When he wanted air conditioning, Lester Shen, whose home had a boiler and no ductwork, turned to a ductless heat pump around 2016. 

Home Details

  • Built: 1931
  • Size: 1,360 square feet
  • Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Utility:
    • Electric: Xcel Energy 

Lester’s Story in His Own Words 

When asked about electrifying his home, Lester said: 

“I had a boiler from the 1950s that reached the end of its life. It was time to replace it, and we installed a 95% efficient condensing boiler. The boiler system can’t provide cooling, so we were using window air conditioners and room fans to circulate the air around the house. It was noisy and inefficient. We decided to install a heat pump with mini-splits for cooling. Avoiding the inconvenience of taking the window air conditioners out every year, the higher energy efficiency, quieter delivery of cooling, and comfort improvement made the heat pumps worth it.” 

Before the new system, Lester had made sure his home was not going to leak conditioned air. 

“When I bought the house in 1989, I thought ‘this is a perfect time to have it insulated.’ The house needed insulation, and I was connected with a contractor that I knew would give me good insulation levels and do excellent air sealing.” 

When it comes to Minnesota’s famously cold winters, Lester uses backup heating. When it comes to the temperate summers, he uses the heat pump for cooling. 

“I also use the heat pumps to provide heating until the outdoor temperature gets below about 20 degrees in November. We use the boiler from November to early March, then use the heat pump again for heating until we switch to cooling for the summer. The house is well insulated, and the heat pump keeps us comfortable. 

Equipment Details 

  • Air Source Heat Pump
    • Type: Cold climate
    • Sizes
      • 2 tons with mini-split heads throughout the home
      • 1.5 tons with one mini-split head in the basement
    • Brand: Mitsubishi
  • Boiler
    • Type: 95% efficient condensing boiler
    • Brand: Well-McLain
  • Insulation and Air Sealing
    • Efficiency:
      • Dense packed walls to R-15
      • Insulated attic to R-50
  • Smart Thermostats
    • Boiler: ecobee
    • Mini split: Cielo 

Homes of All Ages Can Electrify

Lester’s 1931 home had a boiler and no ductwork, so he replaced the boiler with a more efficient model and installed a heat pump with mini splits. In his home, this meant that he avoided having to remove window air conditioners every year, his home was more efficient, the delivery of cooled air was quieter, and the whole home had more consistent, comfortable temperatures. 

If your home does not have ductwork, you can still electrify. Contact a Preferred Contractor Network contractor for more information. If you live in Hennepin County or Rochester, you can speak to an electrification advisor for free, no-pressure advice on what direction to take your electrification. 

 

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