Ductless vs. Central Heat Pumps in BC

Choosing between ductless mini-split and central ducted heat pumps affects cost, comfort, efficiency, and installation complexity. This guide compares both technologies to help BC homeowners make the right choice for their home and climate.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Ductless Mini-Split	Central Ducted
Upfront cost	$8,000-$15,000 (3-4 zones)	$12,000-$20,000
Installation	Minimal disruption, no ductwork	Requires ductwork (add $8K-$15K if none exists)
Efficiency	Higher (no duct losses)	Lower (10-30% duct losses typical)
Zone control	Excellent (per-room)	Limited (2-4 zones possible)
Aesthetics	Wall-mounted units visible	Hidden in ducts, only vents visible
Best for	Homes without ducts, zone heating	Homes with existing quality ductwork

How Each System Works

Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps

Components:

• Outdoor unit: Compressor and heat exchanger (1 per system)
• Indoor units: Wall-mounted, floor-mounted, or ceiling cassettes (1-8 per outdoor unit)
• Refrigerant lines: Connect outdoor to indoor units (3-4 inch diameter)
• Condensate drain: Small drain line for each indoor unit

Operation:

• Outdoor unit pumps refrigerant to each indoor unit
• Indoor units blow conditioned air directly into rooms
• Each indoor unit controlled independently
• No ductwork required

Central Ducted Heat Pumps

Components:

• Outdoor unit: Compressor and heat exchanger
• Indoor air handler: Located in basement, attic, or closet
• Ductwork: Network of supply and return ducts throughout home
• Thermostat: Central or zoned control

Operation:

• Outdoor unit conditions refrigerant
• Indoor air handler blows air through duct network
• Conditioned air delivered via supply vents
• Return air pulled back through return vents
• Single thermostat or 2-4 zones typical

Cost Comparison

Ductless Mini-Split Systems

Home WITHOUT existing ductwork:

Home Size	Zones Needed	Equipment + Install	Total Cost
800-1,200 sq ft	1-2 zones	$6,000-$10,000	$6,000-$10,000
1,200-1,800 sq ft	2-3 zones	$9,000-$14,000	$9,000-$14,000
1,800-2,500 sq ft	3-4 zones	$12,000-$18,000	$12,000-$18,000
2,500+ sq ft	4-5+ zones	$15,000-$25,000	$15,000-$25,000

After rebates: -$6,000 to -$11,000 (federal + provincial)

Central Ducted Heat Pumps

Home WITH existing good ductwork:

Home Size	System Capacity	Equipment + Install	Total Cost
1,200-1,800 sq ft	2-3 ton	$10,000-$15,000	$10,000-$15,000
1,800-2,500 sq ft	3-4 ton	$12,000-$18,000	$12,000-$18,000
2,500-3,500 sq ft	4-5 ton	$15,000-$22,000	$15,000-$22,000

Home WITHOUT ductwork (must install):

Same as above PLUS $8,000-$15,000 for ductwork installation = $18,000-$37,000 total

After rebates: -$6,000 to -$11,000

Efficiency Comparison

Ductless Mini-Splits: Higher Efficiency

Reasons:

1. No duct losses: Typical ductwork loses 10-30% of heated/cooled air
2. Zone control: Heat/cool only rooms in use
3. Inverter technology: Most mini-splits use variable-speed compressors
4. No air leakage: Refrigerant lines don't leak like ducts

Typical efficiency:

• SEER: 20-33 (cooling)
• HSPF: 10-14 (heating)
• COP at -15°C (5°F): 2.5-3.5 (cold-climate models)

Annual energy use (2,000 sq ft, Coastal BC): ~8,000-10,000 kWh = $960-$1,200/year

Central Ducted: Lower Efficiency (But Improving)

Efficiency losses:

1. Duct leakage: 10-20% loss typical, up to 30% in old/poorly sealed ducts
2. Duct insulation: Ducts in unconditioned spaces (attic, crawlspace) lose heat
3. Single-zone operation: Less efficient than zone control

Typical efficiency:

• SEER: 14-20 (cooling)
• HSPF: 8.5-12 (heating)
• Effective COP: 10-30% lower than rated due to duct losses

Annual energy use (2,000 sq ft, Coastal BC): ~10,000-12,000 kWh = $1,200-$1,440/year

Mitigation:

• Seal and insulate ducts: Improve efficiency by 15-25%
• Zone dampers: Reduce waste by controlling airflow
• Regular maintenance: Clean ducts, replace filters

Comfort & Performance

Ductless Mini-Splits

Advantages:

