Wait: are minisplits heat pumps?
June 27, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Wait: are minisplits heat pumps?
The facade-mounted minisplits stay ON! 😤
March 5, 2026 at 1:41 AM
The facade-mounted minisplits stay ON! 😤
Exasperated guy who says fuck it, let’s spend $25k on minisplits or whatever after one afternoon putting in window AC units across the house.
May 29, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Exasperated guy who says fuck it, let’s spend $25k on minisplits or whatever after one afternoon putting in window AC units across the house.
Imagine how loud this is. We need more heat pumps and minisplits in America.
August 17, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Imagine how loud this is. We need more heat pumps and minisplits in America.
Turned my dumb minisplits into smart minisplits controlled by home assistant for like 15$. Thanks Ukrainian PCB, Slava Heatpumpini
January 2, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Turned my dumb minisplits into smart minisplits controlled by home assistant for like 15$. Thanks Ukrainian PCB, Slava Heatpumpini
Guy who can’t get minisplits until he upgrades his electrical: I don’t care, whatever it takes.
May 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Guy who can’t get minisplits until he upgrades his electrical: I don’t care, whatever it takes.
EU folks, minisplits are cheap and effective
TO EVERYONE OUTSIDE THE US SUFFERING HEAT
It's good to get advice or listen to Americans who live in heat zones, because we really fucking know what to do...because we *have* to
But also, most of us have air conditioning.
It's good to get advice or listen to Americans who live in heat zones, because we really fucking know what to do...because we *have* to
But also, most of us have air conditioning.
July 15, 2026 at 5:35 PM
EU folks, minisplits are cheap and effective
minisplits exist, as basically the entire global south has known for a couple decades now
June 25, 2026 at 5:21 PM
minisplits exist, as basically the entire global south has known for a couple decades now
solar power is fuckin’ great at running minisplits, friend
June 26, 2026 at 7:29 PM
solar power is fuckin’ great at running minisplits, friend
Everybody in Bucharest is installing minisplits for a/c, and disconnecting from the unreliable district heating. But instead of using the minisplits for heat, they install in-unit gas water heaters, taking up precious space in kitchens so small that fridges often go in hallways. I guess this is why.
The electricity-to-gas price ratio is the biggest barrier to electrifying European homes.
Heat pumps deliver ~3 units of heat per unit of electricity. The maths works in Sweden but not everywhere.
Much of gap is policy.
More analysis in my forthcoming Substack newsletter janrosenow.substack.com
Heat pumps deliver ~3 units of heat per unit of electricity. The maths works in Sweden but not everywhere.
Much of gap is policy.
More analysis in my forthcoming Substack newsletter janrosenow.substack.com
May 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Everybody in Bucharest is installing minisplits for a/c, and disconnecting from the unreliable district heating. But instead of using the minisplits for heat, they install in-unit gas water heaters, taking up precious space in kitchens so small that fridges often go in hallways. I guess this is why.
the European mind apparently quite literally cannot conceive of minisplits
June 27, 2026 at 4:33 AM
the European mind apparently quite literally cannot conceive of minisplits
That amazing period where the minisplits arent doing cooling or heating and my BGE bill drops to its yearly low
September 25, 2026 at 12:44 PM
That amazing period where the minisplits arent doing cooling or heating and my BGE bill drops to its yearly low
These minisplits are getting really small. It’s still larger than a window unit, but it’s getting closer.
July 25, 2026 at 10:40 PM
These minisplits are getting really small. It’s still larger than a window unit, but it’s getting closer.
How is it that Breen Towers and only Breen Towers has decided to flout DOB rules about facade-mounted minisplits?
May 23, 2026 at 9:45 PM
How is it that Breen Towers and only Breen Towers has decided to flout DOB rules about facade-mounted minisplits?
preach, ductless minisplits are the way and the light
June 14, 2026 at 4:34 PM
preach, ductless minisplits are the way and the light
once saw a few self built cabins on dirt roads in the Ozarks with no running water or well that also had minisplits attached to small solar arrays lol
July 14, 2026 at 7:25 PM
once saw a few self built cabins on dirt roads in the Ozarks with no running water or well that also had minisplits attached to small solar arrays lol
Love the balcony-mounted minisplits. They make these much cheaper and easier to install than roof-mounted arrays (especially with new A2L rules), and limit polluting refrigerant leaks. Planners and building code officials should work together to make sure these are always allowed.
