M2006-Electronic-Temperature-Controller-with-2-Temperature-Inputs-2-Analog-Outputs-1-Sensor-Included?utm_source=google_ad&utm_medium=shopping_neutral&utm_campaign=Shopping_Neutral_HPLTV&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxe__4pmi-gIVccqUCR1uVgpNEAQYCiABEgKxi_D_BwE

Guest User | 2 years and 10 months ago

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Leave your oil burner in place… you can put in mini splits but use an outdoor control to kick in the oil heat when the temperature pushes down below the legally required temperature.

lkrshacmzcy | 2 years and 10 months ago

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Oil and Electric are extremely high costs to run versus Gas. That being said, the city is switching off of Gas so I have heard rumblings about laws to make it’s use more expensive as well.
Most heating companies should be able to other to zone your heating system if it is Hydronic or offer some relief if it is Steam; the unit may be oil but the system is not so any company can work on the system.
All HVAC companies do Mini Split Installs but just make sure to vet them as it is unregulated

deebeeeye

in General Discussion 2 years and 10 months ago

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And as an added thought- how do I provide free heat in the wintertime – but have the tenants pay for their own air-conditioning?