• Precise temperature control: Each room independently controlled
• No cold/hot spots: Indoor unit placed directly in room
• Quiet operation: Indoor units typically 19-35 dB (whisper-quiet)
• No air mixing: Good for allergy sufferers (no shared duct system)

Disadvantages:

• Uneven room temperatures: Rooms without units rely on airflow from other rooms
• Air circulation: Less whole-house air movement than ducted systems
• Direct airflow: Some people dislike air blowing directly on them

Best comfort in:

• Open floor plans (air circulates naturally)
• Homes where rooms can be closed off (bedrooms at night)
• Mild climates (coastal BC)

Central Ducted

Advantages:

• Even temperature: Air distributed throughout home
• Whole-house circulation: Better air mixing
• Hidden equipment: No visible indoor units
• Air filtration: Centralized filtration removes dust, allergens

Disadvantages:

• Temperature variance: 2-5°F difference between rooms common
• Slower response: Larger air volume takes longer to heat/cool
• Duct noise: Airflow through ducts can be audible (30-45 dB)

Best comfort in:

• Traditional layouts with many rooms
• Homes where aesthetics matter (no wall units)
• Areas with high dust/pollen (centralized filtration)

Installation Differences

Ductless Mini-Split Installation

Typical timeline: 1-2 days

Process:

1. Mount outdoor unit (ground or wall-mounted)
2. Drill 3-4 inch hole through wall for each indoor unit
3. Mount indoor units (wall, floor, or ceiling)
4. Run refrigerant lines from outdoor to each indoor unit
5. Run electrical to outdoor unit
6. Vacuum and charge refrigerant
7. Test system

Minimal disruption:

• No drywall removal (except small holes for lines)
• No attic/basement work
• No ductwork installation

Challenges:

• Line length limits (50-100 ft typical)
• Indoor unit placement (aesthetics vs performance)
• Condensate drain routing

Central Ducted Installation

Typical timeline: 2-5 days (if ductwork exists), 1-2 weeks (new ductwork)

Process (existing ductwork):

1. Remove old furnace/air handler
2. Install new heat pump outdoor unit
3. Install new indoor air handler
4. Connect to existing ductwork
5. Modify ductwork if needed (balance airflow)
6. Run refrigerant lines
7. Test and commission

Process (new ductwork):

• Design duct layout (Manual D calculation)
• Install supply and return ductwork
• Seal and insulate ducts
• Install registers and grilles
• (Add 5-10 days, significant disruption)

Significant disruption if installing ductwork:

• Drywall cutting and patching
• Attic/basement/wall access
• Dropped ceilings or bulkheads

Aesthetics

Ductless Mini-Splits

Visible components:

• Wall-mounted indoor units (12-36 inches wide, 8-12 inches tall)
• Refrigerant line cover on exterior wall (3-4 inches wide)
• Condensate drain line

Appearance:

• Modern, sleek design (white, black, or silver)
• Cannot hide units (defeats purpose)
• Some homeowners dislike visible equipment

Options for less visibility:

• Ceiling cassettes (recessed, only grille visible)
• Floor-mounted units (less obtrusive than wall units)
• Concealed ducted mini-splits (hybrid approach, more expensive)

Central Ducted

Visible components:

• Supply and return vent grilles (2-4 inches thick)
• Thermostat on wall

Hidden components:

• All equipment in basement, attic, or closet
• Ductwork hidden in walls, floors, ceilings

Appearance:

• Traditional, clean look
• Nothing visible except vents
• Preferred by homeowners prioritizing aesthetics

Climate Suitability in BC

Coastal BC (Vancouver, Victoria, Lower Mainland)

Ductless mini-splits: Excellent

• Mild winters allow high efficiency year-round
• Zone control reduces waste
• No ductwork needed in homes with baseboard heat

Central ducted: Good

• Works well if quality ductwork exists
• Less efficient due to duct losses
• Not cost-effective if installing new ductwork

Recommendation: Ductless unless you already have good ductwork

Interior BC (Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon)

Ductless mini-splits: Good to Excellent

• Cold-climate models perform well to -25°C (-13°F)
• Zone control maximizes efficiency
• Consider backup heat for extreme cold

Central ducted: Good

• Better whole-house coverage in colder climates
• Easier integration with backup furnace (hybrid systems)

Recommendation: Both work well. Ductless if no ductwork, ducted if good existing ductwork and you want whole-house coverage.

