ductless question

[edl]

hi all - does anyone own, have experience with or know about either of these two mini-split (or "ductless") units?

Celiera Model 66GW at http://www.ac-world.com/SplitAir.php ($1200)

or

Klimaire Model KSWC024-H2UL at http://www.acfactoryoutlet.com/home.asp?id=9 ($900)

these are both 2 ton (24,000btu) ac/heat pump units - they are two cheapest ones i have been able to find - don't want to pay more just for brand cache - but if someone has had bad experience and would steer me away, would appreciate it!!! - thanks, ed

 

[cw_racefan]

I just got a "Bon-Aire" from a place Bonaire Depot on ebay. It was in the same price range. Unfortunately I haven't gotten the HVAC guy over to hook things up so I'm not much help from how well it works!

hi all - does anyone own, have experience with or know about either of these two mini-split (or "ductless") units?

Celiera Model 66GW at http://www.ac-world.com/SplitAir.php ($1200)

or

Klimaire Model KSWC024-H2UL at http://www.acfactoryoutlet.com/home.asp?id=9 ($900)

these are both 2 ton (24,000btu) ac/heat pump units - they are two cheapest ones i have been able to find - don't want to pay more just for brand cache - but if someone has had bad experience and would steer me away, would appreciate it!!! - thanks, ed

 

[edl]

ok...bonaire added to the list - same question now as to all three - experiences? thoughts? - thanks!!

 

[oldgoat]

I just got a "Bon-Aire" from a place Bonaire Depot on ebay. It was in the same price range. Unfortunately I haven't gotten the HVAC guy over to hook things up so I'm not much help from how well it works!

I've thought about going that way, but how much trouble do you have getting a contractor to come out to hook it up and who will do the warranty work?

 

[cw_racefan]

I've thought about going that way, but how much trouble do you have getting a contractor to come out to hook it up and who will do the warranty work?

I'm lucky, my neighbor is friends with an HVAC guy who's doing the line install for me (I did the electrical). I'm sure he would do any work on it for me in the future too.

 

[Fast Orange]

I don't know if they're still available,but at my old job,we used to install Sanyo split units that came pre-charged-even the lines were ready to hook up.When you hooked up the lines,a plug in the end of the line connector was punctured and the unit was ready to run.Depending on the amount of electrical work needed,1 man could put one of these in and have it running in a few hours.You had to have a good idea of how you were going to place the units when you ordered them because you had to order the lineset in the right length.

George

 

[cw_racefan]

Just an update....My HVAC guy finished the install of my Bonair mini split yesterday afternoon, and so far so good. It is extremely quiet, and he said that it looked like it was a well built unit. Longevity obviously remains to be seen, but so far I'm very happy with it. YMMV....

 

[bahamasair]

I hope you have better luck than my best friend. He got 2 of the bonair and the valves started leaking on the compressors in less than 5 months. They sort of still work but the lines will ice and he has to shut them down to defrost. There is no gas lost just the compressors cant pump a high enough head pressure. Those prices are pretty high on that site too. I use the Pioneer and the Sanyo. Mitsubishi are sweet but $$$$. The last pioneers I got were under $400 for a 12000btu but the public cant buy directly from the co. I love the mini ductless but for my garage I went with a regular central air type setup but just have the blower hanging from the roof with a long plenum with a couple grills in it. It moves way more air than the mini ductless which is what I need for my garage and in the garage I dont care about the noise of the blower.

 

[edl]

many thanks B - so if i understand what you use, it is a regular central air compressor outside and then the thing that normally is in the attic or basement hangs on the ceiling of your garage? - thanks, ed

 

[bahamasair]

Yep thats all I did. Now I need to finish insulating my ceiling

 

[Vicegrip]

I have 2 Mitsubishi 18,000btu Heat pump units lined up. One for an addition and one for the 24X30 shop. $1500 each with line set. Not cheap but 17 SEER and the compressors and fans are variable speed control for sound and $ savings.

 

[edl]

well...having started this thread...let me share how it ended - not with a ductless unit - when adding in installation and particularly ac service to get it up and running, it just hurt to think about spending that amount of money (tight budget...others may not have this worry) - so I was at Sam's the other day and this season they are carrying a pretty robust "portable unit" - it is basically like a through the window unit (functionally), but tall and thin and on wheels - priced right at under $500 and it puts out 12000 btus of cooling and heating - and no installation - well a bit, actually - built a shelf up high with plywood and 2x4 braces (45 deg angles - screwed to studs) put the unit up there - there is an outlet on back of unit (sold under the brand name "Soleus") for water to which a 3/8" or so vinyl tube attaches and leads out to just past the door - the one bit of installation is the exhaut - put in a six inch dryer vent at top corner of garage door - 6 inch duct hose that came with unit clamps on to that - with the extandable nature of the hose, the door can open and close - it probably will not keep the 24x28 garage icy cold in south texas summers - but with insulation to be added to the door and this, it will sure help - thanks again, ed

 

[Dave Carney]

That 12,000 btu is not enough capacity to do anything in that much space.

 

[edl]

Dave - you are absolutely CORRECT - having installed yesterday, I ran it all day today - could not get on top of the space and just couldn't cool it - ok, so this gets returned to Sam's - now back to the drawing board - is there a less expensive way to get the BTU's than a mini ductless system? - traditional heat pump? - what does that even entail?? - thanks, ed

 

[cw_racefan]

I'm not sure that you could do a traditional heat pump for less than a mini-split. You're looking at ductwork, the air handler, the compressor, don't know that I've ever seen one that cheap, unless you can find a used one. You might check into some sort of through the wall unit (like in motels), or multiple window units.