Good/Bad experience with Mr. Cool mini splits

[Jinks]

I have a 12000 btu Mitsubishi that has bit the dust after 10 years. The people that installed it lied to me at the installation, & again when I asked them to repair it, so we're done. I'm looking to replace it & I know someone that will install it for me. Both Mitsubishi & Mr. Cool units are way less expensive to buy than what these characters are asking, so I'm thinking of just buying a new one & having it installed. I know Mitsubishi is quality equipment, but I've also heard some good about Mr. Cool for even less money. Please let me know what you think of your Mr. Cool.

 

[Idle Serge]

You'll hear a lot of mixed reviews regarding customer service - some will state that it is a task to get in touch with them while others get delayed responses or simply haven't had issues.

I recently installed their 115V system in my garage - still have to wire it up into a disconnect and to the panel but otherwise, it's an absolute plus when you don't have to pay an HVAC guy to work the lines. Granted, by DIY it essentially voids the warranty, as Mr. Cool requires a certified tech to honor the warranty.

20230714_120946 by Sergio Zapien, on Flickr

20230905_170956 by Sergio Zapien, on Flickr

20230905_171026 by Sergio Zapien, on Flickr

Before they became Mr. Cool, they were Friedrich and I have one of those systems for my house and it's been great for the last 10 years. So in short, it's been great for me thus far.

 

[dcg9381]

You'll hear a lot of mixed reviews regarding customer service - some will state that it is a task to get in touch with them while others get delayed responses or simply haven't had issues.

Some consumer support will be better than zero consumer support. Install a Daikin (or likely many other brands) and you'll be asked to work with a dealer.

Lots of people use these just fine. Comparing the two units, I'd make sure you comparing their heating capacity (if that's a concern).

Before they became Mr. Cool, they were Friedrich and I have one of those systems for my house and it's been great for the last 10 years. So in short, it's been great for me thus far.

Are you sure that they are the same company?

Fridrich is a domestic HVAC company headquartered here in my state. I knew a few people that worked there. When they jumped on the mini-split bandwagon, they were simply importing from China and branding the units. If they actually own "Mr. Cool" - that probably saved their business.

 

[Idle Serge]

Some consumer support will be better than zero consumer support. Install a Daikin (or likely many other brands) and you'll be asked to work with a dealer.

Lots of people use these just fine. Comparing the two units, I'd make sure you comparing their heating capacity (if that's a concern).


Are you sure that they are the same company?

Fridrich is a domestic HVAC company headquartered here in my state. I knew a few people that worked there. When they jumped on the mini-split bandwagon, they were simply importing from China and branding the units. If they actually own "Mr. Cool" - that probably saved their business.

I think you're right to question my initial statement - it seems the Friedrich simply pulled out of the "DIY" products around the time I bought my 1st unit and the supplier at the time simply stated they were replaced with Texas based Mr. Cool products later on down the road.

Friedrich Pulls Back on DIY Minisplit Launch - GreenBuildingAdvisor

Just as the air-conditioning season arrives, Friedrich says it is limiting sales of an air-source heat pump designed for installation by do-it-yourselfers to only two states while it studies a broader launch later. The announcement comes just a month after the company launched the Breeze, and...

www.greenbuildingadvisor.com

Doesn't seem to have any affiliation with one another after all.

 

[Eplebnista]

I installed a 24k Mr. Cool in my garage in September 2021. It went belly up in mid-July of this year. Contacted Mr. Cool via email through their support page. After three weeks of back and forth diagnosing the issue, they determined the compressor was bad. They shipped me a new outside unit after I paid 300+ for shipping from Tenn. Got the replacement unit one month after the original failed. Swapped the original unit and lineset with the replacement on a Sunday. I am not pleased that I had to pay for shipping the original unit or with the weeks of back and forth diagnose by email. Still, they did honor the warranty and did not utter a peep about my installing the original unit myself. Fingers crossed that my replacement unit holds up. In sum, I would not rely on Mr. Cool for a residence because at best it will take a while to get your warranty claim sorted out. If my replacement unit goes belly up I am going to dig deep and get a Daikin, Mitsubishi, LG or something that my local HVAC guys can service.

 

[racecougar]

If you don't need the evacuated line set (if you're capable of pulling a vacuum), save yourself some money and buy a Gree rather than Mr. Cool (which is a re-badged Gree, per the internet).

