If your home does not have air ducts, don’t fret: one of your options is to install a mini-split heat pump. This can be connected to multiple indoor units via an outdoor air source unit. Let’s look at some other ductless options. Reverse Cycle Chiller (RCC) Heat Pump Instead of cooling and heating air, this heat pump cools and heats water, and can work efficiently in temperatures well below freezing point. RCC systems are also used to pump water through radiant floor heating. In an RCC heat pump, a backup burner is needed to provide temporary heat while the...

According to the ACEEE (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy), more American homeowners use natural gas to heat water than other fuel sources, with 40 percent of the population using electricity. A small percentage use heating oil or propane. Water heaters in the U.S. are typically ‘atmospheric natural gas’ or ‘electric resistance’. An electric water heater usually has an efficiency rating of 0.9, while a gas unit has a 0.6 rating. There’s good news because manufacturers are now bringing advanced water heaters onto the market which have a much high efficiency rating. If you use electricity for your...

The life expectancy of the average household water heater is eight to twelve years. In order to get the most out of your water heater, here are a few maintenance tips that can increase the efficiency and cleanliness of your water heater. Setting the Temperature – Generally, the default temperature setting on a water heater is 140 degrees Fahrenheit, however, this is unnecessary. Most households can easily get by with setting it to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Not only will this help improve the efficiency of the water heater and save a bit on the bills, it prevents scalding accidents,...

An HVAC system utilizing ducts to move air from the outside compressor to the inside of the house has been the traditional air conditioning system for decades now. However, this method of heating and cooling a house or other building has some serious drawbacks: loss of efficiency, wear over time, and, namely, the high degree of maintenance in the form of duct cleaning. A ductless system, on the other hand, entirely removes from your HVAC system the need for duct cleaning. A ductless system, or a split system, is one that separates the noisy, outdoor compressor unit from the...