Mini Split on the Cheap

[zhandfull]

Been wanting to try a mini split unit in my old tin can mobile home in Lake Havasu. Being a 1973 build it’s not really energy efficient. Currently has an old 3.5 ton ground unit that is probably same 1973 vintage. Well it can’t keep up on cooling the mobile on a really hot day. To try and keep the inside temps manageable think upper 70’s low 80’s. I also have three portable AC unit that I run to help the outdoor unit on really hot days.

Anyways with all the mini split discussion in other threads. Finally decided to dip my toe in the water. Found the cheapest 1ton unit on Facebook marketplace and bought it for $350. It’s new but has been sitting unopened in a garage for a few years.

Hoping this unit works out good for the back master bedroom area. If it does I’m thinking about adding another 1 ton unit to the front dining area and maybe a 2 ton unit to replace the original ground unit near center of mobile later.

Mounted the indoor air handler last weekend and poured a pad for the outside unit. Looking forward to getting this thing up and running on the cheap in the next couple weeks to see how it works in my old tin can.

Ordered a line set cover and Nylog for the flared line connections. Still need to install electrical and a disconnect. All in on equipment $500. Plus a $200 for vacuum pump and torque wrench tool that I should hopefully be able to use again.

It’s possibly this whole experiment may be a complete failure. The instruction manual says the outdoor unit will operate up to 109 degree Fahrenheit outside temperature. While it wouldn’t be unexpected now that I read it. I’m going to be really disappointed if it shuts off on a 110 degree day. Guess time will tell.

 

[TPC]

Keep us updated.

 

[DLC]

We added a mini split in our bedroom.

if we keep the house at say 75, we can easily get the bedroom down into the 60’s fairly easy! We don’t run it all day just in the evening towards bed time.

the supply / return is inside the bedroom so it’s isolated

maybe add a cover / shade to the outside unit so it’s not in direct sunlight

 

[Good Stuff]

Keep in mind if you are doing expansions that they have systems that can run multiple splits with one large outside unit. May be able to purchase the large condenser and be able to add additional splits as you get more funds and time for the rest. If I built a house I would try and have splits for all the rooms over a traditional ducted setup. Haven’t done a cost comparison between two house sized systems but super impressed with the split I had installed in the garage in Havasu. My upper temp threshold is 115 and it ran just fine over the past summer on the full day sun side of the house.

 

[Mandelon]

I put probably that same unit in my daughter's two bedroom place. Two years, working fine. It does heat and AC. I had to buy the airpump vacuum dealio, but it works fine. Easy to install too. Only 15' of tubing though, so you need to plan accordingly. I used two heavy duty wall brackets and mounted it against the foundation.

 

[outboard_256]

Keep in mind if you are doing expansions that they have systems that can run multiple splits with one large outside unit. May be able to purchase the large condenser and be able to add additional splits as you get more funds and time for the rest. If I built a house I would try and have splits for all the rooms over a traditional ducted setup. Haven’t done a cost comparison between two house sized systems but super impressed with the split I had installed in the garage in Havasu. My upper temp threshold is 115 and it ran just fine over the past summer on the full day sun side of the house.

That was my plan when adding a/c on my house and nexgen convinced me to go with a whole house setup instead. One reason I didn't go with the mini splits in every room was it only works if you keep the doors shut for those rooms. We have little kids and pets so keeping doors shut in the house is hard. They also said that if I eventually added a mini split to every room it would cost more than the whole house a/c. But of course that depends on how many rooms you have or want the a/c in., who is installing, and what units you put in.

 

[bilz]

I have very limited crawl space. 5 AC contractors were saying can't do a whole house, gotta open up interior ceilings on and on. I know it's very tight up there. Some wanted to remove the insulation.
I went with minis. Two compressors 5 handlers. Forget to put the ice cream away, no big deal.

 

[zhandfull]

Vacuumed the line set and checked for leaks. So far so good, released the refrigerant into the system and turned it on. Brought room temp down 10 degrees in 15 minutes. Seems to be working good. Ran the heat pump last night just because I could.

First impressions - very quiet. Both the indoor and outdoor units are quiet. Installation was easy, although a little time consuming being my first install.

Still need to bolt it down to the pad. So far really happy with the unit. The real test will be mid summer.

 

[zhandfull]

Well if one is good two must be better.
Picked up an open box special and installed it in the dining room area. Big bay window in front so this should work out nice to keep the temps down in that area.

This is a 120v 22Seer unit, a little higher end in the Della line. A guy sells them on FB Market place cheap right out of the warehouse. Think it was a return or box was damaged in shipping deal. install went good and seems to work.

So just the living room and hall area left. Was thinking a single two ton. But a couple more one tons might be less expensive.

Guess I’ll hold off for some hot weather and see how these perform with my existing ground unit.

Would really like to get rid of the old ground unit in the future. That thing has to be expensive to run.

