Experience with Mitsubishi or other "ducted minisplits"

[American Locomotive]

Someone I know is looking to replace their current traditional 3-ton cooling-only split system that's about 25 years old and very noisy. We were looking at various options, including cooling-only, traditional split heat-pumps and into some of the "ducted minisplit" systems from Mitsubishi, etc..

We're interested in the Mitsubishi system for a couple of reasons. Mitsubishi quality and efficiency, having a heat-pump to offset oil heat usage, and very importantly quiet operation since the outdoor unit will be next to the deck. The current unit is a screamer and makes a lot of noise.

Obviously at 3-ton, there isn't much "mini" about it, and it's really just a "Mitsubishi split-system". Any feedback on these "ducted mini splits" from Mitsubishi or others?

 

[danski0224]

A Bosch IDS Ultra condenser is super quiet, an inverter and is a cold climate rated heat pump.

It can be paired with any evaporator coil and fan with a non- communicating 24V control system and thermostat. There are communicating matched systems available, but really only when paired with an air handler.

They aren't cheap. Availability might be an issue. There is no longer a distributor for Bosch HVAC products in the entire Chicago metro area.

The "quiet" of mini-splits is due to the inverter compressor and fan, combined with low load almost continuous operation. They do get a little louder when under load.

There aren't many options without going with matched components due to the controls.

I have only installed one "mini split" with a ducted air handler, and it was made by LG.

 

[4xdog]

I put a two-zone, roof-mounted, ducted minisplit system with Mitsubishi HyperHeat heat pumps in my house last autumn.

It’s absolutely dead quiet. Perfect control around set points either heating or cooling.

I loathe the Mitsubishi thermostats, and fear what aggravates me the most is an inherent limitation. Certainly my contractor and Mitsubishi don’t have any options for me for this: The system will not allow a hearing set point below 62°F. I like cooler, say 60F, especially at night. And when I’m traveling during winter months I like to turn the heat down much lower. Nope. If I want lower than 62F the system has to be turned off.

So if that temperature control limitation is OK for someone, the Mitsubishi ducted minisplits could be a good choice. For me as it stands now, I’m kinda pissed at the money I spent and the control I don’t have.

 

[Paycheck]

ACiQ is gaining popularity.

 

[manwithtools]

I have a TempStar (made by Midea) ducted mini-split on our master suite. I absolutely hate the thermostats performance. It will not maintain a temperature setting either in heating or cooling mode. Don't even think about using the Auto mode . We have to constantly "chase" the temperature in that area of the house. We have long ago given up on the temperature displayed on the thermostat and rely on another thermometer to indicate actual room temperature. The outside unit is quite loud when under full load.

I have a Mitsubishi Hyper heat in the shop (conventional mini-split) and it's very quiet and the thermostat controls it as expected. I'd look further into the Mitsubishi ducted system for your friend. I'm considering replacing our Midea unit with a Mitsubishi in the master suite.

 

[Firebrick43]

I have a TempStar (made by Midea) ducted mini-split on our master suite. I absolutely hate the thermostats performance. It will not maintain a temperature setting either in heating or cooling mode. Don't even think about using the Auto mode . We have to constantly "chase" the temperature in that area of the house. We have long ago given up on the temperature displayed on the thermostat and rely on another thermometer to indicate actual room temperature. The outside unit is quite loud when under full load.

I have a Mitsubishi Hyper heat in the shop (conventional mini-split) and it's very quiet and the thermostat controls it as expected. I'd look further into the Mitsubishi ducted system for your friend. I'm considering replacing our Midea unit with a Mitsubishi in the master suite.

I assume being ducted you are not using one of the IR tv remote style thermostats but midea wall mount thermostat? Is it the basic one or the upscale one?

They do make interfaces to allow a standard 24v thermostat to work with whatever bus protocol midea uses but they are pretty salty

 

[manwithtools]

I assume being ducted you are not using one of the IR tv remote style thermostats but midea wall mount thermostat? Is it the basic one or the upscale one?

They do make interfaces to allow a standard 24v thermostat to work with whatever bus protocol midea uses but they are pretty salty

Yes, I'm using the wall mounted thermostat, it's the deluxe unit.

The ducted unit supports a conventional 24V thermostat (unlike the ductless units), I have a Ecobee ready to go. I've just not taken the time to run a 5 wire cable to replace the two conductor cable the factory thermostat uses. The inside air handler is in a hard to reach area thru a scuttle opening.

