![]() ![]() When it comes to energy efficiency, mini-splits are comparable to ducted air-source heat pumps.ĭepending on the outside temperature, they add 7-14 BTUs of heat per hour for every watt of electricity they consume.īut the overall impact on the climate and on your wallet depends on how many you install, and the layout of your home. (But in my opinion, they look a lot nicer than a window-mounted air conditioner – and they don’t block your view to the outdoors!) Environmental Impact & Costs Radiators are also spread throughout an entire home to cover every room evenly, whereas with mini-splits you will have a much small number of heat sources.įor most people, a box on the wall blowing warm air is simply no comparison to a large cast iron radiator, or to a floor that warms your feet as you walk on it.įor historic or architectural homes, mini-splits may also be considered an aesthetic problem. Radiant heat, especially in-floor, is generally considered the most comfortable way to heat a home. The biggest drawback to heating with mini-splits is that they are a step backwards in comfort. Refrigerant is piped between the outdoor and indoor units to perform the heat exchange.Ī wall-mounted indoor head of a mini-split heat pump. ![]() These are small (“mini”) heat pumps that are “split” between an outdoor unit (mounted on a slab or metal frame) and one or more indoor “heads” (mounted on walls or ceilings). The most common way for radiant-heat homes to go low-carbon is with mini-split heat pumps. So what are the low-carbon options for radiant heating systems? Mini-Split Heat Pumps There are condensing and standard gas boilers, just like with furnaces.Īnd ultimately, BTUs are just BTUs – whether it’s warm air blowing through a duct or hot water circulating through a radiator. The vast majority run on natural gas where available, and otherwise use propane or heating oil. When it comes to environmental impact and operating costs, boilers are no different than furnaces. ![]() Paul.Īnd hydronic in-floor heating, which works on the same principle, is commonly built as a premium feature in modern homes. This was the primary way that homes were heated until the 1950s, when central air conditioning (which requires a forced-air system) became mainstream.īut retrofitting ductwork into a home is very expensive, so there are a ton of radiant-heated homes still around, especially in Minneapolis & St. Radiant hydronic heat systems are powered by a boiler that heats water, which is circulated to radiators throughout the house. So far in this low-carbon heating guide, we’ve focused mainly on forced-air systems.īut millions of homes don’t have forced air instead they have radiant hydronic heat. So, we decided to build a new type of heat pump, designed from the ground up for boiler & radiator hydronic systems.Ĭlick here to learn more about RenewaBoiler – The Heat Pump for Radiators. When we wrote this article back in 2019, we realized the low-carbon heating options for radiant systems were lacking. You can go back to Part 3 here: Clean & Efficient Heat: Air‑Source Heat Pumps. However, you will see a slighly higher price on our kit, due to the additional items being included, notably the transformer.This article is Part 4 of our ongoing series: The Ultimate Guide to Low-Carbon Heating in Minnesota. Our radiant underfloor heat mats are a premium product and on average cost around $14 once 100 sq ft+ is reached. An electric setup will cost between $7.9 and $15 per square foot. If you go this route, you can expect to pay $6 to $20 per square foot for a hydronic system. To save on costs, some people install radiant floor heating in a specific area of their home. These numbers include the cost of labour and all materials. If you’re interested in an electric system, homeowners typically pay anywhere from $19,000 to $36,000.
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