Ductless mini split?

[6togo]

So I am adding a second car garage to my attached single and plan to open the dividing wall I was going to just add a ceiling mounted electric heater but got to thinking maybe a mini split heat pump is a better option and I will get the A/C too!
My garage is insulated fairly good and is 28x25 with 9ft ceiling on one side and 12' vaulted on the other to clear the lift do you think a 12,000btu would do the trick in Maryland weather typical winter is around 30degrees and summer is mid 90's?
Also this is not full time it's only when I work in the garage so I would crank it up 30-60 min before working so I can keep the operation costs down.
What's brands are most using that are reasonable in cost?

 

[Firebrick43]

A unit that size may work at a consistent temp but I question how well it would raise/lower temps in that short of time? Depends on insulation and air infiltration. Remember to that the better mini splits with hyperheat and such do work down to a low temp such as 5 or even 0 but start being significantly derated as the fall below 15

Define fairly good, r19 walls and r50-60 ceiling?

 

[6togo]

The new section will have r21 in the 2x6 walls and atleast r30 in the ceiling the truss's are fairly shallow and the old section is 2x4 with r13 and that ceiling is r19 but I may increase that when I do the new garage both doors are insulated also.
I'm not looking to bake or freeze the place just keep it comfortable the current garage I heat with a round kerosene heater that works well take the chill off in a hour or so.

 

[6togo]

It rarely gets in the teens around me so I should be good there.

 

[WVBrady]

The cylindrical kerosene heaters are typically rated about twice the BTU's/hr. than what you are talking about.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...s&utm_campaign=DynaGloDelux&utm_content=52622

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Without running a manual j you really don't know, but 12k may be too small for your square footage regardless of insulation value. I would suggest 18k just off the top of my head. Inverter drive units don't really have the shortcomings of oversizing you typically see with fixed capacity units.

Tommy

 

[6togo]

Yes that is very similar to the K1 heater i have but its old and needs a wick so it dont perform that well.
After doing more research i think i'm going to shoot for a 18K with a high Seer around 22 to help with the power.
Are there any brands i should stay away from I was looking at Cooper & Hunter and Pioneer they seem priced very reasonable just dont know about quality?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have zero experience with either of those brands, so I will reserve from saying anything about them. Mitsubishi, Fujitsu are tops (not in any particular order). They both offer inverter drive systems, but you may not be overly excited about the pricing. We install a lot of Daikins at work. They have been reliable so far and are very reasonably priced.

Tommy

 

[Jinks]

I have 12,000 btu cooling about 500 sq.ft. with 8' ceilings. Works really well, & I have no need for heat, but I'd guess you should go to 18,000 for your application. That should work really well for cooling, & sufficient for heat.

 

[Firebrick43]

For a heating application you want the top tier brands as their effectiveness and efficiency are much higher at lower temps. I would stick with Mitsubishi, Diakin, Fugitsu, maybe LG.

And look carefully at specs because even those brands have older less efficient models still for sale. Don't shop by price alone in this situation, you will end up paying much more in energy cost than purchase cost on any system so efficiently is paramount

 

[6togo]

Every brand i'm looking at has atleast a 20 SEER rating and most use the Gree internals which i read are decent for the China brands. I'm not dead set on anything just yet still searching if i can find a bigger well known name for a decent price i will go that way.

 

[fastjohnny]

I've been a happy mitsubishi user, but Gree has upped their game, at a lower cost, surpassing mitsu cold temp heat down to -20F, with SEER 30.5 ratings for a 9k unit.