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Message
re: Mini split ac
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:14 am to PureBlood
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:14 am to PureBlood
quote:
Took me less than 3 hours to install one after having never done it. Got all the tools off of Amazon for less than $100. It isn't hard if you can watch Youtube and retain information. Hardest part is laying it out and not crimping the line set.
If you bought $100 worth of tools then the unit was not properly installed. You can’t even buy one of the tools below for $100.
-proper flare tool
-nitrogen purge and pressure test
-pull vacuum with pump and test with micron gauge
Beware there are a lot of hvac companies that don’t follow all the steps either.
And there are a lot of failed DIY installations out there also.
1
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:15 am to N2cars
I have a whole house split system. (2) 4 ton compressors with 3 ducted air handlers and 3 wall mounted. It's awesome.
To the OP... there should be a table in the installation manual that gives the recommended max line lengths.
To the OP... there should be a table in the installation manual that gives the recommended max line lengths.
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:22 am to AndyCBR
quote:
-proper flare tool
O'Reilly Auto Parts free tool rental program
quote:
-nitrogen purge and pressure test
Very few mini splits require a nitrogen purge
quote:
-pull vacuum with pump and test with micron gauge
$89 off of Amazon and came with the gauges OR you can get it via O'Reilly's free tool rental program.
quote:
AndyCBR
You work in the HVAC business, dont you
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:23 am to Chemcorp158
quote:
Still debating this. I’m pretty handy and do most of this type of work for my day job, IE maintenance for a plant. I probably like the idea of putting the liability on someone else when it comes to holes in my wall though.
I’d say the physical installation is the easy part.
Getting the flare fittings on the lineset to hold long term is the challenge.
This is the #1 failure in DIY installations. And these systems have to be charged by weight (which requires gauges and a good scale).
I’ve installed 3 so far and I’ve invested about $500 in tools so far.
-heat pump gauge set
-yellow jacket flare tool
-valve core tool
-micron gauge
-flare tool torque wrench
-lineset bending mandrels
-vacuum pump
I rent the small N2 bottle from the supply house.
The threads on garage journal are really good and worth the read.
Hope this helps.
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:35 am to N2cars
quote:
Mini-splits are fine in certain applications, but whole-house mini-splits are ridiculous, IMO.
Pretty sure he knew what he was doing...
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:36 am to PureBlood
quote:
O'Reilly Auto Parts free tool rental program
Not the correct tool, yellow jacket 60278 is the preferred model.
quote:
Very few mini splits require a nitrogen purge
All manufacturers recommend a pressure test to check for leaks (soap test) and nitrogen is what is used.
quote:
$89 off of Amazon and came with the gauges OR you can get it via O'Reilly's free tool rental program.
You might be able to get a vacuum pump for that but the micron gauge is another $150.
quote:
You work in the HVAC business, dont you
No but I’ve done several installs properly with the proper tools and one has been running for 10 years.
Do it right or pay someone who will.
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:38 am to BoostAddict
I'm sure they've improved in the 11 years since I put one in my workout room, which is POS Samsung.
I can heat and cool my entire home quietly and efficiently, at a very comfortable level in all rooms concurrently, for an avg of $400 a month.
Great room has 22' ceilings, and the house is entirely foamed. The 3 3 ton units are Carrier Greenspeed, and are 11 years old.
The good parts about mini-splits is the ease of installation, if you don't mind stuff hanging off the walls.
I've found them to be louder than a good central unit, and a lot of them don't seem to be built to last a long time. I also question their efficiency, but obviously, that has a lot to do with where they are being installed.
ETA: for what the OP is doing, they're perfect
I can heat and cool my entire home quietly and efficiently, at a very comfortable level in all rooms concurrently, for an avg of $400 a month.
Great room has 22' ceilings, and the house is entirely foamed. The 3 3 ton units are Carrier Greenspeed, and are 11 years old.
The good parts about mini-splits is the ease of installation, if you don't mind stuff hanging off the walls.
