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Mini split

Looking Glass

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yes…..the isntall plays a far bigger part of the longevity of the unit than the name silkscrrened on the cover.

keep in mind these things should run for 10-15 years trouble free. most DIY are proud to see 3-5 years.

if you know someone or if you are capable of performing the install and start up correctly you can save yourself a considerable amount of money. truth is most DIY systems are far from properly installed and most if not all contractors won’t touch them. the install is more than just mounting some things to the wall and connecting pipes. In ca permits and inspections are required as well which adds to the cost to have it done correctly.

the most common install issues are improper flares, not correctly torqued fittings, contaminants in refrigerant, incorrect drains, and don’t even get me started on refrigerant lines and electrical we see.

most people are proud of the fact they hooked it up and it kind of blows cold/hot air. when we see their work of art we politely step away and decline any type of service as we don’t want to inherit the longe temp problems and warranty issues.
EVERY Time I have attempted to save 50 Cents, it has cost me $50.00. Do it Right, Once!!
 

Bullhead bully

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I have a bunch of these units between garage storage units, Hangers inside the house, etc. and if I’ve learned anything OVERSIZE the unit. If you need a 2 ton do a 3 ton. If you need a one ton do a 2 ton. You’ll always be happier with a little extra power the price offset is not much but the efficiency gain is huge.

Nothing worse than doing the install and wishing you had more power. Especially when a little bit more power doesn’t cost much. And makes such a difference.
 

dezertrider

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We probably get 5 calls a week right now from people that purchased these online. They are not good DIY people and its way over there head. We typically turn these away but do on occasion help someone we know out.
 

dezertrider

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How do you calculate size of fan coils needed?
I have a 19x16x59’ 2 year old RV Garage add-on
With Garages spend a little more money on the equipment so that its fully variable and over size it. This way you have some extra power when you load up the garage on a hot day to cool down quickly.

My garage that is 2200 SF has 3- 2ton units and its way over sized. It cools down quickly after we load up the garage so its nice and cool when cleaning the boat
 

TBulger

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Our mini split died at the river, it's a Daikin 24k / 2 ton unit. Probably 13+ years old.
Its just blinking and wont kick the outside unit on, tried all the self diagnostics, disconnecting power for 30 minutes, making sure filters are clean / etc but nothing has worked. Local AC guy said he can check capacitor and evac / recharge it to check freon, but theres no place for gauges to be hooked up so the only way to do the freon is to weight it in like a fridge.

Should I bother spending the $500 to have him mess with it and roll the dice, or should we just get a complete new unit?
Check the drain line, sometimes there is a small pump involved.
 

Bigbore500r

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Check the drain line, sometimes there is a small pump involved.
We have a condensate pump below the unit, its empty so it seems there is room to drain.
Unless the unit looks for a signal from the pump and the pump has gone bad?
 

Cobalt232

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We have 2 Mitsubishi units in the garage at the river. One regret I have is not having the heat option in the winter. It wasn't that much more and I should have done that. Except for one unit failing after a week due to a leak, they have been great for the past 5 years. All American Air installed them.
 

Outdrive1

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I installed a big swamp cooler in the roof of my garage 14 years ago. I’ve had the mini split working for 24 hours. Wow what a difference. I can’t believe how much better it is. And silent. I should have done this from the start although mini splits weren’t as common then. I set it at 70 and went to bed last night. It was freezing this morning. I bumped it up to 80 all day and it’s super comfortable. Even opening the doors and taking the cars or golf cart out today really didn’t change the temperature drastically. I’m guessing because everything is already cooled down. Best decision I’ve made in a while.
 

Bpracing1127

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Just got mine installed today. It’s awesome
IMG_7369.jpeg
IMG_7370.jpeg
 

bilz

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A number of people on the boards have Daikin mini splits. I’ve had one for five years, a 2 ton heat pump unit in my garage in Vegas. It has been perfect since day one. eBay like 1500.
I've got two with 5 handlers. Works bitchen, economical.
 

ChrisV

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After reading this thread I ordered one. I have a swamp cooler on the roof, which keeps the garage cool except in July and August. Garage and door are insulated, might as well get a mini split for those humid summer months. I went online to Home Depot and ended up ordering a Panasonic 24000. I’ll do all the install and have someone come out and get it running. I need someone to run some 220 in conduit over to the unit as well.
This unit been pretty good?
 

Outdrive1

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25x40. I bought a 2 ton unit. But my garage is completely insulated.
 

CarolynandBob

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My garage here in FL is cinder block walls. Has anyone drilled through a block wall to run the coolant lines outside? The other mini-spits I have installed need a 3" ish hole to get the lines outside.
 

