Anyone use mini-splits on a large building

[theoldwizard1]

4000+ square foot Completely open.

Quick and dirty online BTU calculators say anything from 160,000 BTU to 260,000 BTU for heating in SE MI.

 

[justinjoyal]

Forced air !

 

[pbon]

Mini splits are not great at heating. Some are bad and don’t work in very cold weather. Mitsubishi may be the best as a primary heater in very cold areas. Much better at cooling. They also don’t bring in fresh air.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Mini splits are not great at heating. Some are bad and don’t work in very cold weather. Mitsubishi may be the best as a primary heater in very cold areas.

Fujitsu sell some that are still 100% efficient at -15F.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Depending on unit size and airflow requirements, you're looking at somewhere around 6-10 minisplits. You can buy a LOT of package unit for that kind of money...

Tommy

 

[strutaeng]

I vote for (2) 10 ton RTUs.

 

[readhead]

A couple of RTU's (roof top units) will be way more effective and there won't be a cluster of condensing units outside. They can also be placed on the ground outside.

 

[James-W]

My opinion is that mini-splits have their place, but heating/cooling large buildings is not where their place is.

I agree with going with a forced air furnace for heat. For cooling just get a large central air unit to attach to the furnace. Run some ductwork to put the heat/cooling where you want it. I am only guessing here but I tend to think it would be less expensive initially as well as less expensive to run. I mean, installing one mini-split and running it is fairly cheap, but add up the cost for multiple units and it gets expensive.

 

[Full Throttle]

I vote for (2) 10 ton RTUs.

Sweet jeezus. It is 4k squ ft...not 40000squ ft.

 

[strutaeng]

Sweet jeezus. It is 4k squ ft...not 40000squ ft.

Yes, that sounds like cooling capacity for an ice rink!

Ok, (2) 4 ton RTUs.

 

[bonneyman]

I see mini-splits more and more these days on commercial buildings. they seem to be advertized as an affordable alternative when a contractor does a remodel on an older building and the owner doesn't wnat to deal with a boiler/chiller system or huge package units. Little suit-cased sized mini condensing units lined up behind a row of hedges sounds real attractive to builders.

Especially rental units. You get a bad tenant blow an A/C unit, you just unplug the bad suit case and plug in a new one. Evacuate, recharge, bingo. Sounds reasonable doesn't it?

 

[James-W]

We aren't talking about an apartment complex here, this is just one space, one very large open space, over 4,000 square feet.

 

[finn]

Square feet is only part of the story.

4000 square feet with a 9’ ceiling? Or a 16’ ceiling.

You are cooling volume, not square feet.

 

[American Locomotive]

Whatever you do, stay away from LG Multi-V units. Their support on these systems is atrocious.

 

[Radix2]

Fujitsu sell some that are still 100% efficient at -15F.

The crappiest electric heater sold at Walmart is still 100% efficient at -100F...

 

[Mr onetwo]

Look into an "air rotation" heating system.Put one in an aircraft repair hanger once...it worked fantastically well.You could not even tell that it was running.They can be oil or gas direct fired, steam or hot water coil based with separate boiler and can have a DX coil or chiller setup installed for space cooling.http://www.thermocycler.com/Thermo_Rotationr_/thermo_rotationr_.html

 

[pbon]

The crappiest electric heater sold at Walmart is still 100% efficient at -100F...

How well does the Walmart heater air condition in the summer? How many do you need for the 4000 SF building? What is the operating cost compared to the mini split?

-15F is awesome for a mini split. I read up on the fujitso ultra low temp model. We have some Mitsubishi, which used to be the best in the cold. -15F is as cold as it gets in my area (without windchill).

 

[mrpizza]

260k btu is a lot. if you did package heat pumps you would be looking at 21 Tons. Maybe up your insulation game by a lot and get smaller units.