 

[Mandelon]

I wonder if building a little shade cover over the unit would help it when temps get crazy hot out there?

 

[zhandfull]

I wonder if building a little shade cover over the unit would help it when temps get crazy hot out there?

It’s shaded after about noon on that side. Hoping it will be okay.

The part in the manual that concerned me was the ISO 5151 reference for outdoor unit.
one was <109
other was <126
Not sure what performance rating my units fall under. Still don’t know.

 

[lbhsbz]

I wonder if building a little shade cover over the unit would help it when temps get crazy hot out there?

It can't hurt...that's what I would do.

There's a guy in Big River with a canopy over his Cactus so it doesn't overcook lol.

 

[FlyByWire]

I need 2 of these for two rooms controlled by a thermostat thats literally on the other side of the house.

Does the outside part need to be immediately on the other side of the wall from where the splits are, or can they be run through the attic etc to a more appropriate exterior location?

 

[zhandfull]

I need 2 of these for two rooms controlled by a thermostat thats literally on the other side of the house.

Does the outside part need to be immediately on the other side of the wall from where the splits are, or can they be run through the attic etc to a more appropriate exterior location?

They can run through attic but you would need a pump for condensation line is what I have read. They also seem to be limited to about 50’ of line set.

 

[F.U.IRS]

I just helped a neighbor install a 3 zone unit in his manufactured home. Two of inside units we ran the plumbing and electrical under the house, came up and hugged a corner inside a closet,then through the wall to room. The condensation line was run through the crawl space and out the skirting

 

[zhandfull]

Well if two are better three must be great.
Picked up and installed a third unit. This one is a 2 ton. Putting all three units to the first test today. Both my car and weather station are saying 104°this afternoon in north Havasu. It’s a comfortable 78° inside.

I like the idea of three independent units. If one fails, think I could still survive with the other two units comfortably for a period of time.

 

[Morehart]

Definitely scored at 350 for the unit. Looks like a clean install with the line set cover. That 12k btu should be be good for 400 sq ft. I have a 24k btu that works fine in my 1000sq ft garage. It's hot today too!!

 

[Morehart]

Been wanting to try a mini split unit in my old tin can mobile home in Lake Havasu. Being a 1973 build it’s not really energy efficient. Currently has an old 3.5 ton ground unit that is probably same 1973 vintage. Well it can’t keep up on cooling the mobile on a really hot day. To try and keep the inside temps manageable think upper 70’s low 80’s. I also have three portable AC unit that I run to help the outdoor unit on really hot days.

Anyways with all the mini split discussion in other threads. Finally decided to dip my toe in the water. Found the cheapest 1ton unit on Facebook marketplace and bought it for $350. It’s new but has been sitting unopened in a garage for a few years.

View attachment 1492210 View attachment 1492211
Hoping this unit works out good for the back master bedroom area. If it does I’m thinking about adding another 1 ton unit to the front dining area and maybe a 2 ton unit to replace the original ground unit near center of mobile later.

Mounted the indoor air handler last weekend and poured a pad for the outside unit. Looking forward to getting this thing up and running on the cheap in the next couple weeks to see how it works in my old tin can.
View attachment 1492212
Ordered a line set cover and Nylog for the flared line connections. Still need to install electrical and a disconnect. All in on equipment $500. Plus a $200 for vacuum pump and torque wrench tool that I should hopefully be able to use again.

It’s possibly this whole experiment may be a complete failure. The instruction manual says the outdoor unit will operate up to 109 degree Fahrenheit outside temperature. While it wouldn’t be unexpected now that I read it. I’m going to be really disappointed if it shuts off on a 110 degree day. Guess time will tell.

Should be fine way to go!

 

[H20 Toie]

I need one for my work shop. its 16 x19 any recommendations for santa clarita installer

 

[island time]

I need one for my work shop. its 16 x19 any recommendations for santa clarita installer

If it's 110 do it yourself. It's really that easy. Hang unit inside somewhere
Set outside. Connect with line set with flared ends. Run 100 or put it a existing outlet. Bam.....

I might have some side job guys that would do it in the evenings. If you don't want to do it alone let me know.
We have a project in LA, guys stay up there and are bored after work.

 

[Mandelon]

Amazon, has Della precharged units pretty cheap. You typically only get 15' of line set though. You need a vacuum pump.

 

[zhandfull]

Amazon, has Della precharged units pretty cheap. You typically only get 15' of line set though. You need a vacuum pump.

All three of mine were found on Facebook marketplace. All were new but open box or just old stock never used. I’m into the three of them for $1,250. After negotiation on two that were missing some minor parts. The two ton unit was missing a remote, connection cable, and drain tube. Was a 2020 unit never used. Asking 600 and let it go for $500.
Jury still out on how reliable they will be. But at less than half the cost of mainstream brands, I’ll take that chance.