I've found them to be louder than a good central unit, and a lot of them don't seem to be built to last a long time. I also question their efficiency, but obviously, that has a lot to do with where they are being installed.
ETA: for what the OP is doing, they're perfect
This post was edited on 6/27/24 at 10:42 am
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:40 am to LSURussian
quote:
Mine cost $6,400 (for two units) including installation by BR H&A/C.
I also needed a new breaker box to put each of them on 240V dedicated circuits. The cost included the electrical work.
The cost covered a one-year warranty, parts and labor.
That was about 10 years ago.
What did yours cost?
$6,700 two years ago.
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:54 am to GumboPot
see, this is what i'm talking about. on the OT, this turned into a big dick measuring contest.
i did mine with an amazon vacuum & gauges and amazon flaring kit. I didn't have but would recommend a tubing bender ($50 on amazon).
The hardest part of the project for me was running the lines but i installed mine in wall and cut them to custom length. If you're just penetrating a wall and installing a cover over the lines, it's a super simple install, you're just making connections essentially. We had 220v in the area so we pulled power from that, that would be the only other "hard" part if it's not readily available.
oh btw, it works AMAZINGLY!!! the only issue i have now is breaking the kids' habit of leaving the door open from the conditioned room to the garage... i've been locking it so i hope they get the idea.
i did mine with an amazon vacuum & gauges and amazon flaring kit. I didn't have but would recommend a tubing bender ($50 on amazon).
The hardest part of the project for me was running the lines but i installed mine in wall and cut them to custom length. If you're just penetrating a wall and installing a cover over the lines, it's a super simple install, you're just making connections essentially. We had 220v in the area so we pulled power from that, that would be the only other "hard" part if it's not readily available.
oh btw, it works AMAZINGLY!!! the only issue i have now is breaking the kids' habit of leaving the door open from the conditioned room to the garage... i've been locking it so i hope they get the idea.
Posted on 6/27/24 at 10:56 am to Chemcorp158
i installed a MrCool about 2 months ago. it is awesome. i have a 12K BTU for the 300 sq ft bonus room and its great. overall, it was fairly easy to do and i was at home depot yesterday and they have the 12K and 18K in-store. its pretty awesome.
lots of videos for the little things you dont anticipate (whip installation, wiring, troubleshooting error codes). all-in-all, i learned a lot and truth be told, they really arent terribly complicated pieces of equipment.
lots of videos for the little things you dont anticipate (whip installation, wiring, troubleshooting error codes). all-in-all, i learned a lot and truth be told, they really arent terribly complicated pieces of equipment.
Posted on 6/27/24 at 11:02 am to Chemcorp158
my parents got a great reputable installer to install their 18 K unit...it cost them $8000
i did my Mr Cool and it was about $2300 and i bought an extension set. if you go that route, the extension sets do NOT come with the couplers. they are specialty couplers from CHYNAH (uncommon threads) and i was able to buy them on the secondary market (ebay) for $150. they were nothing more than brass couplers and cost at most $15, but what can you do.
i did my Mr Cool and it was about $2300 and i bought an extension set. if you go that route, the extension sets do NOT come with the couplers. they are specialty couplers from CHYNAH (uncommon threads) and i was able to buy them on the secondary market (ebay) for $150. they were nothing more than brass couplers and cost at most $15, but what can you do.
Posted on 6/27/24 at 11:11 am to Chemcorp158
I put one in a few months back. I DIYed the power run, Installation on interior wall and mounted unit outside. Called my HVAC guy to come cut off the flare connects and soldered on couplers, then pulled a vacuum. No issues for me. Very simple. Mine came with a 16' line set but we cut it down to 6'. I did see some with 25' line sets while shopping.
Posted on 6/27/24 at 1:51 pm to Trauma14
quote:
My first act when I move in is to add a mini split in the single car garage! I can't wait.
Have your builder add some extra lighting in the garage. You won't want to leave your garage doors up for extra light if you have a mini split.
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