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Guides

Questions answered with the working shown.

10 items

Buying guide115V vs 230V mini-splits: which do you need?

115V or 230V mini-split? What each needs electrically, the sizes each comes in, and why running costs are about the same at the same SEER2.

Install guideCan you install a mini-split yourself?

Which parts of a mini-split install homeowners can do, which need a licensed technician or electrician, and how quick-connect DIY systems change the job.

Sizing guideHow many BTU mini-split do I need?

Mini-split sizing by room size, from the ENERGY STAR chart: 9,000 BTU for about 350-400 sq ft, 12,000 for 450-550, 18,000 for 700-1,000, plus how sun, ceilings and climate change it.

Maintenance guideHow to clean a mini-split head and coil

Step-by-step mini-split cleaning: rinsing filters, washing the coil and blower with a cleaning bag, and when to call a technician.

Cold-climate guideHyper-heat vs standard mini-splits: do you need a cold-climate model?

What a hyper-heat or cold-climate mini-split does differently, how cold standard and hyper-heat models keep heating, and how to tell if you need one.

Cost guideMini-split heat pump vs electric baseboard heat: running costs

Why a mini-split heat pump uses far less electricity than baseboard or space heaters for the same heat, and how to estimate your own savings.

Install guideMini-split wall bracket vs ground stand vs pad

Where to put a mini-split's outdoor unit: wall brackets, ground stands and pads compared on snow clearance, noise, load and install.

Buying guideMulti-zone mini-split or several single-zone systems?

One multi-zone condenser or a separate single-zone system per room? How they compare on efficiency, cost, redundancy and outdoor space.

Buying guideR-32 vs R-454B vs R-410A: mini-split refrigerants in 2026

Why new mini-splits use R-32 or R-454B, whether R-410A systems can still be installed in 2026, and what the change means for buyers.

Buying guideWindow or PTAC heat pump vs mini-split

Window and PTAC heat pumps against ductless mini-splits: efficiency, how cold each keeps heating, noise and installation.