 

[American Locomotive]

Just to add some context: I have installed quite a few Mitsubishi hyper-heat minisplits for friends, and they have been very happy with them. If we do the ducted mitsubishi, we'd be getting a matched pair.

A Bosch IDS Ultra condenser is super quiet, an inverter and is a cold climate rated heat pump.

It can be paired with any evaporator coil and fan with a non- communicating 24V control system and thermostat. There are communicating matched systems available, but really only when paired with an air handler.

They aren't cheap. Availability might be an issue. There is no longer a distributor for Bosch HVAC products in the entire Chicago metro area.

The idea of potentially being bale to re-use the existing evap certainly is intriguing.

I put a two-zone, roof-mounted, ducted minisplit system with Mitsubishi HyperHeat heat pumps in my house last autumn.

It’s absolutely dead quiet. Perfect control around set points either heating or cooling.

I loathe the Mitsubishi thermostats, and fear what aggravates me the most is an inherent limitation. Certainly my contractor and Mitsubishi don’t have any options for me for this: The system will not allow a hearing set point below 62°F. I like cooler, say 60F, especially at night. And when I’m traveling during winter months I like to turn the heat down much lower. Nope. If I want lower than 62F the system has to be turned off.

Does the thermostat have a "Smart Set" mode? The mitsubishi minisplits I've seen with smart set will let you set the temperature much lower in smart set mode. I do believe there are adapters that let you use traditional thermostats with the mitsubishi systems.

ACiQ is gaining popularity.

They seem similar to Midea units?

 

[manwithtools]

ACiQ is gaining popularity.

They seem similar to Midea units?

That's because Midea makes the mini splits for ACiQ. ACiQ is a white label HVAC company that buy their equipment for other HVAC manufacturers. Midea makes the minis' and the traditional ducted split systems are manufactured by International Comfort Products (ICP), which is a subsidiary of Carrier.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Just to add some context: I have installed quite a few Mitsubishi hyper-heat minisplits for friends, and they have been very happy with them. If we do the ducted mitsubishi, we'd be getting a matched pair.

What do you mean by "matched pair" ? 2 ducted air handlers each with their own outside compressor ? (One for the upstairs and one for the downstairs ?)

 

[theoldwizard1]

We're interested in the Mitsubishi system for a couple of reasons. Mitsubishi quality and efficiency, having a heat-pump to offset oil heat usage,

A properly sized system should be able to eliminate the oil burner completely.

 

[PoorUB]

We're interested in the Mitsubishi system for a couple of reasons. Mitsubishi quality and efficiency, having a heat-pump to offset oil heat usage, and very importantly quiet operation since the outdoor unit will be next to the deck. The current unit is a screamer and makes a lot of noise.

Why is it a screamer? Trying to shove 3 tons down 2 ton of duct? If the duct is screwed up, no air handler out there will cure the noise issues.

 

[theoldwizard1]

very importantly quiet operation since the outdoor unit will be next to the deck. The current unit is a screamer and makes a lot of noise.

Why is it a screamer? Trying to shove 3 tons down 2 ton of duct? If the duct is screwed up, no air handler out there will cure the noise issues.

I think OP is referring to the outside compressor unit.

 

[American Locomotive]

What do you mean by "matched pair" ? 2 ducted air handlers each with their own outside compressor ? (One for the upstairs and one for the downstairs ?)

As in, the indoor and outdoor unit matched to each other. I won't be trying to cobble a new condensing unit with the existing coil.

Why is it a screamer? Trying to shove 3 tons down 2 ton of duct? If the duct is screwed up, no air handler out there will cure the noise issues.

The outdoor unit is an ancient brown Goodman with the loudest compressor known to man.

 

[PoorUB]

As in, the indoor and outdoor unit matched to each other. I won't be trying to cobble a new condensing unit with the existing coil.

The outdoor unit is an ancient brown Goodman with the loudest compressor known to man.

Got it. My reading comprehension is what ever it happens to be at the time!

My neighbor had an older Lennox AC unit set right between out houses. Every time it started it gave out this weird mechanical honk, (best I can describe it!) that we could hear in our house. When it was running it wasn't terrible. but in that part of the house closest to the unit we could here it running. We didn't miss it when it was replaced!

