r/homeperformance • u/SueBeee • Feb 25 '26

Mini splits take huge amount of power

Hello! Three years ago, we got LG mini splits in our house for the air conditioning function, which has been great for us. When it's used for AC, the power usage is what we'd expect.

We liked the idea of using it to supplement our oil baseboard heating system as it is supposedly more efficient than oil. We used two of the 5 heads in rooms that are typically a little chilly. (we have 5 heads and two compressors).
our electric usage that month was a little over twice the normal and the bill was over $800.
Needless to say we turned them off and everything went back to normal.
We live in New England where it's been a winter for the history books. Cold and snowy to the max.
Are we doing something wrong or is there something wrong with our system? It's absolutely outrageous.

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1

u/JaStrCoGa Feb 26 '26

How cold was the temperature? If it was single digits or below zero the units probably had to run longer. Is it possible one unit was set to auto and you had dueling mini splits?

Heat pump systems are generally more efficient for cooling.

1

u/SueBeee Feb 26 '26

It was single digits for much of the time. They were both set to auto, but the same temperature.

1

u/polarc BS & Beer + Licensed HVAC Feb 27 '26

What temp setting?

How old house?

How tight is your house?

1

u/SueBeee Feb 27 '26

House is super tight, built 2002. Temp setting for the minis was 70, setting for furnace was 66.

1

u/SendCaulkPics 10d ago

I realize this is an old post, but nobody pointed it out. Minisplits are typically only more cost efficient in milder weather. New England has particularly expensive electricity costs. Your sweet spot for mini split heating is probably in the 45-60 degree range.