Mini Split Effectiveness - A/C and Heat Options

[Kaizen]

I have a Mr Cool 18k BTU minisplit and it cools my 24x24 shop during 95 plus humid days in north Alabama like an champ. Quiet, cold and efficient. If it heats half as good as it cools I'll be happy. This will be my first winter using it so we'll see... nothing like MN though.

i have a mr cool diy 12k unit upstairs in the house. 600sq ft. Had issues with house heat so kicked that on this am. 45 degrees and worked fine. below 40 and the thing runs like a freight train to keep up but at freezing its worthless.

OP i'd spend extra for a mitsubishi with the low temp heat. As said a lot of the world is using these 100 percent for heat. You just have to justify the cost/equipment needed. I'd make sure you have a propane blower heater as well.

 

[Kaoskido]

I am hoping by this time next week - everything will be installed --

 

[Kaoskido]

All electrical work has been completed - takes about 1.5 hours to bring the garage up 20 degrees with the Cadet The Hot One 5000w electric heater.

Hyper Heat unit is being installed in the garage as I type and tomorrow they will work on the main house heat pump I am buying from them as well.

 

[Kaizen]

Nice. Do the garage before house [emoji23]
Interested in your final numbers.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Kaoskido]

Right now I am at $2k for my electrican and $13.6k for the garage and house. I think I may get about $800 in rebates. However, given my air handler is in the attic I am going to have to go back and blow in more insulation after they are finished in the attic -- that will probably eat up the rebate.

 

[dsimatt]

All electrical work has been completed - takes about 1.5 hours to bring the garage up 20 degrees with the Cadet The Hot One 5000w electric heater.

Hyper Heat unit is being installed in the garage as I type and tomorrow they will work on the main house heat pump I am buying from them as well.

Question, why did you install a heater in the garage when you're also installing a hyper heat in there?

 

[Kaoskido]

I had initally thought I was just going to use the heater and then do a standard A/C mini split - so I had bought the cadet before the company that did the install today got a hold of me. The first HVAC was of no real help and at that point that is why I kept the Cadet heater. It's over kill.

 

[dsimatt]

I had initally thought I was just going to use the heater and then do a standard A/C mini split - so I had bought the cadet before the company that did the install today got a hold of me. The first HVAC was of no real help and at that point that is why I kept the Cadet heater. It's over kill.

Ok that makes a lot more sense, honestly I'd just run the mini split and if you feel it meets your needs then CL the cadet heater in spring to recoup some cost.

Really excited to hear you've actually got stuff finally working out for you.

 

[Kaoskido]

@dsimatt - Thanks - I'll probably just keep it but you never know. In my area temps are back up today - yesterday was 1 degree and today its 30 degrees. Guys will be back to finish the house heat pump. Will be interesting to see how that works since my house is a strange set up for Minnesota with the air handler in the attic.

One of the last items on my list is to get a some sort of generator backup- I got bids from the electrician for a portable to the whole house units. 50amp portable (Generac GP15000E) installed is about $5k and the whole house 22kW is $10k and that does not include running the natural gas line.

 

[dcg9381]

One of the last items on my list is to get a some sort of generator backup- I got bids from the electrician for a portable to the whole house units. 50amp portable (Generac GP15000E) installed is about $5k and the whole house 22kW is $10k and that does not include running the natural gas line.

I'm working on this (new construction too). A 10kw portable seems to be about $1k, give or take. A generator interlock, 50A inlet - maybe $200 + install. Unless you're doing something strange, $3500+ seems out of line.


22kw - likely autotransfer, $6-7k for the genset, I think a $10k bid is probably more normal..

 

[Bigdaddy1951]

I'm an hvac tech in New York have a friend in Forney Texas looking to heat and cool a 40x30 insulated steel building need ideas on what to use?

 

[dcg9381]

I'm an hvac tech in New York have a friend in Forney Texas looking to heat and cool a 40x30 insulated steel building need ideas on what to use?

I'd start a new thread. Specify building height, insulation, etc.
As a tech, you know that the standard answer is "manual J" calculation - but many of us are happy to help with experiences in that state based on what we've installed.