Q: What is a ductless heat pump?
Ductless heat pumps are highly efficient zonal heating and cooling systems.  Ductless heat pumps were developed in Japan 30 years ago and are widely used around the world.  They are heat pumps and they are ductless.  
Q: Why heat pumps?
Heat pumps are ideally suited for the Northwest, delivering efficiencies 2-3 times that of electric resistance space heating.  That is because heat pumps don’t actually make heat, they use a refrigerant and a compressor to extract heat from the outside air and “pump” it into your home.  In the summer, heat pumps can reverse cycle and serve as efficient air conditioners.  And, because the price of natural gas and other fuels have gone up more than the price of electricity over the last few years, heat pumps heat for less in the Northwest.  Period. 
Q: Why ductless?
Because many homes do not have ducts and adding ducts is expensive and often impractical.  Residential duct systems are also hard to get right.  Not getting the ducts right results in big energy efficiency penalties (up to ~30% or more).  Poorly designed and installed duct systems can also result in issues related to air flow/system performance, comfort, noise, and indoor air quality. Ducts should be cleaned, but rarely are. 
Q: What are appropriate applications for a ductless heat pump?
We believe ductless heat pumps are applicable to almost all homes and will change the way Americans view heating and cooling.  Of course, we are The Heat Pump Store!  Some preferred residential applications include:
Replacing an existing zonal heating system – Some of the most cost effective ductless heat pump applications consist of a single-zone system serving the main area of a house heated with electric baseboards, wall units or ceiling cable heat.  In these cases, “old electric heat” continues to serve bedrooms, bathrooms and other secondary zones. And you get awesome air conditioning! 
Room additions – Ductless heat pumps are perfect for room additions, attic living space, and that bonus room that is no bonus because it is too cold in the winter and/or too hot in the summer.
New construction – New homes can be designed or easily adapted to take advantage of the characteristics of ductless heat pumps. Typically one or more systems might be installed in various “zones” of the house to simplify installation and minimize refrigerant line length.  As with existing homes, the most cost-effective approach is often a hybrid strategy with low cost electric resistance heaters serving low use areas.
Q: Do I still need my old heaters?
While a DHP system can be used as a primary heat source, most homeowners are encouraged to keep their existing electric heating units (or install in new construction projects) to supplement the DHP system in extreme weather conditions or in hard to reach extremities of the home.

Q: How is the system controlled?
The system is controlled with a handheld remote control that resembles your TV remote control.  Using this control, the homeowner can select heating or cooling, the temperature setting, and other modes of operation such as fan speed and air direction.
Q: How much does a ductless heat pump cost?
The average cost of an installed ductless heat pump with one indoor heating/cooling zone is approximately $4,000.  Additional heating zones and/or greater heating capacities will increase the cost of the system. Other factors that may affect the cost of an installed system include: the manufacturer and model, refrigerant line-set length, and difficulty of installation. 
Q: What incentives are available for ductless heat pumps?
Because ductless heat pumps represent the highest level of efficiency, utilities and federal and state governments offer thousands of dollars in incentives and tax credits to help you pay for your system! 
Utility Rebates – Most Northwest utilities are encouraging the use of inverter-driven ductless heat pumps to displace electric resistance heat.   Most of the utilities are offering significant rebates (up to $1,500) for installations in single- and multi-family homes with the “old electric heat”.   
Federal Energy Tax Credits – The “stimulus plan” (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) provides for large tax credits (30% of installed cost up to $1,500) for energy improvements to existing principal residences.  These tax credits can be combined with the utilities incentives and state tax credits.  Stimulus is scheduled through December 31, 2010.
Oregon Energy Tax Credits - The Oregon Department of Energy provides small tax credits for ductless heat pumps through the Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) program. The credit is valued at $50 per half-ton of rated capacity, with a maximum credit of 25% of the system cost, or $400, whichever is less.

Q: How long will a ductless heat pump system last?
With proper maintenance, a ductless heat pump should perform for over 20 years. Many systems installed in the 1980’s are still functioning well today.
Q: What kind of maintenance does a ductless heat pump require?
Ductless heat pumps require some basic maintenance to ensure optimum performance. In most cases, keeping the filters and coils clean is all the maintenance needed.  This can be performed easily by the home owner or most contractors can provide maintenance services.
Q: How do I know what size of system my house needs?
Ductless heat pump systems are sized to meet the heating and cooling needs of individual zones in the home which can vary greatly due to the thermal characteristics of the zone.  The good news is that there is a great deal of flexibility when it comes to system sizing ductless heat pump. One indoor unit can provide between 9,000 and 36,000 BTUs per hour. Typically, a 1-ton (12,000 BTU/hr) DHP will effectively serve up to 600 square feet.  The Heat Pump Store can help you with sizing specific to your home, your primary zones, or your project.