Energy Star Mini Split Heat Pumps

[WVBrady]

I am planning on installing 24,000 Btu/hr mini split heat pumps in my small house and in my insulated garage. I will have baseboard electric heat and an oil fired furnace in my house for really cold days. I was hoping to take advantage of the tax credit for these, but I cannot find any of that size listed as Energy Star qualified. Consumer Reports says SEER of 16 for split-system (14 for a package system, whatever that is), but all of the ones that I find for sale are SEER 13 to 14. I don't know what they mean by a package system, and I don't know why a split system would be required to have a higher SEER; it would seem that so long as the efficiencies were the same that they should be equivalent.

Any thoughts?

 

[ultgar]

Fujitsu has some very nice ones. Inverter type that work well down to lower temps. SD

 

[WVBrady]

Thanks for the reply. I searched again and found these:

http://www.goductless.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=96

Do you have any personal experience with any of these? Here is the size I was looking at:

ASU24RLXQ / AOU24RLXQ - Fujitsu Halcyon 24,200 BTU 17 SEER Heat Pump Single Zone Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner

List Price: $3,023.00
Our Price: $2,159.00
Sale Price: $2,087.00



Availability: In Stock
Product Code: 11254 Qty:

 

[ultgar]

Spec'd a 24,000 RLXQ unit last year for a garage here in NJ. Cooling, heating (effectively down to freezing) and air filtration. Great price....I think the customer was charged another $1000 for installation. SD

 

[FunfDreisig]

...I don't know what they mean by a package system....
Any thoughts?

A "package system" is when the entire unit is in a single 'package' or housing outside the conditioned space. Package systems require at least some ducting to get the conditioned air into the structure.

FWIW we have a Carrier min-split heat pump for our cabin (648sqft). We love it BUT... we have to supplement it with electric heaters at temps below 35-40 degrees. Some mini-splits have the electric heaters built in. We like having the heaters separate so that we know when the heat pump is being assisted and we can place them where they distribute the heat better.

Funf Dreisig

 

[WVBrady]

Thanks for the resonses! (I see that I posted in the wrong section, but this one seems to get a lot of attention.) I think that this is the way I will go, because my house has backup heat and 50-60 degrees in my garage will be ok for working. (Today, I was soaked with sweat at 72 degrees.)

 

[hobie1dog]

I installed a Mitsubishi Mini split Heat Pump in my garage this year....works great...outdoor unit is extremely quiet too.

 

[JMURiz]

I installed a Mitsubishi Mini split Heat Pump in my garage this year....works great...outdoor unit is extremely quiet too.

Me too, the mitsu is efficient and REALLY quiet inside and out. I've only used mine starting this summer, but I'm happy thus far.

 

[Ragtop65]

Anyone installed a 2 evaporator one condenser split system? I'm planning a 35 x 40 shop with an apartment above. Heat will be hot water radiant, but I'd rather not put two systems in to separate garage from living space. Also, anyone know of an evaporator that can be mounted in an attic with through flow ducting?