Need more information. What state are you located in?
How many rooms in the house? Is there an attic in the home?

I'm not aware that the major mini split brands have auxiliary heat strips...could be wrong though.

Thanks for helping me.

My home is located in Atlanta, GA. Right now, there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms - that will be changed to three bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is an attic and a crawl space (no basement), and both will be insulated with spray foam - the attic to R30. I'm not sure about the crawl space yet because, as I understand it, it HAS to be vented.

Fujitsu has several mini-split with heat strip models of varying sizes/btu that have heat pumps: 9RL, 12RL, 15RLQ, 9RLS, 12RLS, 18RLS, 18RLXS, 24RLXS, and the 30RLX. 17.5 - 26 SEER (though I think this matters less if the house is not well sealed).

Here is a link that might be useful: Fujitsu mini split with heat

Hi ae2ga,

The Fujitsu is a great sytem for open floor plans. They do make models that have 1, 2, 3 and maybe even 4 wall hung evaporator air handlers. Keep in mind, these are expensive systems to buy up front and maybe to service later on.

In a small house, that tight (spray foam) you may be just fine with it. Living in GA. your mainly concerned with AC and only a little bit of heat. Their heat pump model is great because it will give you more than enough heat, even without an electric back up heat element. These systems have an electronic metering device and a variable speed compressor, so it will find your comfort set point and hover there (you wont have to worry about over sizing for AC).

Elemenating the duct work(and any mold issues), or heat loss in a vented crawl space is wise.

To your Health, Comfort & Energy Savings

ae2ga:

Eagle Energy has given you good advice in my opinion that a heat pump will be fine in your location.

FYI the Fujitsu models you show in your link do not have heat strips. I think you may have a misunderstanding of how their heat pumps work. I have a Fujitsu 15RLQ in my sun porch that puts out a decent amount of warm air even when the temperature is in the teens ( I live in Columbia, SC)

Again as Eagle Energy has noted purchasing a wall unit for each room even when hooked up to an outside condensor that can handle multiple wall units will not be cheap. You will have the advantage of controlling each room temperature individually and should have lower electric bills but possibly with some added complexity and potential higher repair costs over the long run.

Even though I am a mini split advocate (in the right situations) I think you'd be better off with a traditonal split system heat pump with the air handler located in your attic. I'm betting initial purchase cost including duct work will be no more or less than a couple of multi unit mini split condensors and 5 or so wall mounted units.

Servicing will be much easier on a traditonal system as parts are typically readily available and service personnel work on them every day.

Thank you both. If the mini-split with heat systems are overly expensive and complex, what traditional systems offer the same or better energy efficiency that I can look at? I don't need a list, just a general idea to start looking.

My other question is about the air quality issue: if I were to keep the mini-split idea, do I need another device for that? If I choose a traditional system, what type of add-ons for humidity control and air filtering?

I used Fujitsu when I lived in Japan and Bangkok. I liked them but not sure how well it will work for Americans. If you plan on living in your home for years and don't really care about selling it, it might work for you. But if you plan on selling it anytime soon, it might slow up the sale.

What brand of windows did you go with?

Thanks for the input. Why do you think it might not work well for Americans and would slow a sale? I like most of what I learned about the Fujitsu minisplit system. I know that Fujitsu manufactures reliable, quality products, and the systems are very energy efficient - two key points that are important to me.

I have no intention of selling ever- that will be a job left to my children when I die; my primary goal is to renovate for super energy efficiency and personal comfort/style.

I'm still in the planning and saving stages, so I've not yet purchased windows, but I've looked at the Marvin, Milguard, and Fibertec for dual and triple paned fiberglass windows. Of course Serious windows seem spectacular, but are way out of my price range.

I am finding that Japanese and European brands tend to be more energy efficient than American brands. Yet I think that perhaps Americans have not really had to face severe energy shortages and super high prices for utilities, so the recommendations often go to "use traditional systems." However, while initial cost is definitely a factor in my decisions, my focus is on the longer term.