• dream_weasel@iusearchlinux.fyi
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      7 months ago

      I don’t think they are called something else, but they aren’t common in the Midwest US. Most households are using central heating and air conditioning. I’ve seen mini splits before in Europe, but didn’t know that’s what they were called

      • chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Yeah it’s rather unfortunate that heat pumps aren’t more common in the Midwest. As someone formerly from Michigan, I know it gets cold, but heat pumps can operate below 0 easily without aux heat nowadays and you can get gas or electric aux heat to supplement when you get below the operating temps of the heat pump.

        Change is also hard for humans, so companies still throw in forced air systems that burn natural gas or propane.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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          7 months ago

          They’re also not common in my area (Rockies), and they would probably be a really good fit here. Instead, everyone has central heating and a big AC unit, with one one being on at a given time. But it doesn’t get cold enough for a heat pump to be ineffective, yet we still separate them for some reason.

    • bitchkat@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      I think its just more that they aren’t super common in parts of the US, especially colder climates. I’ve only seen one and that was parents who got it as a supplemental system.