Ductless heat pumps offer both heating and cooling. They also feature individual zones that put occupants in control of their comfort. And they’re incredibly efficient. All of these features make ductless mini splits an ideal solution for multi-family homes whether they are owner-occupied or rental properties.
Wondering if a heat pump is right for your multi-family home? To help you decide, we put together the following case studies. Some of these cases involve putting a whole home unit into multiple units, while others focus on putting a mini split into a single unit of a multi-unit dwelling.
Multi-Family Home in Revere, MA
This two-unit home was using through-the-wall air conditioners for cooling and gas for heating, pushing the energy bills for both units through the roof. They wanted more effective cooling and reduced energy bills so they called N.E.T.R. Inc. Our comfort consultants decided that this multi-family home needed two outdoor condensers – one for each unit.
We connected three indoor air handling units to one of the condensers and two to the other one. As a result, both of the home’s units were able to enjoy enhanced comfort and reduced energy bills.
Multi-Family Home in Somerville, MA
This client had a unit in a multi-family home in Somerville. They were using oil heat during the winter and window ACs with fans during the summer. The heat was inconsistent, leaving lots of cold spots throughout the home, and the cooling was expensive, noisy, and inconvenient.
After reading a few great reviews about N.E.T.R. Inc., the homeowners decided to call in for advice. We installed a single outdoor condenser and four indoor units. The family decided to keep their oil heat as a backup, and they received over $3,000 in rebates to help offset the cost of their new efficient heating system.
Multi-Family Home in Cambridge
Originally a single-family home, this multi-family home in Cambridge was using forced hot water heating and inefficient window air conditioners for cooling. The heating may have worked when the dwelling was a single-family structure, but it was struggling to keep the home consistently warm after it was divided into multiple units.
To improve comfort and enhance efficiency, the family decided to install a ductless heat pump. Our comfort consultants at N.E.T.R. determined that this home needed five indoor units and one outdoor condenser. Each of the indoor units came with its own thermostat controls, giving the residents the ability to adjust the temperature settings in their own units.
Multi-Family Home in Jamaica Plains
Like many other properties in the Greater Boston area, this multi-family home in Jamaica Plains was originally a single-family home. The heating system in the home was installed before the home was converted to a multi-family home, and as a result, all of the units shared a single thermostat connected to a forced hot water gas heating system. The result? Uneven heating and cooling and excessive inefficiency.
To help, the team at N.E.T.R., Inc., recommended a hyperheat condenser with six indoor air handling units. The hyperheat model allowed the home to meet all of its heating needs, without having a backup heating source. The units also came with built-in AC, improving comfort all year long. Finally, these ductless HVAC systems gave the tenants their own control over each of their own thermostats, and they reduced the energy bills for the home.
Multi-Family Home in Malden, MA
This multi-family home in Malden, MA had a few different problems. First, one of the units in the home was too cold during the winter and too hot during the summer. Second, the home had a single thermostat and the tenants were tired of sharing. Third, the current oil heating system was expensive for the property owner.
To solve all of these problems, the team at N.E.T.R., Inc. recommended a multi-zone ductless HVAC system to supplement the home’s current heating system. This upgrade made all of the units more comfortable. It also provided each of the tenants with their own thermostats and some even got multiple indoor air handling units, creating even more comfort zones in their individual units. Finally, this system improved efficiency, lowering the landlord’s bills. As an added bonus, the units come with air conditioning, making summers more comfortable than ever in this multi-family home.
Multi-Family Home in Boston
Most of the case studies above focus on providing ductless heating and cooling to all of the units in a multi-family home. But that’s not the only option. In many cases, we provide ductless heating and cooling to a single unit in a multi-family home, and that’s exactly what we did for this condo owner in Jamaica Plains.
The condo owner wanted air conditioning during the summer, but they were tired of their noisy window units so they called N.E.T.R. Inc.. We determined that a single outdoor condenser coupled with three wall units was the perfect way to keep them cool during the summer. The ductless design made installation easy in a Victorian with no existing ductwork, and as an added bonus, the condo owner was able to use this system for supplemental heating during the winter.
Get Help With Your Multi-Family Home
Do you own a condo in a multi-family home? Do you live in a multi-family home with extended family? Do you own a multi-family home as an investment property? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to consider a ductless air source heat pump. To learn more and talk about options, contact us at N.E.T.R., Inc. today.
