Here at Complete Comfort, we’re dedicated to keeping your family warm and comfortable all winter long. We know many people out there have rooms in their home that are often too hot or too cold- no matter where you set your thermostat, some rooms, due to their location, number of windows, or distance from the heat source, just end up a little colder- sometimes too cold for comfort- from the rest of the home.

Many people resort to a variety of space heaters to keep those spaces warmer and comfortable. However, most space heaters are energy hogs- jacking up your energy bills- and some of them can be quite dangerous, especially if you have small children or animals.

Basic Space heaters come in two varieties- radiant heaters, which often look like small old fashioned radiators, and convection heaters, which heat the air, not as much the people and objects in the room. Radiant heaters heat up quickly and warm up the immediate area, but it takes a while to heat a whole room. Convection heaters spread the heat around throughout a space. While portable space heaters can be inexpensive, they do have downsides.

Radiant heaters get very warm and can cause burns for kids and animals, and can be a fire hazard depending on where they are placed. Convection heaters tend to be noisy, and as soon as you turn them off, the heat dissipates quickly, leaving you cold once again.

Replacing a Space Heater

Replacing a space heater can improve safety, efficiency, and overall comfort in your home. Here are some of the key reasons you should consider replacing a space heater with a more permanent, safer and more efficient system that will keep your family comfortable:

Safety Concerns

- Fire Risk: Older or malfunctioning space heaters can pose a significant fire hazard, especially if they are placed near flammable materials.
- Carbon Monoxide Risks: Non-electric space heaters, such as propane or kerosene models, can emit carbon monoxide if not properly ventilated. Even with options like wood burning or pellet stoves or fireplaces, these systems need proper ventilation and regular cleaning.
- Burn Hazards: Many space heaters get extremely hot to the touch, posing a risk to children and pets.

Inefficiency

- Space heaters are often less efficient than centralized heating systems, leading to higher energy bills when used extensively.
- They are best suited for supplemental heating, not as a primary heat source, as they struggle to maintain consistent warmth in larger spaces.

Limited Coverage

Space heaters only heat small areas, leaving the rest of your home cold.
Uneven heating can lead to discomfort and an over-reliance on the space heater.

Durability and Technology:

- Older space heaters may lack modern safety features such as tip-over shutoff switches or overheat protection.
- Newer heating systems incorporate energy-saving technology and can be controlled remotely via smart thermostats.

Better Options for Winter Comfort– Ductless Heating

There are lots of options if you need supplemental heating in parts of your home. One of the best is a ductless heat pump system. These high-efficiency heat pumps can act as both heating and cooling systems, so you can get both the extra warmth you need in hard to heat areas, and extra air conditioning in the summer as well. Ductless heating systems are up to 70% more efficient than traditional space heaters and baseboard electric heaters, saving you a TON on money on your energy bills, while increasing comfort.

A single zone of ductless heating and cooling can make those hard to heat areas of your home- basements, attics, sun rooms, garages, bonus rooms over a garage and more- much more comfortable every month of the year. These systems run on electricity, and are able to be controlled remotely. Some even have sensors so they can go into standby mode when no one is in the room, helping to save you even more money.

Other options for hard to heat spaces include:

Radiant Floor Heating

This system provides consistent, even warmth from the floor up and eliminates the need for visible heating units. However, the system is embedded into a floor and often concrete, making it hard to service if a problem develops.

Improved Insulation and Weatherization

Upgrading insulation and sealing drafts can significantly reduce heating needs and make any heating system more effective.

Pellet or Gas Fireplaces

Modern fireplaces can heat larger areas efficiently and add aesthetic value to your home. However they need to be properly ventilated, may need you to keep a supply of fuel on hand, and require regular maintenance to keep fir hazards to a minimum.

Benefits of Upgrading from a Space Heater

Enhanced Comfort: Ductless systems are permanent solutions to keep your home more comfortable year-round and help increase your comfort- and your property value.
Energy Savings: Modern systems are designed to optimize energy use, which can lower your monthly energy bills. Systems come with remote operation features and sensors that can help you get the most out of the system while keeping your energy bills low.
Improved Air Quality: HVAC systems with air filters can reduce allergens and pollutants in your home.
Peace of Mind: Advanced safety features reduce the risk of accidents compared to outdated space heaters.

Every home is different, and has different needs, depending on layout, insulation, and where you spend most of your time. A small space heater is like putting a band-aid on a bigger problem of your home’s heating and cooling efficiency. A safer, more permanent solution like a zone of ductless heating and cooling could be just the thing to give you greater year round comfort in your home, while reducing energy bills and increasing safety for your family.

If you are interested in learning more, give us a call here at Complete Comfort and we’ll help you explore all your options to keep your home cozy all season long.

5 Advantages Of Ductless Mini Splits

For years central heating and cooling was considered the best way to heat and cool your home. Now, ductless mini splits are becoming an increasingly popular choice for homeowners, offering a slew of benefits that traditional heating and cooling systems simply can’t match. Here are five key advantages of ductless mini splits:

No Ductwork Needed
Superior Energy Efficiency
Zoned Heating And Air Conditioning
Whisper Quiet
Can Heat And Cool

No Ductwork Needed

One of the major advantages of ductless mini splits is right there in the name: they are ductless. This means they do not require expensive, intrusive ductwork throughout your home to function. It’s one of the reasons it makes them ideal for older homes where installing ductwork could be disruptive and costly. They’re also great for new builds or extensions, like a sunroom, where space may be limited.

Ductless systems consist of an outdoor condenser unit and one or more indoor air handlers. These components are connected via a small conduit, which requires just a tiny hole in the wall, minimizing the aesthetic and structural impact on your home.

The lack of ductwork also minimizes the potential for energy loss, which can occur in ducted systems due to leaks and poor insulation.

Superior Energy Efficiency

Ductless mini split systems are extraordinarily energy-efficient. According to the Department of Energy, duct losses account for about 20% to 30% of the energy consumed by forced-air systems. Ductless mini splits, in contrast, have no ducts to leak, reducing this energy waste considerably.

Additionally, most ductless mini split systems use inverter technology, which allows the compressor to speed up or slow down based on the system’s needs, rather than simply turning on and off.

With some other air conditioners, you will notice the temperature going up and down as the system turns off and on. There may also be more hot and cold spots in the house depending on when the air kicks on and off. Using this inverter technology results in more precise temperature control and less energy consumption.

Zoned Heating And Air Conditioning

Ductless heating and cooling allow you to create different zones around your home. If you install 3 different mini splits around your home, that means you have created 3 different zones.

Zoned HVAC lets you heat and cool different spaces independently. This means that you can have one mini split at 72 degrees, another running lower at 75, and then one not running at all in a zone that isn’t being used. This zoned HVAC design gives you more control of your heating and cooling, and also helps you save energy.

One of the biggest energy wasters with whole home HVAC solutions is heating and cooling rooms that aren’t being used. Zoning your system eliminates that errant use and save energy.

Zoned HVAC will also be able to stop fights over the thermostat! One person can have their space at their desired temperature, while another can change their zone to what makes them comfortable.

Whisper Quiet

Unlike traditional HVAC systems, which can be rather noisy due to the fan and the ductwork, ductless mini splits operate very quietly. The noise they produce is often compared to a whisper, making them ideal for bedrooms, home offices, or any area where a peaceful environment is desired.

This quiet operation is due to the fact that the noisiest parts of the system – the compressor and the condenser – are located outdoors. The indoor units contain only the fan and the evaporator, both of which operate quietly.

If you’ve ever tried to watch TV in a room where a window AC unit is being used, you know how annoying a loud air conditioner can be! Ductless air conditioning is FAR quieter and creates a more peaceful environment in your home.

Can Heat And Cool

In addition to being efficient and quiet, ductless mini splits are versatile. Most models offer both heating and cooling capabilities, allowing you to keep your home comfortable year-round. This can be a major advantage in climates that experience both hot summers and cold winters, like ours here in Chilhowie, VA. Instead of installing one system to heat and another to cool, a ductless mini split can do both!

Not only can you toggle between heating and cooling as needed, but you also have the flexibility to control temperatures room-by-room, as we mentioned before. Each indoor air handling unit can be controlled independently, offering a level of customization and control that traditional systems can’t match.

How Ductless Mini Splits Work

A ductless mini split system is a heat pump, and works by transferring heat rather than creating it. During the cooling process, the system absorbs heat from inside your home and transfers it outdoors. In heating mode, the process is reversed: the system extracts heat from the outdoor air and transfers it inside.

This heat transfer is made possible by a refrigerant, which circulates between the outdoor and indoor units through the conduit. This refrigerant absorbs and releases heat as it moves between the two units, efficiently maintaining the desired temperature in your home. This process allows you to reduce your energy consumption, and lower your energy bills.

Ductless Mini Splits VS Window Units

While both ductless mini splits and window units provide a way to cool a space without ductwork, there are significant differences between the two. Ductless systems offer greater efficiency, quieter operation, and the ability to both heat and cool your home.

Window units, on the other hand, are often less efficient, noisier, and only capable of cooling. They also take up your window for an entire summer! They can also pose a security risk, with burglars using them as an access point to get into your home.

Plus, they must be installed and uninstalled seasonally, whereas a ductless system provides year-round comfort with a single, unobtrusive installation.

Ductless mini splits offer a bunch of advantages, including energy efficiency, quiet operation, versatility, and the elimination of the need for ductwork. Whether you’re constructing a new home, renovating an older one, or simply looking to improve your home’s comfort and efficiency, a ductless mini split system might be the perfect solution.

If you are looking into a new AC or heating system for your home, give us a call at (276) 690-9222, or click here to contact us online!

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Why You Should Replace Your Space Heater