Anyone using these either for home or shop use? Just read through the geothermal thread and while I'm interested in that, I'm also interested in the mini split systems. The house I'm wanting to build will be an ICF so it will be very well insulated.
Ductless mini split
- Thread starter mkholmes3
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LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
I have two at my house & I've installed about a dozen at work. If you get a good brand like a Fujitsu inverter drive, they work great, don't spin the meter much & are almost silent.
Tommy
Tommy
Armed in Utah
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Using one in a 12x16 addition...2x6 framed..vaulted ceiling..concrete floor...its a Greer...installed Oct '12...works great.....the A/C is very welcome too...cool air flows well through rest of house..main A/C unit doesn't come on till outside day temps go past 86* or so...I'm at 6000' elevation...so our nights are always cool....along with a big mountain range to the west blocks the last 1/2 hr of summer sun...total cost was $1250 installed..I'm satisfied......located in my 'Elk Room'
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LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
The two in my house are cooling only. The ones at work are a mix of heat pumps and cooling only. Some are primary, some supplemental. IDK how cold you get, but most of the heat pumps I've worked with have been for supplemental heat, so I can't honestly tell you how good they are for primary heat.
Tommy
Tommy
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uncletom
Member
I have a Mitsubshi unit in my house, here in New Brunswick Canada. About 2000 sq ft on the main floor, cathedral ceiling. Heats the whole house down to about -25 C outside. This works very well and uses about the same power as one 1500 watt baseboard heater.
I have a digital power consumption monitor mounted on my wall so it is easy to compare.
I am building a new garage, and am planning on putting a mini split in there. Buy a good one though, check the efficiency ratings, there are a wide range out there. Can easily power one with a small generator, which is another bonus if your area is prone to outages.
I have a digital power consumption monitor mounted on my wall so it is easy to compare.
I am building a new garage, and am planning on putting a mini split in there. Buy a good one though, check the efficiency ratings, there are a wide range out there. Can easily power one with a small generator, which is another bonus if your area is prone to outages.
UncleTom, how many of the wall/ceiling units do you have? From the research I've done each outside unit can power multiple inside units. I'm looking at around 2600-2700 sq ft on one level. I'm thinking of going with ceiling units as they will be less noticeable. No one around here seems knowledgeable on these systems.
I'm building an ICF home my self . Here is a link to an article you might want to look at. I ended up using a 97% efficent natural gas furnace and I'm happy so far.
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/heating-tight-well-insulated-house
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/heating-tight-well-insulated-house
Sir I sent you a PM
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Mini-splits were originally design to heat/cool a single room and that is still their primary use. Very large single rooms usually require 2 interior air handlers that are connected together (call "twinning" in the industry).
Now some split systems can handle 8 (more ?) air handlers. The big win is individual room/area temp control and no ducting. Downside is the cost or running multiple line sets.
Now some split systems can handle 8 (more ?) air handlers. The big win is individual room/area temp control and no ducting. Downside is the cost or running multiple line sets.
uncletom
Member
I only have one wall air handler. I believe it is better having one running closer to max, than two running at lower levels. It was -32 C here this morning and my unit had stopped. When the outside temp hit -25 it started again and threw good heat the rest of the day. Multiple units would require a larger outside unit designed for that purpose. The placing of the indoor units would be of critical importance. Most units I have seen are mounted on a wall up high. I don't know about ceiling mounts, but I'll ask someone tomorrow. A very large number of people in this area are changing over to mini splits and many are installing ducted air to air units made to replace their forced air furnaces. I have also seen many commercial installations, with Mini Splits being used in stores, restaurants etc. I plan to put one in my new garage and keep it on low just to keep the concrete floor warm and then turn it up when I am going to work in there.
uncletom
Member
My unit is heating an open concept living room/kitchen which is about 40
x 40 feet and has an 18 foot cathedral ceiling over half of it. There is a loft with bedroom, bathroom and office up there in the back. The mini split does a great job, but the house is well insulated. A large garage would probably need a unit near each end.
x 40 feet and has an 18 foot cathedral ceiling over half of it. There is a loft with bedroom, bathroom and office up there in the back. The mini split does a great job, but the house is well insulated. A large garage would probably need a unit near each end.
uncletom
Member
The only info I could get About ceiling mounts is available online. I found out that most applications around my area are done with wall mount units up high.
JakeKohl
Well-known member
They are now coming out with systems that can regulate the flow of refrigerant from unit to unit (valving in the line sets)...this reduces the number of linesets needed because you can now literally tee off for each unit. Mitsubishi markets theirs as industrial but I've seen it in a couple of high end residential installations.
To the OP; I have two. One in my 864 sq ft. office over my garage and one in my 864 sq ft garage. Both are LG brand 18k btu units. I have absolutely no complaints and really love them. They do a superb job in heat or cooling mode. I'm planning to start installing them in the house to replace the central HVAC after we get the kitchen remodel done later this year.
pseudorealityx
Well-known member
You talking City-Multi? Those have a 'main' lineset that goes from the CU/HP to a "fancy" manifold, and from the manifold to each unit. The "fancy" manifold does some heat transfer, and requires power and a condensate drain... it is NOT just a manifold.