Mini Splits: All-Electric California Home Comfort
Think back to 2019, before a global pandemic dominated the headlines and parents were scrambling to come up with a plan for remote learning—do you remember when the city of Berkeley put a ban on new natural gas hookups? This landmark legislation had many homeowners here in the Bay Area wondering, “How can I keep my home comfortable all year, without using my gas furnace and central air conditioner?”
Here at Hassler, we have been keeping a close eye on the “electrification” movement, and what it means for homeowners looking to keep their homes comfortable and energy efficient. Amidst this move away from fossil fuels, one piece of home-comfort technology has emerged as a versatile solution for the homes of Contra Costa, Alameda, Sonoma, and Marin counties: mini splits.
What Does a Mini Spit Do?
This is one of the most common questions we get regarding home heating and cooling equipment. The answer is so simple that it is often met with confusion: A mini split is a two-component appliance that offers energy efficient heating and cooling, wherever you need it most.
Yes, this single appliance provides cool air in the summer and hot air in the winter, in whatever room it is installed in, and mini splits use 60% less energy than standard home electric resistance-based heating systems (according to ENERGY STAR). So, that may lead you to ask the next question…
How Is a Mini Split So Efficient?
Mini splits, also sometimes referred to as ductless mini split air conditioners or heat pumps, run on electricity alone. This differentiates them from furnaces that run on natural gas, propane, or oil. However, that is not the only differentiator. Mini splits are able to maintain such impressive efficiency because they do not create heat—they move it! This movement of heat is much more efficient than traditional methods of central heating and cooling, and can be used for year round comfort.
How a Mini Split Provides Cool Air
In the middle of the dry California summer, heat begins to build up inside your home. A mini split coil absorbs that indoor heat, sending it back outside to its outdoor compressor unit via an airtight refrigerant line. The heat dissipates from the refrigerant liquid inside the condenser coils, and as the condenser coils cool down again they also cool down the in-flowing air that is to be sent into your living space. This both removes the heat from your home and provides cool air to further reduce your indoor temperatures.
How a Mini Split Provides Warm Air
When the temperatures drop in the winter, this process reverses. The outdoor condenser unit absorbs the heat in the outside air (mini splits can find heat even in sub-freezing temperatures), collects it, and sends it to the indoor unit.
Save $1,150 on Mini Split Installation
If your old central air conditioner or gas powered furnace has been leaving your home uncomfortable and your energy bills unbearable, consider upgrading to a home heating and cooling system that will be compliant with present and future California energy codes. With mini split installation, you can experience a number of benefits:
Dependable heating and cooling in the rooms that need it most
Year round energy savings
Flexible installation options (single room or whole home solutions)
Reduced carbon footprint
Plus, you may even qualify for the $1,150 in savings on your installation costs from BayRen heat pump incentives!
Hassler provides customized mini split installation solutions for homeowners throughout El Cerrito, Berkeley, San Rafael, Walnut Creek, and the greater East Bay area. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions from the cost of mini split systems, mini split installation location requirements, and just about anything else mini split related!