 

[Jackfre]

I began representing Fujitsu in ‘97 for the six New England States. At that time they sold units to Friedrich which they marketed under their own brand. That drove me nuts because they promoted it as “Fujitsu” made. We were in the early market building years as Fujitsu had only been in the States since ‘94 and it was before the 410a inverters. Fujitsu tried to calm us down by telling us they always sold Friedrich the previous generation products. As I recall they terminated that relationship at about the time the inverters came out, and Friedrich went elsewhere for minis. They are a big brand name but not a manuf of mini-splits.

 

[My Old Tools]

I put in a 36k MrCool DIY unit in my shop several years ago. It works fine and I have had zero issues. MrCool does not require a certified HVAC tech to perform startup inspite of what was said above, for the DIY products. Ingram's seems to respond to warranty claims fairly well. As they are DIY products, you will get parts, but labor is on you. My unit was $2200 if I remember correctly. Installation took me a day. I do my own electrical work. Hardest part was standing on a step ladder to hang the indoor head.

 

[Jinks]

Mr. Cool requires a certified tech to honor the warranty.
20230714_120946 by Sergio Zapien, on Flickr

20230905_170956 by Sergio Zapien, on Flickr

20230905_171026 by Sergio Zapien, on Flickr

Before they became Mr. Cool, they were Friedrich and I have one of those systems for my house and it's been great for the last 10 years. So in short, it's been great for me thus far.

Ok, thanks to everyone that replied. Problem solved, I ordered a Bosh from Lowe's today, it'll be in next week. I have a friend that owns his own A/C repair service & he'll install it for me in his spare time. Same cooling as the Mitsubishi it's replacing, but this one also has heat. Might be handy if I work in the shop either of the cold days here in central Florida......

 

[stillnostrebor]

For the benefit of future readers...

I replaced my dead Mr Cool with a Senville after much delay and non-support. Basically, if you aren't going to get warranty from Mr Cool, might as well save the cash and diy another brand.

The Senville is working just fine.

 

[spartansix]

I Installed a 3 ton multi-head DIY unit in an 1.5 story garage (24k downstairs, 12k upstairs) in early 2021. It took me an afternoon to install, and I only needed help moving the outdoor unit since its ~200lbs. It's performed well through three summers and two winters in the Northeast, though I did add a separate dehumidifier for the worst days of summer or when it's raining and the cars bring in a whole bunch of water. The app is actually pretty good, and I mostly control the units from my phone.

Would I use it as my main heat/cooling source in my house? Probably not, it struggles a bit when it's below 20 degrees out and I don't have a ton of confidence in the warranty. However, for a garage, it's perfect, especially since it was 1/3 the price of the quotes I was given to install an equivalent Mitsubishi or Trane unit. It's also been pretty efficient, especially in air conditioning mode. I notice an increase in my electric bill during the winter, but it seems like there's very little additional cost to keep my garage at 72 in the summer, even when it's consistently 80+ outside.

 

[WildBill]

I installed a 24k DIY Mr.Cool in my garage a couple years ago. I am really happy with its performance and it was really easy to install. I think the most problematic areas in all mini-split setups are usually the control boards and refrigerant connections so I installed a surge suppressor at the disconnect, used Nylog on the connections, and torqued them properly to try and make it last. It was so much cheaper ($1,200) than having a company install a different brand that I could replace it 3-4 times and still be better off. It is also really inexpensive to run, my last bill was only $25 with mixed heating and cooling days since our weather was anywhere from the high 30s to low 80s. That's in a metal 24x36 shop with no real insulation, only a radiant barrier. I am on some forums and it seems their warranty service has gotten better the last year or so, more people saying it was ok than in the past. I think buying it from the right place might be part of it, if you get it from a good shop they can help work with Mr.Cool if something comes up.

 

[Mike65]

For the benefit of future readers...

I replaced my dead Mr Cool with a Senville after much delay and non-support. Basically, if you aren't going to get warranty from Mr Cool, might as well save the cash and diy another brand.

The Senville is working just fine.

Did you install the unit yourself? The reason I ask is on Senville's web site it states professional installation required.

 

[Notgrownup]

I was Going to use a MrCool but opted for a Blueridge from Alpine Home air based on some great reviews on here . I wanted the lineset cut to the correct length. I installed every myself and let a pro pull vacuum, cut, flare and conn the lineset for me. 18k btu 18 SEER i believe for my 24x24. Very satisfied

 

[stillnostrebor]

Did you install the unit yourself? The reason I ask is on Senville's web site it states professional installation required.

I did. If Mr Cool is not going to honor their warranty, what difference does it make? I bought the Senville after that experience, bought the tools, installed it, and was still ahead some money. I can buy two more before I get close to pro install money. There's my warranty.