A New York homeowner hoping to cut winter heating costs with two mini-splits is getting an early lesson in how much electric and oil rates can shape the equation.
The setup would still save money compared with oil, especially with heating oil prices at an all-time high of around $6.14 per gallon in the state. However, with electricity also extremely high at about $0.38 per kilowatt-hour in their area, those savings may not be as strong as hoped when temperatures plunge — particularly since the heat pumps are not top-of-the-line cold-climate models.
Here's what to know
Trying to avoid another season of $500 to $600 monthly oil bills, a homeowner near Port Jervis said in a Reddit post that they are heading into their first winter with two mini-splits heating a roughly 1,500-square-foot home. Their plan is to let the mini-splits hold 66 degrees while the oil furnace stays set at 64 degrees as backup.
They said a pellet stove is also in the house, but it mainly warms the room where it sits and only part of the surrounding space. In the comments, the homeowner identified the equipment as YITAHOME mini-splits rated at 18,000 BTUs each.
The cost comparison in the replies suggested the answer may change with the weather.
One commenter wrote, "At $5.50 a gallon, with an 80% efficient burner, 1 million BTUs of oil costs $49.64."
That same commenter estimated that, at $0.38 per kWh, a top-tier 18,000-BTU mini-split would cost about $31.10 per million BTUs at 47 degrees and around $52 at 17 degrees. Several commenters said that kind of split-and-furnace setup can work well, especially in milder shoulder-season weather.
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More background
Commenters from the same utility territory offered some cautionary examples. One O&R customer wrote, "My electric bill was $560 during that 30 days of sub 30 weather."
Another nearby homeowner said that before adding solar, December and January often landed in the $300-to-$400 range.
Even with those bills, other people in the thread said heat pumps can still beat oil much of the time. A homeowner in Dutchess County, across the Hudson, said their heat pumps were cheaper "until maybe 10 degrees and below," underscoring that the break-even point depends on the home, local weather, and the equipment itself.
What can be done?
One suggestion from the thread was to ask the utility whether heat pump users qualify for a special residential rate plan. More generally, keeping the existing furnace in service gives homeowners a built-in fallback: the mini-splits can cover the milder days, and the oil system can take on more of the load when colder weather makes electricity a worse bargain.
Palmetto's Comfort Plan is another option for people who want to explore efficient heating without guessing their way through brands and installers. If you're not ready to spend up front, the plan includes $0-down options that can lower your heating and cooling costs by up to 50%, plus 12 years of free maintenance.
Homeowners can also pair solar panels with electric appliances, including efficient HVAC systems, to drive utility costs even lower. EnergySage makes it easy to find the best solar system and installer for your home and budget, saving you up to $10,000.
Where can I learn more?
Homeowners across the Northeast have been asking the same thing: When do mini-splits actually beat oil or other heating fuels?
• In Vermont, a homeowner found a heat pump really was a no-brainer after a freezing winter.
• In Connecticut, one homeowner said a mini-split could cut 200 gallons of oil, saving $700 a year.
• On Cape Cod, a homeowner said mini-splits and net metering left him 4,100 kWh ahead.
• Researchers say an innovative solution to curb heating costs could shave $350 off some bills.
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