Ductless mini split heat pumps are specifically designed for homes without central duct systems. They are among the most common heat pump installations in Metro Vancouver — where many older homes, condos, and additions never had forced-air ductwork to begin with.
A ductless mini split heat pump consists of one outdoor unit — the compressor — connected to one or more indoor air handlers via a set of refrigerant lines. The refrigerant lines run through a small hole in the wall, typically 6–8 cm in diameter, requiring no major renovation and no ductwork at all.
The indoor units, often called heads, mount on the wall, ceiling, or floor of each room or zone you want to condition. Each head contains a coil, a fan, and its own controls — so it can be set independently from other heads in the system. In heating mode the outdoor unit extracts heat from outside air and transfers it indoors through the refrigerant circuit. In summer the process reverses, operating as air conditioning.
Because the refrigerant does the work — rather than heated or cooled air pushed through ducts — there is no energy loss from duct leakage, which is one reason well-installed mini splits can be highly efficient.
Mini splits are particularly well-suited to certain home types. These situations come up regularly in Metro Vancouver.
Many Metro Vancouver homes built before the 1980s were heated with hot water radiators or electric baseboards — no ductwork was ever installed. Adding forced-air ductwork would require major renovation. A mini split avoids that entirely, delivering heat pump efficiency without touching the existing heating system or structure.
A home addition, a finished basement, or a converted garage often cannot be practically connected to the existing duct system. A mini split handles those spaces independently, without requiring duct extension work.
Strata units typically cannot have ductwork installed without major structural approval — and there is often no space for it regardless. Mini splits are a standard solution for condos and apartments that want heat pump heating and cooling without altering the building's shared systems.
A detached garage or workshop with no existing heating system is a straightforward mini split application — one outdoor unit, one indoor head, a dedicated electrical circuit, and the space is heated and cooled year-round.
Even in homes that have some ductwork, extending it to new areas or upgrading an undersized system can require opening walls, ceilings, and floors. When the disruption of that work outweighs the benefit, a mini split for targeted zones is often the practical alternative.
The core choice for a mini split system is how many indoor heads you need and whether they share one outdoor unit.
One outdoor unit connected to one indoor head. Well-suited for a single room, an open-plan living area, a studio, or a garage. The simplest installation with the fewest components. If you only need heating and cooling in one defined area — a bedroom, a home office, a workshop — single-zone is often the right answer.
One outdoor unit connected to two to five indoor heads, each in a different room or area. Each head is controlled independently — one room can call for heat while another does not. Multi-zone avoids the cost and space of installing a separate outdoor compressor for every room, and is the standard approach for whole-home ductless systems across multiple rooms or floors.
The indoor head does not have to go on the wall. Several placement types suit different rooms and aesthetic preferences.
The most common type. The unit mounts high on the wall, typically 15–20 cm below the ceiling, and delivers conditioned air horizontally across the room. Low-profile, straightforward to install, and compatible with the widest range of systems. Most homeowners choose wall-mounted heads.
The unit sits flush with the ceiling, visible only as a flat grille. Air is distributed in four directions simultaneously, making cassettes well-suited to square rooms or open commercial-style spaces. Requires a suspended or drop ceiling, or ceiling cavity access for installation.
Mounted near the floor, typically under a window — similar in position to a traditional baseboard heater, but functioning as a heat pump. A good choice in rooms where wall or ceiling mounting is not practical, or where low installation height is preferred.
A compact air handler installed inside a ceiling or wall cavity, connected to short duct runs and grilles in the room above or below. Delivers a fully concealed look with no visible indoor head. Requires adequate cavity space — attics and crawlspaces are the common installation locations for small duct runs.
A ductless mini split installation does not require ductwork modification and is generally less disruptive than other HVAC installs. Here is what the work involves.
The refrigerant lines — typically insulated copper tubing — run from the outdoor unit through a small hole in the wall (roughly 6–8 cm diameter) to the indoor head. The penetration is sealed and the lines are run along the exterior of the building in a plastic lineset cover, or through the wall cavity where feasible.
A mini split requires a dedicated circuit from the electrical panel — typically 15A to 30A depending on the unit. If the panel has capacity, the circuit is pulled and terminated at a disconnect box near the outdoor unit. If the panel is near capacity, an upgrade may be required — your technician assesses this at consultation.
The indoor head removes moisture from the air during cooling and dehumidification. A drain line carries condensate from the indoor unit to a floor drain, exterior wall, or condensate pump. Proper drain routing prevents water damage and is part of every installation.
The outdoor unit is mounted either on a ground pad (concrete or composite) or on a wall bracket. Placement considers airflow clearance, proximity to the indoor unit, noise relative to windows and property lines, and access for future maintenance. In Metro Vancouver, elevated mounting on brackets is common where ground space is limited.
One of the most common questions about mini splits in Metro Vancouver is whether they work when it actually gets cold. The answer depends on the equipment generation and rating.
Modern cold-climate mini splits are rated to maintain full or near-full heating capacity down to -25°C. Metro Vancouver temperatures regularly approach 0°C in January and February, and occasionally drop to -5°C to -10°C during cold snaps — well within the comfortable operating range of current cold-climate equipment. The system does not shut off and switch to a backup heat source; it continues operating efficiently.
Older or standard-efficiency mini splits from a decade ago had meaningful output reductions below -10°C, which is where some of the scepticism about mini splits in cold climates comes from. Current equipment is categorically different. When comparing systems, look for the HSPF2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, second edition) rating — a higher HSPF2 indicates better efficiency across the full heating season, including cold periods.
Climax Energy specifies cold-climate rated equipment for Metro Vancouver installations as a standard practice, not an upgrade.
Ductless mini split heat pumps may qualify for CleanBC rebates through BC Hydro, FortisBC, or the CleanBC Better Homes program, depending on eligibility criteria that include the equipment's efficiency rating, your current heating fuel type, and the installer's certification status.
Rebate amounts and eligibility rules change periodically. See our rebates page for current program details, eligible equipment tiers, and what to expect from the application process. Climax Energy is registered to install rebate-eligible equipment and can advise on which rebates apply to your specific situation at the time of your consultation.
Answers to the questions we hear most often from Metro Vancouver homeowners considering a ductless heat pump system.
Ready to explore ductless heat pump options for your home? Climax Energy installs mini splits across Metro Vancouver — from single-room single-zone systems to whole-home multi-zone configurations. We specify cold-climate equipment, handle the permit, and complete the full installation.
Call us at (250) 201-2030 to discuss your home and get a site assessment, or use our contact page to book at a time that works for you.