Ductless Minisplits
Ductless Minisplits | Air Conditioning | Heating and Air Conditioning | Newport
Escape the sticky Newport summers and chilly mountain nights with HEP’s ductless minisplits, the smart way to enjoy whisper-quiet comfort without bulky ductwork. Our systems deliver precision temperature control room by room, slashing energy bills while filtering the air you breathe. Whether you’re renovating a historic cottage or upgrading a modern condo, installation is quick, clean, and often completed in a single day—no mess, no hassle, just instant relief.
Backed by local technicians who know East Tennessee’s climate inside out, we fine-tune every unit for peak performance and 12-month efficiency. From the first consultation to lifetime maintenance, HEP keeps your air conditioning running smoothly so you can focus on mountain views, lake weekends, and everything else that makes Newport home.
FAQs
How do ductless mini-split systems provide both heating and cooling?
A ductless mini-split has two main components: an outdoor compressor/condensing unit and one or more indoor air-handling units. Refrigerant lines connect the components through a small wall penetration. In cooling mode, the indoor head absorbs heat from the room air and sends it outdoors; in heating mode (via the heat-pump cycle) the flow reverses, drawing heat from outside air—even when temperatures drop below freezing—and releasing it indoors. Because each indoor head is independently controlled, you can set precise temperatures for individual rooms without the losses associated with ductwork.
Why are mini-splits a good choice for homes in Newport, RI?
Newport’s housing stock includes many historic and retrofit-challenged buildings where adding ductwork is impractical or prohibited by preservation rules. Mini-splits require only a 3" wall sleeve, making them ideal for older homes, carriage houses, and waterfront cottages. They also handle Newport’s humid summers and cool, windy winters efficiently, offering dehumidification in July and dependable heat in January. Variable-speed inverter technology lets the system ramp output up or down to match the mild shoulder seasons common on the coast, keeping comfort steady and energy bills low.
How energy-efficient are ductless systems compared with traditional central air?
Because they eliminate duct losses—often 20–30 % of conditioned air in a typical central system—and use inverter-driven compressors, mini-splits routinely achieve Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios (SEER2) in the mid-20s and Heating Seasonal Performance Factors (HSPF2) of 9–12. Central split systems generally rate 14–18 SEER2. The result is 30–50 % lower electricity consumption for the same cooling load. In addition, Rhode Island Energy offers rebates up to $1,250 per outdoor unit when you install qualifying high-efficiency heat pumps, further improving payback.
What is the installation process and how long does it take?
Most residential projects require a single day for one outdoor unit and one to three indoor heads. Our technicians mount the indoor units high on an exterior wall (ceiling cassettes and floor consoles are also available), run insulated refrigerant lines and wiring through the wall sleeve to the outdoor condenser, pressure-test and vacuum the lines, then commission the system. Because no duct demolition or attic work is needed, disruption is minimal—just a ladder outside and a drop cloth inside. Multi-zone or large custom homes may take two to three days, but you can occupy the space throughout the work.
What maintenance do mini-splits need to stay reliable on the coast?
Basic care involves rinsing or vacuuming the indoor unit’s washable filters every one to two months and keeping the outdoor condenser clear of leaves and salt spray. We recommend a professional tune-up each spring that checks refrigerant pressure, cleans the coil, verifies the condensate drain, and updates firmware if applicable. Coastal Newport’s salt air can accelerate corrosion, so our maintenance includes applying an anti-corrosion coating to the condenser fins when necessary. With proper upkeep, equipment lifespans of 12–20 years are common.
Can a mini-split fully replace my oil or gas heating system in Newport’s winters?
Modern cold-climate heat-pump mini-splits operate efficiently down to ‑5 °F and continue producing heat at lower temperatures with reduced capacity, which covers the vast majority of Newport’s winter weather. Many homeowners eliminate fossil-fuel systems entirely, while others keep their boilers as a backup for extreme cold snaps or redundancy. During design, we perform a Manual J heat load calculation to size equipment correctly and confirm whether supplemental heat is advisable. Thanks to efficiency credits from Rhode Island’s EnergyWise program, switching to all-electric heat pumps can significantly reduce overall operating costs and carbon footprint.