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Mini Splits

spareparts

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Joined
May 21, 2020
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Need a mini split, searched on here, found a lot of good information that confirms my decision to go this route, just need to compare the brands. Its an older small house(800 sq ft, 2 bedroom, one large open area) down behind Topsail island, been cooling/heating with window units. The oldest one took a dump last month, going to replace it with a mini split in the main room. I've been pricing units. I figure 12000 BTU, 230 Volt will be ideal for this application. Amazon specials come in around $800, window units are around $600 with heat. Mr. Cool is about $1200, adds on FB show new units with names 'never heard of from $500 and up. Pioneer and Costway pop up a lot. Mitsubishi seems to be $$$. The house is just a weekend house so it doesn't get used a lot. If I don't fuck it up with my girlfriend, we are planning on building a house on my lot in 5-7 years when we retire, so Im not needing for it to last 20 years. Any experience with specific brands? Mr. Cool seems to a have a solid reputation but is quite a bit more than the other ones. Mitsubitshi seems to be dealer installed only and way out of the budget for what I'm doing. Any input is appreciated
 
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Im trying to figure out why they are the new thing rather than a traditional heat pump
 
have a friend who built a huge house, ZERO HVAC, all Mitsu minisplits. all controlled by a single computer that can be monitored/adjusted from a tablet on the wall near the front door or their cell. he said he saved about $20K going this route over central ...the elimination of the manifolds running throughout the structure gained him quite a bit of floorspace and allowed him to do some neat hidden room/door stuff, also a couple hidden gun/jewelry/ coin safes built in. he spent about $850K 8 years ago and spent 2 years designing everything...5 car garage to have room for his porsches...yep, plural.
 
Jackie Treehorn said:
Because they’re dirt cheap, work well and simple to install.
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do all the mounts look like they are items installed in a mobile home?
also
I like the filter on my old heat pump, big whole house filter. Those look like the screen from a window shaker
 
spareparts said:
Need a mini split, searched on here, found a lot of good information that confirms my decision to go this route, just need to compare the brands. Its an older small house(800 sq ft, 2 bedroom, one large open area) down behind Topsail island, been cooling/heating with window units. The oldest one took a dump last month, going to replace it with a mini split in the main room. I've been pricing units. I figure 12000 BTU, 230 Volt will be ideal for this application. Amazon specials come in around $800, window units are around $600 with heat. Mr. Cool is about $1200, adds on FB show new units with names 'never heard of from $500 and up. Pioneer and Costway pop up a lot. Mitsubishi seems to be $$$. The house is just a weekend house so it doesn't get used a lot. If I don't fuck it up with my girlfriend, we are planning on building a house on my lot in 5-7 years when we retire, so Im not needing for it to last 20 years. Any experience with specific brands? Mr. Cool seems to a have a solid reputation but is quite a bit more than the other ones. Mitsubitshi seems to be dealer installed only and way out of the budget for what I'm doing. Any input is appreciated
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I have an old friend that did a home build a few years back
he installed (traditional heat pump) a Mitsubishi. Being he is the guy that works on them all day, and Mitsubishi has a line of mini splits, I would think that it would be worth noting
 
Mitsubushi is one of the better brands out there, but not always worth the cost. We have used pioneer quite a few times with no issues, many times for indoor grows so they run all the time.
 
this pic is not from his house, I never saw a single AC unit while I was there, but even though it was 108* outside it was comfy cool inside, even in the garage, once the door was closed.
 
4runner said:
this pic is not from his house, I never saw a single AC unit while I was there, but even though it was 108* outside it was comfy cool inside, even in the garage, once the door was closed.
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how did he do it?
 
I think it's really hard to go wrong regarding brands, unless someone has seen a particular brand to stay away from (which I haven't heard of any every time the topic is brought up) they all perform pretty well.

If you don't like the big honkin' thing in your room look, many manufacturers offer other options that would fit where you'd normally see a typical central air vent as well.

edit: To the OP's Mitsubishi comment, I don't that you're correct in that assumption. What you're probably seeing is units that may need to have lines cut and flared and the system vacuumed prior to use. If you have the equipment it's super easy to do yourself. I would guess the difference you're seeing with the MrCool options is the precharged units with quick connects that are more plug and play. If you're doing it DIY and don't have the equipment then a MrCool option is your best bet, and the reason for the added expense.
 
Pyleit said:
Ductless mini splits. Looks like a flat wall vent.

Blueridge BMKH3021-18C-18C 30,000 BTU (2.5 Ton) 21 SEER / 21 SEER2 - M3 SERIES - Two Zone Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump System w/ WIFI

www.alpinehomeair.com www.alpinehomeair.com
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I think they call that a "mini ceiling cassette". I was considering something like that for a bedroom that is on the far side of the house.

