Unlike traditional pumps, ductless or mini-split types do not rely on only one central unit to take care of heating or cooling the entire household.
Normally, hot or cold air is released by the pump and then redirected to each room through a series of ducts that usually have to be installed with the unit for it to work properly.
Mini-split pumps forego the centralized duct work in favor of an exterior unit that pumps refrigerant into the house.
The refrigerant passes through small coils mounted to a number of zones (rooms) and then is filtered into the zones through air handlers.
The main advantage of this system that is worth the heat pump prices (despite it being a little more expensive) is that each zone comes with its own thermostat.
This allows the temperature in each of the zones to be controlled individually, and saving energy whenever someone turns the system off whenever he or she is not in the room.
The heat pump prices for this particular system costs around $1,500 to $2,000 per ton (equivalent to 12,000 Btu per hour), which costs 30% more than centralized pumps and twice as much as window units.
There's also the issue of the size and location of the air-handler units, which have to be precise.
If the air-handlers are oversized or incorrectly located then short-cycling may occur, wasting energy and not providing the proper temperature or humidity control.
Furthermore, a large system is more expensive to buy and operate, aside from it being too unwieldy.
The outdoor unit also needs some maintenance done to it every once in a while, including having to find a way to drain the condensate water in a safe manner.
Despite all these disadvantages, ductless systems are worth the price.
Most of them are small and that makes them more flexible for zoning purposes.
Homeowners can also choose the number of air-handler units that they want to use for their rooms depending on the amount of heating or cooling that they need, and how well the house is insulated.
Since there is no need for large unwieldy duct work, the system is easier to install and they can avoid 30% of the energy consumption losses for space conditioning.
Not only that, they can actually save homeowners from burglars because only small holes are drilled into the walls to feed the tubing connecting the air-handlers to the outdoor unit.
Normally, window units and the like can be moved away to enable burglars easy access into and escape from the house.
Keep these tips in mind when perusing through the options available for ductless heat pump prices.
If some cash can be spared, it is better to invest in a system like this since it allows for more flexible options and it can save more money in the long run.