Some rooms were never going to work on the existing ducts: a converted garage, an addition, a bonus room over the garage, or an older Vancouver home with baseboard heat and no ductwork at all. A ductless heat pump, also called a ductless mini-split, heats and cools that space on its own, without tearing the house apart to run ducts to it. As a ductless heat pump contractor, Tri-Tech Heating, Inc. installs and services ductless heating and cooling across Vancouver WA, Camas, Salmon Creek and Clark and Cowlitz Counties, and we install Mitsubishi equipment.
Ready to talk about ductless? Call (360) 891-2002, Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, and Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm, or contact us for a free estimate on installation.
How a ductless heat pump works
A ductless system has two parts connected by a small refrigerant line: an outdoor unit, and one or more indoor heads mounted high on a wall, on a ceiling or near the floor. Like any heat pump, it moves heat instead of making it. In winter it pulls heat from the outdoor air and delivers it indoors, and in summer it runs in reverse to cool. Each indoor head has its own controls, so every room or zone runs at the temperature you want. For the details, see How Heat Pumps Work in Vancouver WA, or the ENERGY STAR guide to ductless heating and cooling.
Where ductless makes the most sense
- Homes heated with baseboard or wall heaters. Ductless heat pumps use far less electricity for the same heat than electric resistance, and they add air conditioning.
- Additions, converted garages and bonus rooms where extending the ductwork is impractical or the central system can't keep up.
- Older homes without ductwork. No ducts to build, and no ceilings to open up.
- Rooms that never get comfortable, like the upstairs bedroom that's always too hot in summer.
- Adding AC without replacing a working furnace. Cool the rooms that need it most.
Single-zone and multi-zone systems
A single-zone system pairs one outdoor unit with one indoor head, ideal for one room or open area. A multi-zone system runs several indoor heads from one outdoor unit, so you can heat and cool several rooms, each with its own temperature. We size each head to the room using a load calculation, since an oversized head short cycles just like an oversized central system. See why sizing matters.
Ductless heat pump installation in Vancouver WA
Most ductless installations need only a small opening in the wall for the refrigerant line, drain and wiring. A typical installation includes:
- Setting the outdoor unit on a level pad or wall bracket
- Mounting each indoor head and running a line set to it
- Running the condensate drain and electrical connections
- Pressure-testing, evacuating and charging the refrigerant lines
- Setting up the controls and walking you through them
Single-zone installations often finish in a day. Multi-zone systems take longer.
Ductless heat pump service and maintenance
Ductless systems need regular care like any heat pump. Homeowners should rinse the washable filters in each indoor head every few weeks during heavy use. A professional visit cleans the indoor coils and blower wheels, where dust and mold collect, checks the refrigerant charge and drains, and tests the outdoor unit. See heat pump maintenance.
Why Tri-Tech Heating, Inc.
- Experienced ductless mini-split installers and service technicians
- Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Elite Contractor
- Load calculation for every room before we recommend a system
- Free estimates on installations, and financing through Synchrony for qualified buyers
- Our work is 100% guaranteed
- Family-owned and serving Vancouver since 1992
- 2-year labor warranty on new installations, and 1-year labor warranty on repairs
- We register your new equipment for the full manufacturer warranty
Our office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, and Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm, and a call to (360) 891-2002 during those hours reaches a person. After hours, call the same number and a live person from our answering service will take your information. They'll text our on-call technician right away, or, if you'd rather wait, pass your request to our office and we'll respond by 9:00am the next business day. Licensed HVAC #TRITEHI952LL, CCB #161426.
Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Elite Contractor
Tri-Tech Heating, Inc. is a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Elite Contractor, and we register every system we install so you get the full manufacturer warranty. From October 1 to December 31, 2026, qualifying Mitsubishi Electric M-Series and P-Series systems also include 12-year labor coverage at no cost and 12-year financing through Synchrony. See the details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do ductless mini-splits heat as well as cool?
Yes. A ductless mini-split is a heat pump, so it heats in winter and cools in summer. Modern models keep heating well below freezing, which covers Vancouver's short cold snaps.
How many indoor heads do I need?
It depends on the rooms and how open your layout is. A load calculation tells us the right number and size. Open areas may need one head, and closed-off bedrooms usually need one each.
Can I add ductless to a house that already has a furnace?
Yes. Many homeowners add a ductless head to cool a hot upstairs room or condition an addition, and keep their furnace for the rest of the house.