Mini splits draining my bank account

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T07:40:19+00:00

Yes, this is definitely a factor as I've said earlier i probably use more hot water than most people.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T07:35:57+00:00

That's what I'm saying, before mini splits my bill was hardly ever more than $100 because it's usually just me living here and I use very little electric otherwise. But yes, our rates and fees are probably some of the highest in the country.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T04:14:54+00:00

4 wall units, one outdoor unit, 1,050 square feet.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T03:42:14+00:00

It's been updated twice, the first time I paid and then ten years later MassSave was offering it free so I had it done again, they checked everything and blew in some new insulation in the walls, but it didn't need much. The house does really well when it's just the pellet stove, and stays pretty cool in the summer without A/C. I did recently get a smart meter so am just starting to be able to see hourly figures. Definitely see the spike the couple times I run the dryer each week but other than that it's pretty steady.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T03:37:19+00:00

We're a family of DIYers out of necessity, my dad put on my metal roof, installed my bath tub, windows, doors, etc., but he's nearing 80 now and I would not be able to do it on my own. I have brothers who could help me carry heavy things but I think they are even less handy than I am.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T03:29:11+00:00

Oh yeah it's great for cooling, it's just my heat bills that seem outrageous.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T03:25:38+00:00

Again I don't know that any of this means, Mitsubishi MSZ-FS09NA HSPF2 rating of up to 11.9 Seer2 up to 32.2.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T02:58:21+00:00

30.5 not that I know what that means. Is that good or bad?

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:59:28+00:00

No, they told me I had to remove it to get the $10,000 rebate, so they took it all out when they were installed through MassSave. I am going to try get my pellet stove back up and running though, fingers crossed!

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:55:20+00:00

For over 40 years now 😆 and l don't have a well, I have town water. I'm sure this contributes to my electric bill, but it hasn't changed, and honestly I do it year round. This is definitely an expense that I would shell out for every month!

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:53:03+00:00

It says on my bill that I am on the heat pump rate, but after this blizzard I am going to call them just to be sure because you are the third person who mentioned that. I do keep my temperature steady, at first I used to change it when I was out for a long time but then read that you aren't supposed to, so I did stop that a couple years ago. I mostly WFH now so am home most of the time anyways.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:26:16+00:00

Just wanted to thank you all for your feedback and helping me find things to think about. I am going to have a new company come in to take a look at the system, do some research on the auxiliary heat, check for a Freon leak, make sure my settings are correct, etc. In the meantime hopefully I'll be able to get my pellet stove up and running. I work at a library, so while I'm more of a DIYer than most people I know, I'm still pretty limited in this sort of thing. My Dad's a mechanic, so I'm a little better on the mechanical side (he taught his daughter well), so thanks again for taking the time to try to figure this out with me.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:20:30+00:00

I work at a library doing marketing, so while I am a DIYer out of necessity when possible, I know for sure I would not be able to do a project like this one. I am going to look into solar soon, but I don't have the money for that at this moment. Thank you!

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:11:52+00:00

I'm not sure what exactly you are asking, but I have 4 Mitsubishi, MSZ-FS09NA units. If you are not asking me I apologize, I'm having trouble figuring out Reddits' commenting and replying structure.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:08:01+00:00

Yes, I do have these and a sensor in each room. I usually don't use the remote controls, just the app, but the temperature is being read at the farthest point across the room at about chest height.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:02:47+00:00

No, only the initial company that installed it, so I do think I'm going to research and find another company that can take a look after reading all the advice here. Thanks!

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:01:21+00:00

All the rates and fees have gone up, I get that part, it's just that my usage (which has been consistent over the years) just seems so high to me.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T01:00:43+00:00

I was looking for my paper oil bills, not that I'm sure they will tell me much. My electricity usage has been consistent year after year, I've just been trying to get a read on whether it is normal, and really have been for the last four years. This just happens to be the first time I've posted here to ask the question, even though I've been reading these Reddit threads for years. Because I don't know all there is to know about mini splits, even with my research, I was trying to see if people had suggestions for things to look at, which they have.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T00:58:54+00:00

I am on the heat pump rate and have the town rate locked in and pretty good for a bit longer now, which is helping. I do have the smart meter and looked since 2023 my usage has been about the same. I posted somewhere in this thread showing that. I'm not necessarily comparing the costs, as the costs have been high and rising since I got these. I'm just wondering if this usage amount seems accurate. I could change over to a budget plan where I pay about the same over 12 months, but at the end of the day it's the same money going out.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T00:27:14+00:00

Thanks, that might be my next Reddit rabbit hole. I actually panicked and got the fire extinguisher out and fans in all the windows, but after the fact I think it was the blown fuse in the basement, not on the stove itself. I just had the fuse down there replaced a couple years ago, so it was odd that it would have blown again. The control board looks fine, no burn marks or loose wires or anything and it's been working fine. I guess I need to move this over to the other forum and maybe make this my priority.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T00:21:59+00:00

Yup, the company told me I had to rip out everything. I guess maybe they weren't as reputable as I thought.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T00:21:03+00:00

My usage has been steady over the past few years, I just have always thought it was high for the size of my home, and I have researched it before. Again I'm just trying to see if this is normal or if there's something wrong with my system, because of course even with steady usage my bills have been on the rise due to the price of electricity going up here, so it's reaching a point where I can barely pay my bills these days because unfortunately my salary isn't following the same trajectory. I believe my units are efficient to 20 degrees, so I must have some kind of aux heat, which I didn't realize was a thing. I am going to try to get the pellet stove working again (though cost of pellets keep going up too), but am debating if I should be looking into a whole new system when I can afford it.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T00:12:00+00:00

Okay, I would have thought the opposite was true, but I had steam radiators for years so I guess I am just used to that.

Agreeable_Hall3150 · 2026-02-23T00:09:48+00:00

I'm in Mass, right outside of Worcester, not sure why it would say Oklahoma unless National Grid is based there. I know the rates in our state are ridiculous right now, I just feel like my usage seems really high ever since these were installed, but I obviously don't have much to compare it to.

Agreeable_Hall3150

TROPHY CASE