Mandelon

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One thing to be aware of with the online purchases and DIYing is the length of the lineset. Some are 15 ft, some 20, etc. These units come precharged for the line they come with. I think adding on to the line makes it not DIY friendly.
 

MeCasa16

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Damn.. you guys saved a ton of money doing it yourself. I had a 2 ton and a 3 ton installed in my garage (1900 sq/ft) and I think it was $13k. That also included removing the old swap cooler off the roof and sealing up that hole, but still….
 

hallett21

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Damn.. you guys saved a ton of money doing it yourself. I had a 2 ton and a 3 ton installed in my garage (1900 sq/ft) and I think it was $13k. That also included removing the old swap cooler off the roof and sealing up that hole, but still….
You gotta look at the big picture. Equipment manufacturer, labor warranty, electrical requirements etc.

You’ll usually save 50% doing it yourself. But you’re the guy doing the “warranty” work too lol.
 

Bpracing1127

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Damn.. you guys saved a ton of money doing it yourself. I had a 2 ton and a 3 ton installed in my garage (1900 sq/ft) and I think it was $13k. That also included removing the old swap cooler off the roof and sealing up that hole, but still….
I did mine for 4K that was unit, installed (cut and flare line set, vaccum and charge a little) and new subpanel to support!

I was getting quotes from 7-10k turn key….
 
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THE WIDGE

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Whose the go to person in havasu. I need a 1 ton 110 for my master ( unfortunately furthest room from ac, sun side of house, and 2300 house on a 5 ton and only one vent in master with high ceilings). Should help with rest of house as I have a return in the master as well. Looking at doing 2-3 tons for garage, probably get away with 2 tons but I guess better to go bigger
 

MPHSystems

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On these things, do you sweat the lineset with solder like plumbing, brase it like a full size split or are there threaded connectors?

For you DIYers, how do you purge the lineset? Do you buy/rent a vacuum pump or just leave the air in there?
 

TPC

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2 ton unit web enabled with remote hand held. 750 sq. ft. garage. Works amazing. I’m not much of a do it yourselfer so I had it done by Sunrise AC. Powered to the panel on the opposite side of the house through the attic. While not cheap at $4500, I thought it was a reasonable value.

View attachment 1387430 View attachment 1387431
Nice installation. I like how quiet they are.
 

Mandelon

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On these things, do you sweat the lineset with solder like plumbing, brase it like a full size split or are there threaded connectors?

For you DIYers, how do you purge the lineset? Do you buy/rent a vacuum pump or just leave the air in there?


The ones you buy at HD or on Amazon come precharged. You do need a vacuum pump to purge the lines, once your gauges read the right setting, you open a valve and the refrigerant is released into the lines.

You have to make sure you buy one with a long enough lineset. Most are only 15 feet. I did one at my kid's place and it was pretty easy and works great.

I think we put in this one. The vacuum gauges and pumps are also on amazon or Harbor Freight. For such occasional use a cheap one seemed like the call for me. It also has heat as an option.

 

Flying_Lavey

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Our mini split died at the river, it's a Daikin 24k / 2 ton unit. Probably 13+ years old.
Its just blinking and wont kick the outside unit on, tried all the self diagnostics, disconnecting power for 30 minutes, making sure filters are clean / etc but nothing has worked. Local AC guy said he can check capacitor and evac / recharge it to check freon, but theres no place for gauges to be hooked up so the only way to do the freon is to weight it in like a fridge.

Should I bother spending the $500 to have him mess with it and roll the dice, or should we just get a complete new unit?
So you responded to my comment (I didnt get the notification apparently... or I read this late at night and was not capable of replying. lol), yet you HAVE MY NUMBER and didnt call or text me about this? Come on Bud.... lol!
 

Joker

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I’m wondering how hard this can be. I need 2 units for an upstairs apartment so would that mean I need two 220 amp breakers available? Total unit is 650 sq ft but i need to separate it in 2. Plus i don’t believe what comes packaged will cover the 2 story distance
 

Bpracing1127

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I’m wondering how hard this can be. I need 2 units for an upstairs apartment so would that mean I need two 220 amp breakers available? Total unit is 650 sq ft but i need to separate it in 2. Plus i don’t believe what comes packaged will cover the 2 story distance
They make units that have multiple indoor and one outside units.
 

