A ductless mini-split heat pump heats and cools a room or a few rooms without any ductwork, which is why it’s a common choice for older homes, additions and garages. Here are four top-selling mini-splits, what their product pages say, and what Natural Resources Canada and New Brunswick’s energy efficiency program say to sort out before you buy.
Short on the home visit: Book The Home Visit Before You Buy A Mini-Split
Quick answer
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Book the home visit before you pick the unit. According to Natural Resources Canada, look for ENERGY STAR certification, and for cold-climate use an HSPF of over 12.0 BTU/Wh. A New Brunswick energy program says to expect a home visit for sizing and to hire licensed tradespeople for the installation.
A simple place to start: the Senville AURA 18,000 BTU, ranked #1 in Split-System Air Conditioners when we checked. Its product page lists ENERGY STAR certified, a 16-foot line set and 27 dB. For a single room, look at the Della Vita 12,000 BTU, ranked #3, which lists up to 550 sq ft.
Four ductless mini-split heat pumps, by how you’ll use them
| Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Senville AURA 18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump | Best for a larger room or open living space where you want an ENERGY STAR certified unit. #1 in Split-System Air Conditioners when we checked. The product page lists ENERGY STAR certified, AHRI certified, 208-230V power, 1.5 tons, a SEER of 21.4, 27 dB and a 16-foot copper line set. Skip it for one small room: at 18,000 BTU it’s sized for bigger spaces, and the Della below lists 550 sq ft for 12,000 BTU. | See price |
| Senville LETO 18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump | Best for a larger room where you want a stated heating limit and a parts-and-compressor warranty. #2 in Split-System Air Conditioners when we checked. The product page lists 220V power, 1.5 tons, a 16-foot line set, Alexa and app control, a heat pump described as “functional up to 5F/-15C”, and a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty on parts and on the compressor, with labour not included. Skip it if you want to install it yourself: the page says professional installation is required. | See price |
| Della Vita 12,000 BTU mini-split heat pump | Best for a bedroom, living room, garage or home office. #3 in Split-System Air Conditioners when we checked. The product page lists 20 SEER2, 230V power, up to 550 sq ft, 28 dB, heating as low as -4°F (-20°C), a pre-charged system with a 16-foot copper line set, and Wi-Fi and Alexa control. Skip it for a bigger space: 550 sq ft is the most the page lists. It also says professional installation is required. | See price |
| COSTWAY 18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump | Best for a large room: the product page lists up to 1,250 sq ft. #4 in Split-System Air Conditioners when we checked. It lists 19 SEER2 in the title, 208-230V power, five modes, a self-cleaning function and auto-defrost on the outdoor unit. Skip it if you want a stated heating limit before you order: the feature bullets don’t list one. The unit also ships in two boxes. | See price |
Specs come from the retailer’s product pages and can change, so check the current page before you order.
What does Natural Resources Canada say about mini-splits?
According to Natural Resources Canada, ENERGY STAR certified ductless mini-split heat pumps use 60% less energy than conventional electric resistance heating for heating, and cut cooling costs by 30% compared with conventional room air conditioners. For cold-climate use, it says to look for ENERGY STAR models with a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) of over 12.0 BTU/Wh. It also notes that heat pumps work harder as temperatures drop, and that some newer models use advanced compressors and refrigerants to perform better in the cold.
Natural Resources Canada lists these as good candidates: homes with costly electric heat, older homes with no ductwork, rooms that aren’t regularly occupied, and additions or outbuildings where ductwork isn’t practical, such as a garage.
Who should install a mini-split?
New Brunswick’s energy efficiency programs say the installation should be done by licensed tradespeople, and that the contractor should carry liability and workers’ compensation coverage. Its tips for choosing one:
- Expect a home visit before a firm quote. The contractor needs to see your home to size and place the system, and wrong sizing or placement can reduce savings and efficiency.
- Get three quotes and compare efficiency, performance, warranty and installation cost.
- Ask whether the warranty covers parts, the compressor and labour, and whether there’s a service call fee. The program describes warranties of 8, 10 or even 12 years as typical.
- Ask for the coefficient of performance (COP) at -25°C if that’s typical for your winter. A COP of 1 or higher means the unit still saves electricity compared with baseboard heaters.
- The contractor should handle any permits your municipality requires.
Two of the product pages in this guide, the Senville LETO and the Della Vita, say professional installation is required.
Common questions
Do the units come with the pipes and cable? The Senville AURA, Senville LETO and Della Vita pages each list a 16-foot line set. The COSTWAY title says it includes an installation kit.
How cold can they heat? The Della page lists heating in environments as low as -4°F (-20°C), and the Senville LETO page describes its heat pump as “functional up to 5F/-15C”. The feature bullets for the Senville AURA and COSTWAY don’t list a figure, so ask your installer, and ask for the COP at -25°C.
What size do I need? The Della Vita page lists up to 550 sq ft for 12,000 BTU, and the COSTWAY page lists up to 1,250 sq ft for 18,000 BTU. Sizing depends on your home, which is why the home visit comes first.
Does ENERGY STAR matter? According to Natural Resources Canada, ENERGY STAR certified products are tested against strict efficiency specifications and certified by an independent third party. Of the four, the Senville AURA page says ENERGY STAR certified; the other three pages don’t say so in their feature bullets.
Before you buy
- Book a home visit and get three written quotes before you order a unit.
- Check the power: the pages list 208-230V, 220V or 230V, so ask your installer about the circuit. The Della page lists a maximum fuse size of 15A.
- Look for ENERGY STAR certification, and for cold-climate use an HSPF of over 12.0 BTU/Wh.
- Compare warranties and what labour covers. The Senville LETO page lists 5 years on parts and on the compressor, with labour not included.
- Sealing leaks helps too. Our draft-proofing guide covers doors and windows, and our space heater guide covers a plug-in option for a single cold room.
Our top pick: Senville AURA 18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump
Sources: Natural Resources Canada, Ductless heating and cooling; Save Energy NB, Tips for hiring a heat pump contractor. Product details come from the manufacturers’ and retailer’s product pages, so check the current page before you order.
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