Best Practices for Ductless Mini Split Heat Pumps Operation

Below are common answers to questions that new ductless mini split heat pump owners frequently have. We’re always expanding this list. If you have a question that we haven’t answered please be sure to reach out to us. We’ll get the answer for you and add it to the list below.

Ideal temp to have it set at

There is not one ideal temperature to set your ductless heat pump at. We advise home owners to start at the same temperature they set their baseboards at.

e.g. if you set your baseboards to 18 then start by setting your heat pump to 18 degrees as well.

If you are used to keeping your thermostats set at say 16 degrees and find it chilly at home then we would advise you to increase the temperature to where you feel comfortable.

Comfort is the key. Many of our customers find that they are able to set the temperature on their heat pump lower than their baseboards but maintain the same comfort level.

Leave it on or off

If you have ever watched our video discussing the cost to operate a heat pump for a day then you know it doesn’t cost a lot.

Heat pumps use the most electricity when working hard to get a room to temperature. Once that temperature is achieved the unit then only has to work to maintain it.

When you shut your heat pump off what happens is the room temperature will drop. Then when you turn the unit back on the system will need to work hard once again to bring it back to temperature.

We usually advise homeowners to leave their heat pumps on all the time unless they will be travelling for an extended period of time. While there are a few dollars a month in savings to be had by turning the unit off and on for comfort purposes we advise leaving it on all the time.

Turn it up or down

The answer to this question is similar to the one above, should I leave my heat pump on all the time. There are a few dollars to save per month by turning the temperature up and down on your heat pump, but there are also some comfort losses as well.

For this reason we advise home owners to set the temperature on their heat pump and leave it there.

What do to with the louvers

Whether you decide to have the horizontal or vertical louvers oscillating on your heat pump is a person preference, but there are a couple of best practices to take into consideration.

Do not aim your ductless heat pump louvers directly at the floor. This will without a doubt reduce the efficiency of the heat pump.

If the heat pump is in a larger room it’s ideal to have the louvers aimed directly outwards so that the fan inside the indoor unit will push as much heat outwards as possible.

NOTE: Some cracking and ticking from louvers when they are moving is normal. As units heat up and cool down the plastic expands and contracts. When the louvers begin to move up and down or left to right some ticking/cracking is normal.

Should I shut it off IF it’s going to be raining/snowing/ice storm

For rain there isn’t a need to shut your unit off, unless there is an expected flash freeze after the rain.

For heavy snow and/or ice storms it can be a good idea to shut your unit off as well. This is to protect the fan from pulling too much snow through the outdoor unit and causing a snow/ice build up behind the unit.

This snow and ice build up can result in the fan motor burning out if the unit was to become consumed by snow or ice. While this isn’t the risk that we run with every storm it’s a good idea to tun then unit off.

Keep it clear of snow & ice

During the winter months the most important maintenance required of your heat pump is to ensure it is kept clear of snow and ice. After each heavy storm always shovel around your unit to ensure the front, back and sides are clear of snow and ice.

Snow build up around the unit restricts air flow and focus the fan and system to work too hard. This can result in fan motor and electronic board burn outs.

By taking a few minutes after each storm to clear out around the unit you will reduce the chance of any issues occurring.

How often to clean filters

The filters inside the indoor unit of your ductless heat pump should be checked within the first week if you have pets or within the first 3-4 weeks if you don’t have pets. Continue with this frequency to determine how often the filters need to be cleaned.

In some homes a once a month cleaning can be required, while in others 3-4 cleaning a year are adequate.

The reason cleaning the indoor filters is essential is to ensure consistent air flow from your heat pump. If the filters clog then you will experience reduced air flow and lower levels of heat and/or cooling produced by your unit.