Clank123

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We switched the Riverhouse over to mini-splits a year ago.
Couldn’t be happier.
Did all the install work myself and had a buddy come leak the system down.
Used Innovaire units that were recommended.
2 ton for main rooms, 2 ton for garage and a one ton for the bedroom.
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petie6464

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I bought the 24k home depot version (ductless air) and its been running daily for 2 years. Did the install myself and just paid a guy like $200 to handle the vacuum part of the install. I think it was like $1300 on sale.

game changer. Set it to 80 in the summer and 70 in the winter.
How many SF is your garage?
 

plaster dave

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So it’s been 2 weeks since my garage got 2-24k MrCool units. I bought the uncharged units by mistake but it worked out, I saved money in the long run.
Ac guy installed both units and line set with disconnect for $1,300 and I bought the units for $3,200. The precharged units were 3k each. I called 3 companies out and prices were all over the place. One company wanted 2k each to install and another wanted 1,200 each. The company I used was referred by my electrician.
Garage is 1850 sq ft and I set the ac to 78* and it’s always that temperature. Outside temp has been 105+ and my garage before the mini spits was alway in the 90’s.
 

THE WIDGE

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So it’s been 2 weeks since my garage got 2-24k MrCool units. I bought the uncharged units by mistake but it worked out, I saved money in the long run.
Ac guy installed both units and line set with disconnect for $1,300 and I bought the units for $3,200. The precharged units were 3k each. I called 3 companies out and prices were all over the place. One company wanted 2k each to install and another wanted 1,200 each. The company I used was referred by my electrician.
Garage is 1850 sq ft and I set the ac to 78* and it’s always that temperature. Outside temp has been 105+ and my garage before the mini spits was alway in the 90’s.
I’ve been nerding out researching these for the last few hours. My garage in havasu is 1500, 1k of it rv. Will 2 - 2tons cool it down quickly and maintain 76? I was considering 2-3 tons. I was looking at the Mr cools, I just don’t like the extra line footage I don’t need. What size lines did your come with? Or did tech size them to need? Where did you get them. I’ve been looking at Costco. I also need a 1 ton for house. Thx
 
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pkrrvr619

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So it’s been 2 weeks since my garage got 2-24k MrCool units. I bought the uncharged units by mistake but it worked out, I saved money in the long run.
Ac guy installed both units and line set with disconnect for $1,300 and I bought the units for $3,200. The precharged units were 3k each. I called 3 companies out and prices were all over the place. One company wanted 2k each to install and another wanted 1,200 each. The company I used was referred by my electrician.
Garage is 1850 sq ft and I set the ac to 78* and it’s always that temperature. Outside temp has been 105+ and my garage before the mini spits was alway in the 90’s.
Got a number for the installer? My garage mini split just died this weekend.
 

Dalton

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I’ve been needing out researching these for the last few hours. My garage in havasu is 1500, 1k of it rv. Will 2 tons cool it down quickly and maintain 76? I was considering 3 tons. I was looking at the Mr cools, I just don’t like the extra line footage I don’t need. What size lines did your come with? Or did tech size them to need? Where did you get them. I’ve been looking at Costco. I also need a 1 ton for house. Thx


The units will have minimum and maximum lengths for the line sets according to the factory refrigerant charge, if you go to short, the unit will be overcharged, too long and it'll be undercharged and you'll need to add some refrigerant, the manual should state the minimum and maximum length, they sell linesets on amazon, grainger, etc....
 

Long Way Home

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I know nothing about the product, but it's on sale today.............
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yz450mm

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I’ve been nerding out researching these for the last few hours. My garage in havasu is 1500, 1k of it rv. Will 2 tons cool it down quickly and maintain 76? I was considering 3 tons. I was looking at the Mr cools, I just don’t like the extra line footage I don’t need. What size lines did your come with? Or did tech size them to need? Where did you get them. I’ve been looking at Costco. I also need a 1 ton for house. Thx
Two tons is not enough for that SF, especially with the extra volume of the RV portion. Go as big as you can, and if it were me I'd be using a unit with a single outdoor condenser and at least two indoor evaporators.
 

SoCalDave

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Another fan of the McCool product. Not a mini split but a 5 ton variable speed condenser and variable speed AHU. Precharged 35' line set and and installed it myself. Cost me $5k to my door. Even added return ducts in every room with a door. Been running flawlessly for a year now and is very efficient for our 2000sqft home.
20240902_094324.jpg
 
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THE WIDGE

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Two tons is not enough for that SF, especially with the extra volume of the RV portion. Go as big as you can, and if it were me I'd be using a unit with a single outdoor condenser and at least two indoor evaporators.
I meant 2-2 tons rather than 2-3tons
 

Javajoe

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I imagine they are sized for cu. ft. not sq.ft. right? I have a RV garage 20x50x16 so that’s 1k sq.ft or 16k cu.ft. I need to find one also to install but want the right size with a bit more on the oversize.
 
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