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A third-floor or finished attic feels like a bonus part of the house. Until, of course, it gets too cold. Then, that extra bedroom, workspace, or rec room isn’t comfortable anymore. And, it seems like no matter what you do with the thermostat, you can’t get it nearly as warm as the first floor.
Well, that’s where ductless heating comes in! With a mini-split, you can finally get the comfort you want on the top floor of the house. And, it won’t send your energy bills skyrocketing.
This article will get to the root of the problem and explain why a ductless mini-split is the answer to it. We’ll cover:
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Common Reasons Why An Attic Or Third-Floor Is Too Cold In The Winter
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How Ductless Heating Works
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Why Go With A Ductless Mini-Split For A Third-Floor Or Attic?
You may come up with some questions along the way. Or, you’re now excited and want to hear more about how a mini-split could fit into your home in or around York, PA. Either way, give us a call! Starting with a free consultation, we’ll help you decide if ductless heating is right for you.
Ductless Vs. Baseboard Heating In York, PA Homes
Common Reasons Why An Attic Or Third-Floor Is Too Cold In The Winter
While every home is a little different, there are two common reasons why most attics or third-floors are too cold in the winter. And, unfortunately, they’re usually working together. The first is poor insulation, and the second is weak or no air circulation. Let’s break these down.
You’ve heard that heat rises, right? Well, technically, it’s hot air that rises. But, either way, you’d think that would mean the top floor of your home would be the warmest in the winter — just like it is in the summer! But that’s not quite how it works.
The other part is that heat seeks colder temperatures. In the winter, those colder temperatures are outside. So the hot air rises, and the heat keeps going! It finds any opening, draft, or air leak possible to leave the house.
(In the summer, the sun’s beating down on your roof, so the heat that reaches the top floor has nowhere to go).
The second problem is that most attics or third-floors don’t have ductwork. So, you’re only getting the heat from the floor below. Even if you do have ducts, the air pressure is weak after it’s traveled so far. That’s why we recommend ductless mini-splits in these situations: They provide powerful heating (and cooling!) without you worrying about whether there’s enough air pressure to make it from the furnace in the basement.
How A Ductless Heating Works
The secret to ductless heating and cooling is that it moves heat, not air. As a result, you don’t need ductwork. Or, you can bypass the ducts and vents that don’t really do the job up on the third-floor. That means better comfort in the most challenging part of your home to heat.
We go into more detail about how it all works in this article. But for now, here are the basics:
You have a heat pump outside that draws in heat (yes, even in the winter) and warms up a refrigerant coolant inside the system. That coolant runs in a loop from the outdoor heat pump to the air handler inside.
Read More: At What Temperature Will A Heat Pump Work?
When the coolant reaches the indoor unit, it releases the heat, and the air handler circulates it throughout the room. When that refrigerant liquid travels back to the heat pump, it absorbs more heat and continues the cycle.
As a result, you don’t need ductwork! Just a few lines that run through the wall like electrical wiring. Without forced air, you don’t worry about losing pressure when you’re too far from the heat source. And, you can add up to eight air handlers on a heat pump. That gives you the option of treating just one room or even your entire home!
But for now, let’s focus on the top floor.
Why Go With A Ductless Mini-Split For A Third-Floor Or Attic?
A ductless mini-split in a third-floor or attic gives you:
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Amazing Comfort
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Both Heating And Cooling
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Lower Energy Bills
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Easy Installation
Amazing Comfort
First and foremost, a mini-split makes any room feel great — even better than you could get with a furnace right there! The air handler has 3D sensors and tiny fans to find every little cold spot in the room and warm it right up. It also spends most time in a low-power mode that maintains the temperature within a degree of your setting. You don’t get any of those dips in temperature like with a furnace or baseboard heaters.
Read More: Four Benefits Of Ductless Mini-Splits
Zoned Heating
Another common problem for third-floor is that they’re so far away from the thermostat in the living room. As a result, the furnace shuts off when the first floor is warm, but it doesn’t take the attic into account. That changes with a mini-split.
Each air handler has a built-in thermostat. So, you’re always measuring the temperature in the room you’re treating. That makes the reading much more accurate — and your third-floor much more comfortable.
Read More: Ductless Vs. Baseboard Heating
Better Circulation
The air handler has 3D sensors and tiny fans to find every little cold spot in the room and warm it right up. It also spends most time in a low-power mode that keeps the temperature exactly at your thermostat’s setting. You don’t get any of those dips in temperature like with a furnace or baseboard heaters.
Both Heating And Cooling
Did we mention that your mini-split will also keep you cool in the summer? If you’ve ever heard of “ductless air conditioning” or a heat pump referred to as a “reverse air conditioner,” we’re talking about a mini-split!
IN the summer, the system transfers heat out of the house instead of into it. And, the air handler dehumidifies while it pumps in cooler air. This way, you get all the great comfort and benefits in the warm weather, too!
Lower Energy Bills
A mini-split comes with a significant upfront cost. But, there are some ways to bring that price down. And, once it’s up and running, you’ll offset that investment by saving money on your monthly bills. These systems require only a fraction of the energy baseboard heaters, window ACs or conventional heaters and central air use.
Read More: What Does A Ductless Mini-Split Cost In York, PA?
Easy Installation
Finally, installation is easy and non-invasive. You won’t find us ripping apart walls or building out soffits to hide ductwork. Instead, it only takes us a day to install a single-zone system with one air handler.
Mini-Split Installation Near York, PA
If you’d like to learn more about ductless heating and cooling for your home in or near York, PA, you’ve come to the right place! Air Comfort Technologies is a Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer and an expert when it comes to mini-split installation. Click below or call us today. Starting with a free consultation, we’ll help you make your third-floor or attic more comfortable than ever before!