Northern BC (Prince George, Fort St. John)

Ductless mini-splits: Fair

• Need cold-climate models rated to -30°C (-22°F)
• Backup heat essential
• Efficiency drops significantly below -20°C (-4°F)

Central ducted: Fair to Good

• Better integration with backup furnace
• Whole-house coverage important in extreme cold

Recommendation: Hybrid system (heat pump + gas furnace) preferred. Ducted heat pump integrates more easily with backup.

Zone Control & Flexibility

Ductless Mini-Splits: Superior Zoning

Per-room control:

• Each indoor unit has its own remote/thermostat
• Set bedroom to 18°C (64°F), living room to 21°C (70°F)
• Turn off unused rooms completely

Energy savings:

• 20-40% reduction vs whole-house heating
• Particularly effective in BC's mild climate (don't heat unused spaces)

Flexibility:

• Add zones later (run new line set to additional indoor unit)
• Easy to expand system

Central Ducted: Limited Zoning

Whole-house heating:

• Single thermostat controls entire home
• All rooms heat to same temperature

Zoned systems available:

• 2-4 zones typical
• Zone dampers control airflow
• Additional cost: +$1,500-$4,000 for zoning

Less flexible:

• Adding zones requires ductwork modifications
• Not as granular as ductless (zone = multiple rooms typically)

Best Applications

Choose Ductless Mini-Splits If:

1. No existing ductwork (homes with baseboard, radiators, boilers)
2. Want maximum efficiency (no duct losses)
3. Need zone control (different temperatures in different rooms)
4. Live in mild climate (coastal BC)
5. Want minimal installation disruption
6. Have open floor plan (air circulates naturally)

Choose Central Ducted If:

1. Have existing good ductwork (from gas furnace or central A/C)
2. Prefer hidden equipment (aesthetics important)
3. Want whole-house air circulation
4. Need centralized air filtration (allergies, air quality concerns)
5. Have traditional layout (many separate rooms)
6. Installing new construction (ductwork easier to install)

Consider Hybrid Approach:

1. Ductless for main living areas + ducted for bedrooms
2. Ducted mini-splits (concealed units + short duct runs for each zone)
3. Central ducted + mini-split supplements (problem rooms, additions)

Maintenance Requirements

Ductless Mini-Splits

Monthly:

• Clean indoor unit filters (wash with water, 5 minutes per unit)

Annually:

• Professional service: $150-$300
• Coil cleaning (indoor and outdoor)
• Refrigerant level check
• Electrical connections

Easier DIY maintenance:

• Filters accessible (front panel opens)
• Visual inspection of outdoor unit

Central Ducted

Monthly:

• Replace air handler filter ($5-$30)

Annually:

• Professional service: $200-$400
• Duct inspection and cleaning (every 3-5 years): $300-$800
• Seal duct leaks if needed

More complex:

• Filters may be hard to access
• Duct cleaning requires professional
• Harder to inspect for issues

Long-Term Costs

15-year ownership (2,000 sq ft home, Coastal BC):

Cost Category	Ductless Mini-Split	Central Ducted
Initial install	$13,000	$15,000
Rebates	-$8,000	-$8,000
Net install	$5,000	$7,000
Energy (15 years)	$14,400 ($960/year)	$18,000 ($1,200/year)
Maintenance (15 years)	$3,000 ($200/year)	$4,500 ($300/year)
Total 15-year cost	$22,400	$29,500

Savings with ductless: $7,100 over 15 years

Common Misconceptions

"Ductless can't heat a whole house"

False. Properly sized multi-zone ductless systems heat entire homes effectively. Open floor plans work best.

"Central ducted is always better"

False. Central ducted wastes 10-30% energy through duct losses. Only better if you already have quality, sealed ductwork.

"Ductless units are ugly"

Subjective. Modern units are sleek and unobtrusive. Ceiling cassettes are nearly invisible.

"You can't add A/C to ductless later"

False. Mini-splits provide both heating AND cooling. Central heat pumps also provide both.

Conclusion

For most BC homeowners without existing ductwork, ductless mini-splits offer better efficiency, lower cost, and superior zone control. They're ideal for coastal BC's mild climate and homes with electric baseboard or boiler heating.

Central ducted heat pumps make sense if you already have quality, well-sealed ductwork from a previous furnace or A/C system. Installing new ductwork adds $8,000-$15,000 and reduces efficiency, making ductless the better choice.

For Interior BC and colder climates, both work well—choose based on existing infrastructure and preference for zone control vs whole-house coverage.

Always consult HPCN-certified contractors for proper sizing and system selection based on your specific home.

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