July 16, 2025
More and more homeowners with solar power systems are choosing to install battery storage so that they can save the excess electricity their solar panels generate instead of sending it back to the grid. Some homeowners without solar systems are also choosing to install battery backups that charge directly from the grid. Either option is beneficial if your utility provider charges higher rates during peak usage hours, as you can rely on the batteries instead of drawing power from the grid. The other major benefit of battery storage or battery backups is that they ensure you’ll still have power and be able to run your HVAC system during grid outages. However, the type of HVAC system you have plays a huge role in ensuring that you can continue heating/cooling your home during a longer outage and that the battery power is used efficiently.
Which HVAC Systems Are Most Compatible With Battery Storage?
No matter what type of HVAC system you have, you’ll be able to run your heating or air conditioning off battery power and keep your home comfortable for at least some amount of time. However, the type of HVAC system you have and how energy efficient it is determine how long it can continue running before all of the battery power is used up.
In terms of heating your house during an outage, you’ll be able to run a gas furnace for longer than any type of electric heating. Gas furnaces require electricity for components like the blower, draft inducer, flame sensor and electronic igniter, but all of these things combined don’t have nearly the same electricity demand as electric heating does. This is especially the case when it comes to electric furnaces and baseboard heaters.
While the electricity demands of a gas furnace system may not be that high, they still have higher energy demands overall than some other HVAC systems, namely central heat pumps and ductless mini-split systems. Both of these systems have the advantage of providing heating and cooling in one system. The fact that they’re all-electric also means they’re much better for the environment since they don’t directly produce carbon emissions like gas furnaces do. These are among the many reasons why there has been such a push recently toward HVAC electrification and why so many people are now opting to install heat pumps or mini-split systems instead of traditional HVAC systems.
Advantages of Heat Pump Systems
Heat pumps and traditional air conditioners can achieve the same efficiency ratings and cool equally effectively, as they have the same components and cool in the same way. When cooling, both systems use refrigerant to pull heat out of the building and release it outside. What makes heat pumps different is that they have an additional component known as a reversing valve that can change the direction of the refrigerant flow, allowing the system to pull heat from the air outside and bring it inside.
Heating efficiency is the main area where heat pump systems are far superior to most other HVAC systems. The overall energy demands of a heat pump system are usually at least two to three times lower than a heating system with a gas furnace. When compared to other types of electric heating, heat pumps can be at least 5-10 times more energy efficient.
How well do heat pumps work in colder weather?
Heat pumps do have issues where their energy efficiency when heating decreases in colder weather, but most cold-climate systems can continue working fairly efficiently in below-zero temperatures. Cold-climate heat pump systems also come with electric heat strips that can provide auxiliary heating in case it ever gets so cold that the heat pump can no longer work. The electric heat strips that supply the auxiliary heating for a cold-climate heat pump system have higher energy demands than the heat pump itself and will drain your battery storage faster. However, they are still far less energy-intensive than an electric furnace or baseboard heaters and will allow you to keep your heating on for longer before the batteries run out of power.
Advantages of Ductless Mini-Split Systems
If you’re concerned about being able to run your AC or heating on battery power during an outage, a ductless mini-split system is usually the best choice. Central HVAC systems work by drawing air in through return vents located in the middle of the house and bringing it into the air handler. Once the air gets heated or cooled, the blower then forces it into the supply vents and distributes it throughout the house.
In a mini-split system, each room has a smaller air handler that pulls air from the surrounding area and then heats or cools it before blowing it straight back out into the room. This process of heating/cooling each room individually requires less energy than it does to circulate heated/cooled air around the house. Part of the reason is that each room gets heated/cooled faster, reducing the amount of time a mini-split system has to run and the amount of energy it uses. Every air handler in a mini-split system also works independently, meaning it will shut off as soon as its thermostat registers that the room is at your desired temperature. One other reason is that central HVAC systems tend to have issues with the conditioned air gaining/losing heat as it moves through the air ducts, leading to energy waste and a decrease in efficiency.
You can also set each air handler to whatever temperature you want or just shut it off entirely. This is especially beneficial whenever there’s a grid outage and you need to rely on battery power to run your heating or cooling. If your power is out, you can conserve the stored power by turning off the air handlers in unoccupied rooms or setting the temperature higher or lower so they run less.
Can I set each room to a different temperature with a mini-split?
Yes and being able to effectively control the temperature in each room provides major comfort advantages as well. Central HVAC systems often struggle with maintaining an even temperature throughout the house. In most houses, some rooms will always experience more heat gain and/or heat loss as a result of issues like insufficient insulation and air leaks. Rooms that receive direct sunlight during the afternoon and early evening are especially prone to being hotter due to the heat gain they receive from the sun. A central HVAC system has no way to combat this type of issue, as the system turns on and off based on the current temperature in the area where the thermostat is located. Each mini-split air handler will instead keep the temperature in that room exactly as hot or cool as you want, regardless of heat gain or heat loss.
Stay Comfortable No Matter What With Us!
When it comes to HVAC services in St. Louis, nobody outperforms Scott-Lee Heating Company. We’ve been serving residential and commercial customers since 1976 and are proud to be the company area residents turn to time and time again for all of their comfort needs. From HVAC upgrades to repairs and maintenance, our experienced team of professionals is ready to ensure you enjoy efficient and effective cooling and heating all year round. For heating, cooling and indoor air quality services you can count on, contact Scott-Lee Heating Company today.