At AirGreen, our mission drives us to help you meet the specific needs of your home. If you want to choose between a central heat pump or a wall-mounted system, several factors need to be considered. We will guide you with some recommendations to help you make your choice.
It is important to understand that both types of systems work very well for Quebec homes. Obviously, for most homeowners, it is essential to compare the costs of each option.
As a general rule, we recommend:
- If your home does not have ventilation ducts, choose the wall-mounted system.
- If your home already has ventilation ducts, opt for the central system.
At AirGreen, we are aware that the initial cost is just one factor among many. To help you make a more informed decision, we will compare central and wall-mounted systems on three aspects:
- Cooling and heating capacity
- Initial cost
- Operating cost
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Central or wall-mounted: cooling and heating capacity
Central systems are designed to cool and heat an entire house. A mini-split system can be installed for a single room or for an entire home, depending on the BTU capacity chosen.
A wall-to-wall mini split system
A wall-mounted heat pump consists of an outdoor compressor and at least one indoor head unit. Depending on the specific needs of a home, these wall systems can add additional indoor heads. When a compressor is installed with multiple indoor heads, it is called a multi-zone heat pump.
As a general rule, a wall-mounted heat pump is recommended to air condition and heat an apartment or a large part of a multi-story home.
For large homes, the decision usually depends on the presence or absence of ventilation ducts. For an already built home, it can be difficult to justify the additional expense of installing ducts before even installing the heat pump itself.
Central or wall-mounted: initial cost
If your home already has a ventilation duct network, it is almost always preferable to install a central heat pump. Although a central heat pump is on average a bit more expensive than a wall-mounted heat pump, the ventilation ducts can optimize heating and air conditioning and reduce operating costs.
On the other hand, if your home does not already have ducts, you need to add the cost of installing them to the heat pump installation costs. For this reason, the initial cost to install a central system will depend on your home. If you don’t have ducts and don’t plan to undertake major renovations, opt for a wall-mounted heat pump.
Central or wall-mounted: operating cost
Having analyzed installation costs, you also need to consider the difference in operating expenses between wall-mounted and central heat pumps.
If the ventilation ducts in your home are in excellent condition (which is often not the case), a central heat pump will have about the same operating cost as a wall-mounted one. However, on average, a central system costs more to operate than a wall-mounted system of equivalent capacity and efficiency. This difference arises due to leaks, holes, and poor connections in the ventilation. These sources of air leaks can mean a loss of up to 30% of cooled or heated air.
If you’re looking for more personalized advice, schedule an appointment with one of our professionals, it’s free!