Tiny House Mini-Split
One of the first things I had to think about when considering moving into an outbuilding on my daughter’s property was how to convert a she-shed (a former quilting studio) into a year-round living space. I would need heat/AC.
Out in Eugene, Oregon there was a plethora of resources available through the public library. I think I checked out every book available about building a Tiny House. That’s where I first stumbled upon the term—mini-split.
A mini-split is a unit to heat and cool spaces run off electricity. As opposed to traditional systems, a mini-split allows you to zone in on a space and efficiently control the temp. They are between 2-4 times more efficient than a furnace, baseboard or a boiler. Because I wanted to live sustainably this really appealed to me. The system uses less energy than my mini fridge.
I actually have no idea of BTUs etc and had to read up. At first I wondered if the salesman had upsold me because I’d been reading about the minimum number of BTUs needed for my space (about 250 sq feet). When I asked Justin about this he told me, I’m not sure of how well the building is insulated, it has ceramic tile, that can get cold, and when it’s in the teens outside, I want you to be warm.
Fair enough.
I also recommend having a professional do the install. The unit inside the house is easy enough to hang—it’s all the other stuff like quickly pulling permits, running the electrical from the main house (as it needed its own line) and setting up the outdoor condenser/compressor unit, which I knew nothing about as I’d only seen pics of unobtrusive, flat-to-the-wall units (takes up less space than a flat-screen TV) in Tiny House books. This “smart” unit is 3 in 1. It heats, it cools, and also acts as a dehumidifier. From an article I read:
In heating mode, mini-splits use the same kind of no-duct thermal energy transfer to heat your home. And like all heat pumps, they can do it up to four times more efficiently than any other heating system.
You can use a heat pump with a ducted system, but a mini-split system (which also uses heat pump technology) delivers this heat the most efficient way possible.
The upfront cost was about $6,000 and happened in one afternoon, which was a relief as I wanted to get moved in before cold weather set in. Plus, I get a 12-year warranty and they’ll come out and check any problems for free in the first year of use. We installed a ceiling fan that I also turn on in the a.m. to help direct air flow down.
Now as we move into spring I can report:
*I stayed warm all winter. I was able to control with a remote the amount of heat I wanted and even direct it* I never turned it up above 70 degrees, and every evening turned it down to 62
*Yes, there were cold pockets on some nights if I sat and watched TV in my rocker in a corner
*The unit once I bump it up in the a.m. quickly warms up the small space
*The unit is whisper quiet—indoors and out. You’d never know it was there. My celing fan is louder than the forced air
All this being said—am I ready for spring? Am I looking forward to turning the unit off on warm afternoons and giving it a rest? The windows on my French doors facing south give me thermal relief, allowing me to turn down the unit. (I suspect in the summer I may have to put shades up to help cool the room.)
So there it is, from my Tiny House to yours! Happy
mini-splitting!
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