Here in the Rochester area, many people are choosing Mitsubishi Electric Ductless Mini-Split heat pumps and air conditioners for their homes, so they can add the comfort they want, right where they need it most. Mitsubishi’s ductless “mini-split” systems combined with Wi-Fi technology and Mitsubishi Electric’s Kumo Cloud system, enable homeowners to manage multiple zones of heating and cooling in the areas of your home where you need it most. And because they are one of the most efficient systems on the market today, you can get the comfort you crave with the flexibility needed to fit your home and your budget.
If you’re like most of our customers, you’re wondering how much it would cost to get the heating and air conditioning you want, while ensuring you keep your monthly energy bills as low as possible.
The cost of zoned systems depends on many factors. The system consists primarily of an outdoor unit connected by refrigerant piping to one or more indoor units, that come in a variety of styles. These indoor units can be networked together to create zones of heating and cooling that can each be controlled separately. A single outdoor unit could create one zone or eight, or anything in between, depending on what you need and what your budget is.
For example, if you live in an older village home in Pittsford, Penfield or Fairport, your home may have been built without ductwork for central heat and air. These older homes are gorgeous, but they are becoming more and more uncomfortable during the summer. Window AC units probably aren’t getting the job done as well as in the past, and they cost a fortune to run. Ductless and zoned heating solutions from Mitsubishi could make even those rooms on the third floor perfectly comfortable, even on the hottest and most humid day in the summer, and the most bitterly cold days of winter.
Because of the customization and flexibility of this solution, it’s not as simple to estimate a price as it would be if you were just going to buy a window air conditioner or even a whole home, unitary central heating and air system. The solutions offered by Mitsubishi’s Zoned Comfort solutions can be ducted or ductless, or a hybrid of both. This flexibility means there’s a great solution for your home, whether it’s a split level in Henrietta, a turn of the century home near Cobbs Hill, a contemporary home in Perinton, or a colonial home in Irondequoit. Our experts here at Airquip have the experience and expertise to design the best, custom solution for your needs and budget.
The cost of a system will vary depending on the number of zones you need to achieve the comfort you crave. As a certified Contractor for Mitsubishi, we at Airquip have the experience and expertise to make sure you get the best and most efficient solution on the market with a full twelve-year warranty.
Generally, single zone equipment comes in at $3,000 to $6,000. Multi-zone projects can range from $7,500 to $20,000 or more, depending on size of equipment.
What Are the Contributing Factors That Make Up The System Cost?
To understand the cost of a new Zoned Comfort Solution for your Greater Rochester area home, consider the individual elements that contribute to that cost:
A. New Equipment
Each Zoned Comfort Solution includes an outdoor unit, indoor unit(s), controls and parts including the refrigerant line-set, wiring and electrical accessories. Conditioning one room or zone comes at a significantly different price than heating and cooling a home with eight or more zones.
B. Labor
In addition to the cost of the equipment, there is the cost for design and installation of the system, customized for your home and needs. In general, the cost is approximately equal to the cost of the equipment itself, that covers our certified and trained technicians who can handle refrigerants safely, as well as perform the plumbing and electrical work necessary for an installation. Labor costs also vary depending on the complexity of the installation.
C. Possible Additional Costs
- Electrical – These systems require a 240V circuit. The price will increase if your home’s electrical panel requires a new 240V circuit. To avoid surprises, securing an estimate before purchasing a new system is always advised.
- Equipment pad or stand – Creating an even surface underneath the outdoor unit for proper drainage is important. Alternatively, units can be mounted on brackets, so be sure to discuss the possible alternatives with us when designing your system and picking the best location for the outdoor unit.
- Ductless or ducted – Choosing ducted indoor units introduces a price that is difficult to generalize. Some homeowners might be repurposing existing ductwork, while others might be installing ductwork for the first time, adding to the complexity of the job and to the labor cost. One of the best things about Mitsubishi zoned comfort solutions, especially for older homes throughout our area, is that they can be installed without ductwork, saving you the time, money and the inconvenience of retrofitting a home with ductwork.
- Controllers – there are many controller options to choose from with Zoned Comfort Solutions. Your selection will affect the cost. Wall-mounted units come standard with a handheld wireless controller; otherwise, factor in $300-$400 per controller for a wall mounted thermostat or APP based control for each zone. There are even Kumo Cloud controllers available, which allow you to control your system from your smartphone, a benefit more and more people in the greater Rochester area are choosing.
D. Any Additional Equipment Needed for Unique Situations.
Some homes need a little extra something; this is true for older homes, high-performance homes, and homes in the mountains or near the water. Some of these homes may require specialized designs and/or equipment, all of which impact the cost of the system. Mitsubishi’s Hyper-Heating INVERTER®technology is developed to provide comfortable indoor temperatures even in extreme cold-climate conditions (as low as minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit) while saving energy and money. We’ve got solutions that can work in any of the winter weather Mother Nature can dish out here in Upstate New York- and we know a thing or two about harsh winters- we’re famous for them!
As you can see, there are a lot of variables that affect the estimated cost of a Zoned Comfort Solution. While it is impossible to get a precise estimate of your costs without consulting a local contractor like us here at Airquip, there is some third-party data available regarding the low end of the cost range. In July 2016, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance published a study[1] showing that simpler heating and cooling zoned comfort solution installations (defined as having one outdoor unit connected to one indoor unit) range from $3,913 to $4,633. Based on this study as well as internal data from Mitsubishi, you can expect to pay – on average – between $3,000 and $5,500 for each zone (each area you want to condition).
Your specific price range is directly impacted by the choices you make with the experts at Airquip regarding the number of zones you want to condition, whether to use ductless or ducted indoor units, whether you need cooling only or heating and cooling, if you want a standard or premium product, what type of indoor units work best and so on. As a result, the answer to the question, “How much does a Zoned Comfort Solution cost?” remains a range.
[1] The study was titled, “Northwest Ductless Heat Pump Initiative: Market Progress Evaluation Report #5”; the study can be read in full at http://neea.org/docs/default-source/reports/northwest-ductless-heat-pump…
Depending on your home and your needs, the best way to find out how much a system would cost is to give us a call here at Airquip. As a licensed Mitsubishi contractor, we can save you money by designing a system that works for your home and provides the comfort you need for your home- and for your budget.
To get a better idea of what a solution might look like for your home, give us a call. We’ve worked on homes throughout the Rochester and Finger Lakes area, and we’d be happy to show you some of our work. We’ve likely done an installation in your town, or in a home just like yours, and you can get a feel for what the solution looks like and what we helped the owners achieve. Whether you live in a colonial, Tudor-style, post and beam, split level, cape, or even an older home converted into condos, we’ve worked on a home like yours and can show you what might be possible.
Getting An Estimate For Your Home
Give us a call here at Airquip. Systems designed and installed by a Mitsubishi Contractors like us are also covered by Mitsubishi’s 12-year parts and compressor limited warranty.
When you meet with us, discuss how many zones you want, where indoor and outdoor units might go, whether you need cooling only or heating and cooling, if you prefer ductless or ducted options (or a mix) and any special considerations – for example, if you’re interested in a unit with an i-See™ sensor that detects temperature variations and controls the airflow. We’ll also talk to you about what to expect during the installation process.
Sounds pretty good, right? Soon you’ll have your estimated cost, and after that – a future filled with personalized comfort and energy savings.