Two homes turn into 19 homes in Queens. (2017➡️2021)
September 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Love the balcony-mounted minisplits. They make these much cheaper and easier to install than roof-mounted arrays (especially with new A2L rules), and limit polluting refrigerant leaks. Planners and building code officials should work together to make sure these are always allowed.
Great 99% Invisible episode rehabilitating Hong Kong’s bamboo scaffolding (which has apparently been exonerated in the Wang Fuk Court fire investigation), with cameos by facade-mounted minisplits and small elevators open.spotify.com/episode/4iwE...
Bamboo Is Innocent
99% Invisible · Episode
open.spotify.com
August 11, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Great 99% Invisible episode rehabilitating Hong Kong’s bamboo scaffolding (which has apparently been exonerated in the Wang Fuk Court fire investigation), with cameos by facade-mounted minisplits and small elevators open.spotify.com/episode/4iwE...
First night that I've turned on the heat since having the new heat pump and minisplits installled, and it's early in the cold season, but this feels like I might barely need to burn any oil this winter. Very exciting.
October 3, 2025 at 11:14 AM
First night that I've turned on the heat since having the new heat pump and minisplits installled, and it's early in the cold season, but this feels like I might barely need to burn any oil this winter. Very exciting.
Europe should get on board with air conditioning, but on the other hands, Americans could stand to learn to economize a bit. Exterior shading, more efficient minisplits, better windows – NYC buildings shouldn’t sound like a jet about to take off for six months of the year, 24 hours a day.
June 20, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Europe should get on board with air conditioning, but on the other hands, Americans could stand to learn to economize a bit. Exterior shading, more efficient minisplits, better windows – NYC buildings shouldn’t sound like a jet about to take off for six months of the year, 24 hours a day.
I always assumed that the older houses didn’t lend themselves to the ductwork needed for central air. Minisplits are changing that tho.
June 20, 2024 at 3:57 PM
I always assumed that the older houses didn’t lend themselves to the ductwork needed for central air. Minisplits are changing that tho.
Making money moves here. We already sidestepped my endlessly money grubbing tios and installed permanent, high quality internet in the family house and my mom just now got the OK from abuelo to do the same for minisplits so the adobe house is habitable come summer and early fall.
February 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Making money moves here. We already sidestepped my endlessly money grubbing tios and installed permanent, high quality internet in the family house and my mom just now got the OK from abuelo to do the same for minisplits so the adobe house is habitable come summer and early fall.
Codes don’t allow minisplits on facades or balconies big enough for them, so they go on the roof. Then FDNY requires them to sit on big steel beams in case the roof is weakened by fire (impossible with modern materials but whatever). Then they’re up so high that they’re ugly and require screening.
April 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Codes don’t allow minisplits on facades or balconies big enough for them, so they go on the roof. Then FDNY requires them to sit on big steel beams in case the roof is weakened by fire (impossible with modern materials but whatever). Then they’re up so high that they’re ugly and require screening.
Theory: major determinant of heat pump install cost is length of lineset. Lowest cost are packaged units with ~0 length (window a/c’s, PTHPs), highest are minisplits with rooftop condenser arrays, intermediate are Euro/Asian-style balcony- or facade-mounted splits. Thoughts? @shreyassudhakar.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Theory: major determinant of heat pump install cost is length of lineset. Lowest cost are packaged units with ~0 length (window a/c’s, PTHPs), highest are minisplits with rooftop condenser arrays, intermediate are Euro/Asian-style balcony- or facade-mounted splits. Thoughts? @shreyassudhakar.com
anyway i will also say that in my last couple trips to europe (france, italy, montenegro, croatia), i was in multiple solid 100+ year old buildings that had put in minisplits everywhere that provided both heat and cooling, it was great!
June 24, 2026 at 8:43 PM
anyway i will also say that in my last couple trips to europe (france, italy, montenegro, croatia), i was in multiple solid 100+ year old buildings that had put in minisplits everywhere that provided both heat and cooling, it was great!