A mini-split heat pump has a single indoor head that is typically mounted on a wall. It serves a single room or open space and is controlled with a remote.
Heating mode:
- Outside air is drawn over a refrigerant coil in the outdoor unit
- Heat from the air warms the refrigerant in the coil
- The refrigerant is compressed into a hot, high-pressure vapour
- Lines bring the vapourized refrigerant into your house to the indoor unit (also known as an air handler)
- In the indoor unit, the vapourized refrigerant passes through another coil where the heat is pulled out and mixed with the indoor air
- A fan sends the warm air into the room
Cooling mode is a reverse of heating mode:
- The indoor unit pulls heat from the indoor air and carries it outside through the refrigerant lines
- A fan sends the cooled air into your room