Woman enjoying a comfortable temperature in her home as she sits on a sofa under a mini-split

Why You’ll Love Switching to a Mini-Split Heat Pump

March 10, 2024

Ductless mini-split heat pump is a mouthful, but it’s actually a pretty simple concept. 

A heat pump passively transfers heat from inside to outside, or vice versa — even when it’s cold outside — no ductwork required. 

The “mini” part is the unit inside your house and the “split” part is that the heat pump is outside while the temperature is controlled inside.

The Primary Benefits of Mini-Split Heat Pumps

  1. Energy Efficiency
  2. Cost Savings
  3. Increased Comfort at Home
  4. Flexible & Easy Installation

Almost any home can upgrade to this all-electric, energy efficient HVAC technology, quickly and easily. 

Read on to discover why a mini-split heat pump is something you’ll be glad to get installed in your Boston-area home.

Different types of heat pumps manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric

Energy Efficiency

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that heat pumps cut home energy use by 30-47% on average, and even greater savings when combined with insulation upgrades.

Mini-split heat pump systems are energy efficient because instead of creating heat, they move existing heat from one place to another. 

Energy Star certified mini-splits have been found to use 60% less energy than standard radiators, 40% less energy than window air conditioners, and up to 40% less energy than baseboard heating systems.

Environmentally Friendly

Aside from cost savings, the primary goal of energy efficiency is to reduce the impact of heating and cooling systems on greenhouse gas emissions and fossil-fuel dependence.

Heat pumps reduce a home’s carbon footprint both because they use less energy and also because they run on electricity, which is typically cleaner-burning than propane, oil, or gas.

Additionally, the refrigerant coil used in heat pumps produces significantly less greenhouse gasses than traditional air conditioners.

Clean energy from windmills on a rolling green hillside

Compatibility with Renewable Energy Sources in Massachusetts

If you’ve already installed solar panels or are thinking about it, electricity-powered heat pumps are a great way to amplify your energy savings, especially if you’re currently powering your heating systems with propane or oil.

Heat pumps are also compatible with your electricity provider’s “Green Powered” plans. These plans source energy from solar, wind, and low-impact hydro around Massachusetts (and a few in nearby New Hampshire and Delaware, too).

If you’re a National Grid Massachusetts customer, you can make the switch and “GreenUp” online via your account.

According to GreenEnergyConsumers.org, the following towns have a Community Choice Electricity Program for greener electricity, too: Arlington, Bedford, Brookline, Cohasset, Dedham, Fairhaven, Gloucester, Hamilton, Marshfield, Medford, Melrose, Millis, Milton, Rockland, Scituate, Somerville, Stoneham, Waltham, Westford, Westwood, and Winchester.

Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, National Grid, and Unitil are sponsors of the Mass Save program helping Massachusetts homeowners switch to energy efficient HVAC systems (more on this shortly).

Cost Savings

It’s not hard to see how reduced energy consumption will lead to reduced utility bills, but there are other cost saving factors at work when you install a mini-split heat pump.

For example, if you currently have a furnace but want to add air conditioning to your home, you can install a mini-split heat pump to get the cooling you want. Once the heat pump is installed, you can also use it to regulate the temperature in your home during the winter, reducing the burden on your current furnace.

Rebates, Loans, and Energy-efficiency Incentives

Mass Save Program Logo

For Massachusetts residents, the Mass Save program exists to help homeowners (and some renters) convert their heating and cooling systems to more efficient solutions. There are a few options that make this change more affordable:

  1. Get a no-cost Home Energy Assessment to learn how you can improve the energy efficiency at your home.
  2. With a Mass Save approved contractor, install new insulation and other weatherization improvements and enjoy significant rebates (up to $25,000).
  3. With a Mass Save approved HVAC contractor, like us here at Home Mechanics, install your mini-split heat pump (or multiple if that’s what your home needs) and enjoy significant rebates (up to $25,000).
  4. If the cost of your project is more than $50,000 (or whatever your eligible rebate amounts are) you can also get a 0% interest HEAT Loan to cover the remainder.

Return on Investment (ROI)

The Department of Energy reports that homeowners can save $1,000 per year by switching to an air-source heat pump. Their expectation is at least a 10% return on investment (ROI) each year.

Since each homeowner’s electricity needs and rebates will be different, we can’t provide a specific timeframe for when you might reach a return on investment. Your Mass Save  approved HVAC contractor will have a better idea after a consultation.

Increased Comfort at Home

While energy efficiency and saving money are great reasons to consider a mini-split heat pump, the most tangible benefits come in how comfortable you and your family are at home, all year round.

hvac zoned climate control

Zoning and Temperature Control

Using mini-splits to heat and cool your home means every room can have its own temperature — and that you can adjust any room at any time. You can have as many zones as you want!

You can create default settings for each room, but if you’re feeling chilly, grab the remote control and warm it up for a bit! If you’re too warm, adjust the temperature downward and enjoy the quick cooling.

This level of personalized climate control is critical when household members don’t always prefer the same temps.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

An often unmentioned benefit of mini-split heat pumps is the impact on indoor air quality. Indoor air quality is a newer topic as we explore more aspects of healthy living, but focus is increasing on the quality of the air we breathe at home (allergens, viruses, and airborne pollutants) and how to improve it.

One major contributor to indoor air pollution is our gas-powered appliances, like stoves and water heaters, which is why many health experts recommend we go electric with those appliances, too.

Mini-splits offer advanced air filtration for allergens, dust, and other air pollutants. An important note is that these filters require maintenance, at least annually, and it’s not as simple as replacing a furnace air filter.

Quiet Operation

If you have an older furnace or air conditioner — or you’re currently using a window AC unit — you might really love how quiet mini-split heat pumps are. In addition to running quietly, they come on and turn off quietly, making it easier to stay asleep while you stay comfortable.

Home Mechanics owner Noel Gillis and a team member installing a heat pump at a home

Flexibility and Easy Installation

Another huge benefit of ductless mini-splits is the ease of installation. 

Traditional HVAC solutions like central air rely on ductwork to move air around your home, but each mini-split has its own connection to the heat pump outside, so no ducts are needed.

This is especially important in older homes where central air wasn’t planned – in the Boston area these styles include Greek Revival, Colonial, Colonial Revival, Georgian, Federal, Gothic Revival,  and Shingle-style homes. 

This flexibility means you can have temperature control almost anywhere in your home, including non-traditional living spaces like garages and attics.

Even if you already have ductwork, you can ignore it and install ductless mini-splits anyway. Ducts are responsible for up to 30% of energy inefficiency in central heating and air systems when compared with ductless systems.

FAQ / Tips


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Whether you require simply deplete cleaning or a whole pipes registration.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate.

Whether you require simply deplete cleaning or a whole pipes registration.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate.

Whether you require simply deplete cleaning or a whole pipes registration.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate.