Should I install Mini-Split or Electric Baseboard heating? Help!

Question

Looking for advice. I have a 4 unit in Lower Michigan which has 3 of the 4 units on the same hvac system. I am looking to split the utilities to tenant paid & exploring either a mini-split or baseboard system. The unit are a 600 sq ft 1 bd & a 750 2 bd for reference.

Anyone have experience with either from installation cost, to durability, effectiveness perspective?

Appreciate the help!

Anyone have experience with either from installation cost, to durability, effectiveness perspective?

Appreciate the help!

Jaysen Medhurst · Answer

@Chris Stranad, from an efficiency perspective, it's mini-split all day. The other obvious advantage is A/C in the Summer, which can be a real competitive advantage as a rental property. Perhaps allowing you to get higher rents.

They will cost more than baseboard to install. Of course, installation costs will be highly dependent on the layout and current electric service.

A couple of other things to keep in mind if you want to go mini-split.

• You have to do a good load calculation to properly size the unit(s). The last thing you want to do is install a unit that can't generate enough heat on the coldest Winter day.
• Insulation is important, but air sealing is key. If you have super leaky apartments a system may struggle to keep up with the demand as all the conditioned air leaks out. If you have a turn over coming up, I highly recommend looking into AeroBarrier. This basically seals the building envelope from the inside, taking care of any little leaks and penetrations in the building.

Fine Homebuilding and Green Building Adviser have done a ton on mini-splits (they love them). Definitely check out those resources.

Charlie MacPherson · Answer

@Chris Stranad  My primary residence (1,323 sq ft) has baseboard electric heat.  We installed 48 solar panels to spin the electric meter backwards in 3 of 4 seasons.  In the last 12 months, we spent less than $1,000 for heat and electricity combined - and the break even is in year 7.

Total cost was about $52,000, but was more than normal as we installed them on a barn that is 300 feet from our house, so we had to pay for trenching and an access hatch.  The hardware was about $32,000.

We considered mini-splits AFTER we had installed the solar panels.  Had we thought about them prior, we may have made a different decision.

When all of our baseboards are calling for heat at the same time, we are running at about 18KW.

We could replace them with one compressor and 4 heads at about $7,300 (after rebates).  That mini-split runs at 450W, or 0.45KW.

The downside is that as temperatures approach 0 degrees, mini-splits lose efficiency.  The most modern units have resistive electric elements to supplement.  Balance that with the benefit of getting whole-house AC in the summer.

In my mind, the mini-splits are the clear winner.

Jason Turgeon · Answer

Mini splits are called "splits" for a reason. The condenser unit is split from the fan. That equipment is in a small "head unit" that is mounted in whatever room you are heating/cooling. Connecting the outside condenser to the inside head unit is a small diameter tube with heat transfer fluid (pretty much antifreeze, IIRC).

This means you don't need ductwork, as long as you have a clear path for the little tube from the condenser to the head unit.

Different condensers can run more than one head unit. I think up to 5 heads per condenser is the max you will see for residential units.

These things aren't cheap, but you can often get rebates from your local energy efficiency organization. Not sure if you are in this service territory, but this is the first hit I found on Google for Michigan based efficiency programs: https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/save-money-and-energy/rebates/heating-and-cooling

This Old House had a pretty good segment on the tech, showing all the various permutations included "ducted ductless" systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb0UgFisz1E

Chris Stranad · Answer

Thank you to everyone for the input.

A large consideration is cost of installation, # of splits for each unit at this point. The property is in an area that has a very low vacancy rate which is good. But putting these in will suck up some liquidity & require me to keep the property longer. My plan is to hold the property for 5-8 years, sell it & level up to a larger multiunit.

Does each split need it’s own condenser unit or can I get two out of one condenser for same apartment?

@Jason Turgeon

@Jaysen Medhurst

@Charlie MacPherson

Jason Turgeon · Answer

Mini-splits all the way, especially if you are doing this to put the cost of the utilities on the tenants. Tenants aren't going to want to be on the hook for huge winter electric heat bills any than you are. If you put in mini-splits and can promote the efficiency, you'll be able to keep rents closer to what you get with you paying for heat, and you will also be able to offer air conditioning in the summer months.

Jordan Moorhead · Answer

@Chris Stranad I have mini-splits in a rental in Austin, Tx and like them quite a bit. Not sure how they'd work up north

Jaysen Medhurst · Answer

@Chris Stranad, pretty sure they need 220.

Here’s a great forum thread on GBA about how mini splits perform on some super cold temps.

https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/cold-weather-performance-reports-from-minisplit-owners

Chris Stranad · Answer

@Jaysen Medhurst  thanks for the input. Waiting to hear back from an hvac guy & make a plan for the next turn on the units.

Do they need 220 supply? Both units are on second floor I’d be putting them in.

Should I install Mini-Split or Electric Baseboard heating? Help!

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