ANOTHER Mr Cool DIY mini split install

[cholder2454]

Hey Everyone, I am beginning an install of a Mr.Cool 36k btu ductless mini split. Just wanted to share my learnings along the way. I just put the order in yesterday through Ingrams Water and Air, and it will take a few weeks to get the unit. In the meantime, let's pour a slab.

 

[cholder2454]

This is my first slab by myself, but I've watched it done before. Finished screeding, now to float it out.

 

[cholder2454]

While stuff is drying, here are a few pics of the shop. I had orginally planned to do a build thread, but lost all my pics due to a phone fail. The shop is 26'x63'. It is kind of unique in that I essentially built around the old shop, adding 12' out the side and extending the original roof, and added 30' out the back. The back 1/2 has 12' sidewalls, where the front 1/2 sidewalls are only 9.5'.

 

[cholder2454]

Here is a pic from the front.

 

[cholder2454]

I should also mention I'm in Fort Worth, TX, and summers here can get pretty hot. I have the shop somewhat sealed up, with 2" of foil faced polystyrene foam board in the ceilings (roughly R13-R14), and 1" the same board in the walls. In the walls I also have R13 roll insulation, so they are closer to R20. Everything taped up with foil tape or great stuFF for bigger gaps.

 

[cholder2454]

Here is my biggest challenge from a cooling perspective. I have a big roll up door thar is uninsulated, and only has a brush seal at the top. The door faces east, so at least it doesn't get the afternoon sun.

 

[yeldogt]

Good Luck !

Does the mr cool have the pre-charged line sets?

FYI: When you pour a pad next to a structure -- isolate it with something you can remove. The mini splits are normally smooth running .. but any vibration can be transferred to the building from the connected slab ........ don't ask me how I found this out.

 

[cholder2454]

Yes, this one has the quick connect lineset. Didnt think to isolate it....good advice for the next guy. Instead, I tied ut into the slab with rebar

 

[yeldogt]

Yes, this one has the quick connect lineset. Didnt think to isolate it....good advice for the next guy. Instead, I tied ut into the slab with rebar

Nice to know you can get them in the 3T size ... may be the ticket for me when I want AC in the new shop.

Where did you get it?

 

[justinjoyal]

I see foundations below the shop.

Is it just a slab or does it have footings?

 

[theoldwizard1]

The best thing you can do to help you A/C is to provide some shade during the heat of the day.

 

[Kaizen]

Love my mr cool. Running ac is a third the price of window units and so much quieter. Open and check the boxes when you get them. They didn't send me a box and I had to wait. If you can have two people for the inside unit it is better to feed the line out. I used a rolling desk chair.


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[cholder2454]

Thanks Kaizen. I have a bad habit of not asking for help when I should, so I will definitely get a second hand trying to get this up on the wall.

Justinjoyal- the shop slopes down into my pasture, so we put some pretty big beams in the past as a foster unDer the slab. It's 24+ inches at the biggest point.

Yeldogt- I ordered it from ingrams water and air. Good to deal with so far for me.

 

[jconnor3]

I'm with you, I'm terrible at asking for help. I installed a 24k unit and you can definitely do 90% of this yourself. The only thing you need 2 people for is putting the line set through the wall and getting the indoor unit onto the bracket. Not hard, just cumbersome. It can be done by yourself though.

It's amazing how simple this system is. I'm still in the process of hiding my line set, but the plastic square guttering sold at lowes makes a great cheap cover.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I'll be following along, I have similar sq/ft and have looked at the same system.

 

[Skunkape]

I'm looking at doing this as well... from what limited research I've done, it appears all the Mr. Cool units have 25ft of line.. can you confirm? I won't need near that much line, and will only need approx 10ft. But, if 25ft is standard, do you see any reason why I couldn't run the excess up and down inside of the framing? I will be framing in a 10x30 section of a 30x50 post frame as a reloading/hang out/tinkering/ dog house room..

 

[Kaizen]

You would have to build out your wall a bit as the pipe comes straight out the back. I hung my unit on the wall and coiled the rest. It is that long and the only downside imo. While the lines bend I didn't want to bend or work them any more then needed because if you lose the charge then you might as well have bought a Mitsubishi


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[cre73]

I'm looking at doing this as well... from what limited research I've done, it appears all the Mr. Cool units have 25ft of line.. can you confirm? I won't need near that much line, and will only need approx 10ft. But, if 25ft is standard, do you see any reason why I couldn't run the excess up and down inside of the framing? I will be framing in a 10x30 section of a 30x50 post frame as a reloading/hang out/tinkering/ dog house room..

Yes the Mr.Cool DIY units come with 25ft line sets. I did one last year and did a pioneer this year. Pretty happy with both units at this point.

 

[Falcon67]

I should also mention I'm in Fort Worth, TX, and summers here can get pretty hot.

And muggy. My hometown. Must be on an edge of town somewhere is you've got pasture.

 

[Kaizen]

And muggy. My hometown. Must be on an edge of town somewhere is you've got pasture.

These things drain lines look like running faucets when it's muggy. I can run mine just to dehumidify for those days that are really sticky but not super hot.


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[cholder2454]

I finally recieved my new Mr Cool DIY unit, so I wanted to share some thoughts on the install. Here is a pic of how it came to me.

 

[cholder2454]

Getting the mounting bracket in the right place was a bit tricky as I wanted to get the outside hole exactly between the ribs in my R-panel, and I have studs and drywall inside.

 

[cholder2454]

Based on the template, I used an awl to mark locations for the studs and the lineset/electrical/drain. I used a slightly larger hole saw (92mm) as I didn't have the 90mm it called for. Mounted the bracket.

 

[cholder2454]

Now comes the fun part. How to get this monster 8v up the wal all while feeding the lineset carefully through the hole and not kinking the line. I had a buddy helping me, but it was almost a 3 person job to get it up that high.

 

[cholder2454]

Here is the final product. I seem to have had almost exactly enough lineset. It was a bit freaked tightening the pressure lines, but it was super easy.

 

[tom-ky]

Yes the Mr.Cool DIY units come with 25ft line sets. I did one last year and did a pioneer this year. Pretty happy with both units at this point.

Any idea how expensive they are to operate?

 

[cholder2454]

Not sure. I guess we'll see. I'm budgeting about $25-35 per month for it. They are pretty efficient.

 

[19Vert64]

What size wire did you need to run to the unit?

 

[cholder2454]

I ran 10-3 romex

 

[justinjoyal]

I ran 10-3 romex

3 conductors ? Why?