 

[aggie113]

Replaced a RUUD 3ton unit this Feb with a Mitsubishi Hyperheat. I got the PVA-AA36NL & PUZ-AK36NLHZ combo as I wanted the higher SEER numbers. Also had to add a second return vent to help it breathe properly (old one was restricted), thankfully that was just a second hole/filter in the existing return box and not more ducting. The MHK2 wall thermostat is the older one you can install with the unit. It can be mounted anywhere withing range of it's special wireless signal as the thermostat is run off batteries. You can also get the newer PAC-SDW01RC-2 but it is a wired unit. Either one should be able to piggy-back off the Mitsubishi wireless (regular wifi) controller that connects the unit to their Comfort app (getting better these days). If you use the Comfort app you can also add a separate temp/humidity sensor that you can use to average out the readings the unit runs off of (battery powered). The MHK2 can also add it's own separate sensor but I've had issues getting them to pair properly. If you don't want the Mitsubishi wifi controller and Comfort app you can also use the correct Airzone controller with their app. Not 100% if you can piggyback a wall thermostat off one of those or not though.


So far my unit is quieter than the old system. That is thanks to both the additional return as well as the ability for the blower to start at a lower speed. Also nice that I don't have any LED lighting dim when it kicks on

 

[fitter30]

I put a two-zone, roof-mounted, ducted minisplit system with Mitsubishi HyperHeat heat pumps in my house last autumn.

It’s absolutely dead quiet. Perfect control around set points either heating or cooling.

I loathe the Mitsubishi thermostats, and fear what aggravates me the most is an inherent limitation. Certainly my contractor and Mitsubishi don’t have any options for me for this: The system will not allow a hearing set point below 62°F. I like cooler, say 60F, especially at night. And when I’m traveling during winter months I like to turn the heat down much lower. Nope. If I want lower than 62F the system has to be turned off.

So if that temperature control limitation is OK for someone, the Mitsubishi ducted minisplits could be a good choice. For me as it stands now, I’m kinda pissed at the money I spent and the control I don’t have.

Would imagine that if you contacted any other hyper heat manufacturer they would have the same limitations for operating temps. Refrigeration systems need certain compression ratio to operate and return oil back to the compressor along with velocity of the refrigerant. Even a simple gas furnace doesn't run correctly below 60° they condensed flue gas.

 

[Ohmthis]

Someone I know is looking to replace their current traditional 3-ton cooling-only split system that's about 25 years old and very noisy. We were looking at various options, including cooling-only, traditional split heat-pumps and into some of the "ducted minisplit" systems from Mitsubishi, etc..

We're interested in the Mitsubishi system for a couple of reasons. Mitsubishi quality and efficiency, having a heat-pump to offset oil heat usage, and very importantly quiet operation since the outdoor unit will be next to the deck. The current unit is a screamer and makes a lot of noise.

Obviously at 3-ton, there isn't much "mini" about it, and it's really just a "Mitsubishi split-system". Any feedback on these "ducted mini splits" from Mitsubishi

Are you talking about the concealed duct type or the ducted air handler? The ducted air handler is exactly that, it’s made to replace a conventional furnace or electric air handler. The concealed duct style is a rectangular unit that mounts above a ceiling and usually has a singular supply and return.

 

[American Locomotive]

Ducted air handler.

 

[67King]

We have a smaller Mitsu unit that I've been very happy with. It just covers the master suite, so it is only 18K. However, there are super quiet conventional systems. We put in a Lennox Elite series, variable speed ("inverter") 3 ton, 20 SEER unit. It was beside our deck, as well, and the only noise I ever heard was a quiet, high frequency electric hum. I think as long as you get the variable capacity system, it will be extremely quiet. Back when we put it in 10 years ago, it was just under $10K, but it would probably be double that, now

 

[pcmeiners]

As to noise I belief manufacturers test under optimal conditions, any extremes and the noise level increases. That said the few Mitsubishi units I have heard are quieter than my Fujitsu units which have low DB levels. You should find someone with the brand/model unit you want to buy, if possible, to check out the noise level as much of the noise level specs are hyped.

 

[Jackfre]

My SIL replaced their old gas furnace with a Gree Condenser and variable speed coil and the silence is remarkable. In RI you may likely find that your need for oil is over, at last. I would suggest that you also look at the Fujitsu models. They are the #2 seller in your market area and every bit as good.