Comments on: The Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump’s Big Brother – CITY MULTI

By: Premium Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.

Premium Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 07:18:53 +0000

I could not agree more. Every
I could not agree more. Every application in which we have used a ductless mini-split system, it has provided exceptional perfomance at a comparatively low cost. They are very good systems and I think in time, people will not mind the aesthetic difference and they will be utilized in more homes.

By: fujitsu heat pumps

fujitsu heat pumps — Mon, 30 May 2011 10:56:46 +0000

Same here kempf42, I also
Same here kempf42, I also wanted to modulate geothermal heat pumps as its the most efficient way to save money i guess. Just like your hometown here in New Zealand we need this heat pumps during winter season as its freezing in here I currently use fujitsu heat pumps may be my best choice for now but for the future i guess ill go with geothermal as they produce such thing.

By: kempf42

kempf42 — Fri, 20 May 2011 07:31:40 +0000

The minisplit is just about
The minisplit is just about what I was looking for when I started my deep energy retrofit last summer (now complete, see blog for the excruciating details). What I wanted was a modulating geothermal heat pump (i.e. one that could turn on and off intermittently rather than run continuously to heat up a buffer tank) for our hydronic hot water system for heating in the winter, and that could be coupled to an HRV system for cooling fresh incoming air in the summer. Instead, what I was offered was a nonmodulating geothermal heat pump designed for extreme climates rather than our moderate climate here in California, an 80 gallon buffer tank to ease the load on the heat pump, and an air handling system for cooling that was completely separate from the HRV system. So I would have had to install two duct systems. I dropped the geothermal heat pump because the technology seemed too cumbersome and expensive, and we couldn't figure out a way to accommodate 2 ducting systems in our house. With the minisplits, though, (if they could be coupled to a modulating geothermal heat pump) you could run the cooling lines to the HRV fans, and connect a separate set of lines for heating to the hydronic system. It does not completely eliminate ducts but with our house being extremely tightly insulated, some way is needed to get fresh air into the house and exhaust stale air (and the HRV systems work very well though we have not used them much so far because it is now warm enough to open the windows). This seems but a short step from the minisplit technology described here.

By: Folsom Heating and Air

Folsom Heating and Air — Fri, 13 May 2011 05:03:43 +0000

This very much seems like the
This very much seems like the future of hvac. I've put a lot of systems in and this sounds like the one I would use.

By: John Poole

John Poole — Wed, 11 May 2011 22:39:31 +0000

Chris,

Chris,
I am already envisioning wood working projects to disguise the (residential) indoor units of the mini-split as pieces of period furniture... :-)
- John

By: Chris Laumer-Giddens

Chris Laumer-Giddens — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:31:52 +0000
Thanks, Jimmy! The class was
Thanks, Jimmy! The class was a great first step in to understanding the advantages of the technology. We also dove in to the design tool, and came out of having designed a commercial project. Phase 2 of the class is coming up soon where we will go in to the specifics of EnergyPro (energy modeling tool). They say it is the most compatible with CITY MULTI.

By: Chris Laumer-Giddens

Chris Laumer-Giddens — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:25:16 +0000
Danny,

Danny,

You are so right on. This is a technology that will take time to become mainstream. Like so many new technologies, though, it will happen.

The HVAC Industry, as you know, continues going through a lot of upheaval because of energy efficiency. High Performance Homes are like a whole new playing field, and few understand how to design for it. The industry is almost being reinvented...literally.

Rules of thumb will eventually go away, and unfortunately for Bubba and Earl, those who jump on board are the ones who will survive.

Thanks for your comment!

By: James Chrsitopher

James Chrsitopher — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:14:06 +0000
Great article. I am very
Great article. I am very interested in learning more. Tell me more about the training.

By: Danny Gough

Danny Gough — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:17:00 +0000
City Multi is serious HVAC
City Multi is serious HVAC equipment. We used them on a 22,000 sq. ft starter castle a couple years back - 15 tons and 22 indoor units. Variable capacity softens the over sizing issue and it was much easier to zone using multi units rather than conventional dampers.

A couple disadvantages we found were 1/2 mile of copper refrigerant line can get expensive with copper prices going up 20% at a time. This is not something that Bubba and Earl Heatin and Coolin will be able to diagnose and repair.