|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Last Revised: 1/24/2025
Is your outdated boiler draining your wallet month after month? Are you looking for an energy-efficient replacement and curious if a mini split system can keep you warm in the winter? If these questions are on your mind, you’ve come to the right place.
More homeowners than ever are reevaluating their traditional heating systems (boilers, furnaces, etc.) and searching for modern solutions that are easier on their wallet. Mini splits, known for their efficiency and versatility, have become much more popular in recent years. Yet many are still uncertain about making the switch.
Over our 75 years in business, the HVAC experts at Mattioni have seen the home heating and cooling landscape evolve into what it is today. We’ve helped countless homeowners lower their energy bills and reduce their household carbon footprint by installing a mini split system.
In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between boilers and mini splits, weigh their pros and cons, and help you determine if making the switch is the right choice for you. This article will provide insights into how a mini split can reshape your home’s heating and cooling.
Let’s start by looking at how a cold climate mini split compares to a standard mini split.
Cold Climate Mini Splits vs. Standard Mini Splits
As its name suggests, cold climate mini split is specifically designed to provide reliable heating performance in harsh winter conditions with temperatures well below freezing. Standard mini splits are well-suited for moderate climates, but they may struggle to maintain efficiency and heating performance in extremely cold weather.
Now let’s dive into the advantages and drawbacks of (1) boilers and (2) mini splits.
Pros of Boilers: Heating Performance in Freezing Temperatures
Boilers are a tried-and-true heating appliance that uses a combustion-based fuel to heat and circulate water or steam throughout radiators strategically placed in your home. They’re a popular choice in harsh winter climates.
- Boilers provide a reliable, high-quality heating performance. Many homeowners love the cozy atmosphere that boilers provide.
- Boilers are less expensive to install than a multi-zoned mini split system.
- Boilers can also provide hot water, eliminating the need for a water heater.
- Boilers are versatile in their fuel source (oil, propane, natural gas). If your boiler currently uses oil, you can convert it to a cheaper, more efficient option.
- With proper maintenance, a boiler can last longer than a mini split.
While there are some clear advantages to boilers, there are also some major drawbacks.
Cons of Boilers: Efficiency Struggles
- Boilers are much less efficient than mini split, leading to higher energy consumption and more expensive bills.
- Boilers are a completely separate system, meaning you’ll also have to purchase an air conditioner and ductwork.
- Boilers can be slow to change the temperatures in your home, creating a delay between adjusting your thermostat and achieving that temperature.
- Boilers are much more dependent on regular maintenance than mini splits (although any HVAC system requires maintenance to sustain optimal performance.)
- Oil boilers are dependent on either oil deliveries, which can significantly fluctuate in price.
- Aging pipes and radiators can significantly hinder the performance and efficiency of a boiler.
- Boilers can be noisy and can be a fire hazard.
Let’s now turn towards mini splits, and break down their pros and cons.
Pros of Mini Splits: Lower Bills and Reduced Carbon Footprint
Mini splits are an inherently different technology than boilers. They use specialized refrigerants to extract heat from ambient outdoor air and transfer it inside your home.
- With a mini split, you’ll notice significantly lower energy bills as they’re much more efficient than boilers. They utilize refrigerant that is pumped electrically using a compressor, which is a much more cost-effective means of heating your home. There is also no need for oil or gas deliveries.
- A mini split provides both heating and cooling to your home, so you won’t need to install a separate air conditioner.
- Mini split systems utilize several indoor heads (air handlers), making them effective at creating zones within your home. Each zone can be set to a different temperature, further enhancing efficiency and improving comfort.
- Mini splits are entirely ductless systems. This makes them a great option for small homes or apartments, basements, additions, and any other area that lacks ductwork.
- Mini splits will reduce your household’s carbon footprint as they’re much more efficient than boilers.
- Cold climate mini splits are more reliable in sub-zero temperatures than standard mini splits. While performance and efficiency may still decrease, you’ll get an adequate heating output during extremely cold weather.
Mini splits are an efficient, modern heating and cooling system with a range of benefits. Bear in mind, however, there are a couple of disadvantages too.
Cons of Mini Splits: Less Reliable Heating Performance
- Larger homes require mini split systems with several indoor heads, which are more expensive to install than a boiler.
- Even mini splits specifically designed for cold climates may experience hindered heating performance as temperatures plummet. Many homeowners overcome this by opting to install a mini split alongside their boiler. This creates a dual-fuel (hybrid) system that can utilize the mini split in moderately cold temperatures and the boiler during the coldest parts of winter.
- Some homeowners find mini splits to be a bit of an interior eye sore, although there are a few different mounting options to choose from.
- Choosing a mini split rather than a boiler means that you’ll need a water heater as well, if you don’t already have one.
At this point, you should have a good sense of how replacing your boiler with a mini split impacts your energy bills, short-term costs, and comfort. Next, let’s identify when to replace and when to supplement your boiler with a mini split.
Are Mini Splits Better for Replacing or Supplementing Boilers?
Mini splits can serve as both a replacement or a supplement for boilers, depending on your home’s needs, budget, and preferences. As a replacement, mini splits offer a substantial increase in heating efficiency and can also be called on for cooling (whereas boilers only provide heat.) They’re more expensive to install but yield cheaper utility bills. Mini splits are also entirely ductless, which makes them the ideal alternative to boilers, another ductless system.
Cold climate mini splits can withstand harsh winters and still provide adequate heating. And in milder climates, a standard mini split can likely fill the void left by a boiler.
If you’re looking for the best of both worlds, then you may want to consider installing a mini split to supplement your boiler rather than replace it. This hybrid approach will free you up to use your mini split during mildly cold days and turn to your boiler when frigid temperatures arrive. A hybrid HVAC system lets you continually optimize your home for both comfort and cost, making it a great option for those in the coldest climates who are looking for lower energy bills.
Don’t Wait to Prioritize Your Household’s Comfort & Energy Efficiency
Whether you’re replacing or supplementing your boiler, you’ll want to consider your climate, budget, preferences, and the condition of your existing system. In milder regions, mini splits can be an effective and efficient boiler replacement, while in colder climates, they are often better used as a supplement. Either way, you can rely on a mini split for cooling in the summer and say goodbye to your noisy window AC unit.
Be sure to talk to your HVAC professional about cold climate mini splits and if they’re right for your home. At Mattioni, we have over 75 years of experience helping homeowners through this process. To get more answers, talk to our friendly staff by calling (610) 400-8510 or by booking an appointment directly online.