I am two shakes of a cats tail from buying a mini split from Homeless Depot for the garage. Fuck that 115 heat this summer! Garage is ok in the mornings and late afternoon. Rolling in a hot vehicle fucking sends the temp through the roof!
 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
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Im trying to figure out why they are the new thing rather than a traditional heat pump
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Why a traditional heat pump instead of a traditional ac & heater?

The mini-split heat pumps seem legit, but I have always hated the traditional heat pump, and never understood why people go that route.
 
billdacat said:
I think they call that a "mini ceiling cassette". I was considering something like that for a bedroom that is on the far side of the house.

I am two shakes of a cats tail from buying a mini split from Homeless Depot for the garage. Fuck that 115 heat this summer! Garage is ok in the mornings and late afternoon. Rolling in a hot vehicle fucking sends the temp through the roof!
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I’m only a few miles from you and put a 36k BTU in my garage this summer. Will hold 70 all summer long
 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
how did he do it?
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i have no idea, I stopped by to pick up a gun had for sale, he showed me his new porsche, and we went thru the garage into another room, as son as we walked into that room, I felt air start blowing and it felt cool and even had a nice smell to it...he saw me notice it and started telling me about it.
pulled the gun out of a hidden door in the wall that turned out to be a 15 rifle safe built in with remote electronic opening control. if you didnt know it was there, you wouldnt see it. he had really cool tricks all over, like his fridge looked like the wall...LOL...Im a poor country boy who is retiring with cancer and hoping to get disability begore I kick off.
 
grumpy356 said:
Why a traditional heat pump instead of a traditional ac & heater?

The mini-split heat pumps seem legit, but I have always hated the traditional heat pump, and never understood why people go that route.
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Why traditional?
frankly, that is what I know, I have owned them and I know they work. That is the end of my reasoning.
I have been curious about these things, I just don't know the mechanics of how they work


One thing that I really liked about heat pumps, I can turn on the circulation fan, and move air from the front of the house to the back, or, I would kick it on when doing something dusty (moving furniture/vacuuming) and it would filter
mini splits do that? (circulate)
 
I did a 3 zone 36k Samsung unit in my shop. One head in my office, two in the shop. It's T-shirt weather in there year round now, from 5° to 105° outside it doesn't care.

I got a buddy in the hvac biz to help with the purchase from the supply house and the install. Best pile of money I've spent in a loooooong time.
 
I installed Pioneer units in our house years ago and love them. Just installed a Pioneer system in our guest house last month, and love it also. They make good equipment and you can also buy parts from them if you have a failure. Don't know about buying parts from Costway.
 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
I have an old friend that did a home build a few years back
he installed (traditional heat pump) a Mitsubishi. Being he is the guy that works on them all day, and Mitsubishi has a line of mini splits, I would think that it would be worth noting
Click to expand...


I have a house that I am entirely refurbishing, to include entirely new AC. It’s 1900 ft.² broken up over 9 rooms (not counting closets). I had originally intended to go mini splits everywhere, though my wife was pretty opposed to the look of having those things everywhere. When I started adding up the cost for a house broken up into that many rooms, it got pretty expensive quickly.

I got a quote from an HVAC company to do a new install of central AC (3 ton) with new ducting, heat pump and gas furnace. The turnkey cost came out several thousand dollars less than the mini split kits themselves. We decided to go traditional, costs less, includes gas heat, cleaner look.

A friend of mine has mini splits in his shop and garage, I think it’s a homerun for that application. Though its notable that 10 years after install his LG Systems have needed some maintenance to the control systems. And last month one of the evaporators developed a leak, so 10 years in the entire system is getting replaced. :homer:
 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
1729728829900.png


do all the mounts look like they are items installed in a mobile home?
also
I like the filter on my old heat pump, big whole house filter. Those look like the screen from a window shaker
Click to expand...
The looks of them have always been my hold up. My God are they ugly. There are ducted units available, but that of course increases costs.
 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
subscribed

Im trying to figure out why they are the new thing rather than a traditional heat pump
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I watched a thing on this, theyre still just heat pumps

basically a couple years ago the technology became cheaper and i believe there was a boost in the efficiency as well
 
KDXSR5 said:
The looks of them have always been my hold up. My God are they ugly. There are ducted units available, but that of course increases costs.
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You can get in ceiling cassettes, I've even seen toe kick cassettes. There are options outside the wall unit or the ducted unit.
 
ironman_gq said:
You can get in ceiling cassettes, I've even seen toe kick cassettes. There are options outside the wall unit or the ducted unit.
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The in ceiling cassettes require area like 3’ all the way around and you have to be able to access the space above it in order to pipe it.

Not a big deal, but a consideration, especially if you have a funky shaped room or trayed ceiling.
 
SomeGuyFromOlympia said:
Why traditional?
frankly, that is what I know, I have owned them and I know they work. That is the end of my reasoning.
I have been curious about these things, I just don't know the mechanics of how they work
Click to expand...
If you have an electric heater, a heat pump (or mini split) is actually more efficient & could cost less to make heat.

 
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