Mini-split vs. Window/Wall unit

[fwillison]

Got an estimate for an installed Mitsubishi mini-split for my shop build.

$8500 for a 3 ton unit for the shop/garage area and a 1 ton unit for the finished office space.

I figure I can get 2 large window units in the shop and a smallish one in the office for a about $1500 or so and "install" myself free.

Is the mini-split worth over 5 times as much?
Functionality seems about the same, only real advantage I see is to avoid the trailer park look of the window units.

Thoughts
Fred
Tulsa

 

[Chris05gto]

Do what I did, buy your mini split and install it yourself.....I just had to pay my local AC shop for hooking up my line set. I saved around 4,000 dollars.

 

[brewchief]

A couple of weeks ago I removed a 18k btu window unit and installed a 18k mini split in it's place, the mini was able to bring the temp down much quicker then the old window unit ever did, it was also much quieter.

The mini splits will cost more up front but will have a lower operating cost in almost every case, the amount of hours used will determine the payback time.

 

[BBundy]

Mini split's are generally much longer lasting than a window unit when installed correctly and maintained. I've seen some very ignored mini-splits in some nasty environments and they keep on working.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Hotel/motel PTAC units are another option that you did not mention. They would fall price wise between the other two options. They look OK from the outside in most installations.

 

[fwillison]

Milton,
That's a great idea, I didn't think of that. How are PTAC units installed/vented? Are they easy to install yourself?
Fred

 

[JakeKohl]

I would get a couple more quotes. That's pretty high. A 3 ton unit is also very large unless your shop is about 2,000 sqft and/or poorly insulated?

Heck, I had my standard split house system replaced (4 ton) for $4,500 a couple of years ago.

 

[wmartin]

This probably sounds weird, but I wonder if you couldn't construct a shop wall around the concept of using window units so that they weren't ugly. Some sort of casing that allows good airflow maybe.

I'm really attracted to using window units because a)they're cheap (partly economy of scale I imagine) and b)you can throw them out and get a new one. Triple bonus points for not having to deal with HVAC guys.

I always thought it would be interesting to build a small, well insulated, house that had a hidden window unit or two for the same reasons. Every time I've live somewhere with central air, I've been surprised by how unreliable it turned out to be.

 

[Falcon67]

I put my window units in the wall to save window space. On a small scale, you're not really saving that much $ using window units. An 12K 10.5 SEER unit runs around $600. A mini with 13+ SEER runs maybe $1000 and it's a heat pump too. I have a 6500 window unit in a 12x24 space and without my nice 48" tall linear fan in front of it that window unit ain't worth piss.

 

[steve308]

I just had a LG 12500btu inverter "hooked up". I ordered from AC Wholesaler - indoor and outdoor unit / wall mount / line set and a number of other small items. $1150.00 shipped. Mounted the outdoor unit - mounted the indoor plate and drilled the 3" hole - ran the wire to the fuse box for 15A 220 breaker. Certified AC tech cut and fit the line set - mounted the inside box - connected the breaker etc. $400.00 SO about $1500.00 for a mini-split single unit with a significant amount of self labor.

 

[Chucktown]

I just had a 12K BTU Fujitsu 22 SEER installed for $3K. That's about $1250 worth of installation. Your quote seems extremely high.

 

[motormitch]

I have three Mr. Slim Mitsubitsi unit and I love them. My first one I installed myself except the electric. The only hard part was punching the 3 inch hole through the garage to the outside and that's because I cheap-ed out and didn't rent the right tool. I drill through a rock wall with a hand drill (destroyed it) and 4 hole bits. Took about 1 hour. If I had rented the hammer drill and rock bit from Home Depot would have taken 3 minutes and saved my drill.

To give a cost comparison. I paid 2K for the 2 ton seer 18 unit and $200 for electrical hook up. (had to install a new breaker and run a new line) I was quoted $4500 for the same job from a couple of different AC companies. Basically cut the price in half.

 

[fwillison]

I just had a 12K BTU Fujitsu 22 SEER installed for $3K. That's about $1250 worth of installation. Your quote seems extremely high.

Not really, my $8500 quote was for a 3 ton and a 1 ton. The 1 ton was $3500, the 3 ton $5500.
Your 12,000 BTU Fuji is a 1 ton unit. The Mitsubishi is a little more expensive generally, so it looks like my quote is in line with yours.

Fred

 

[fwillison]

I have three Mr. Slim Mitsubitsi unit and I love them. My first one I installed myself except the electric. The only hard part was punching the 3 inch hole through the garage to the outside and that's because I cheap-ed out and didn't rent the right tool. I drill through a rock wall with a hand drill (destroyed it) and 4 hole bits. Took about 1 hour. If I had rented the hammer drill and rock bit from Home Depot would have taken 3 minutes and saved my drill.

To give a cost comparison. I paid 2K for the 2 ton seer 18 unit and $200 for electrical hook up. (had to install a new breaker and run a new line) I was quoted $4500 for the same job from a couple of different AC companies. Basically cut the price in half.

This sounds like the way to go for a mini-split. I've seen a lot of people post about these "Mr. Slim" units, I'll have to research them.
Still a 2 ton/24,000 BTU window unit can be had for around $600-$700 I suspect, vs. $2200 for self installed Mr. Slim.

Fred

 

[Milton Shaw]

PTAC units use a outer case that is normally interchangeable between brands. The case is installed in a wall opening and secured/insulated to the wall and then the PTAC unit slides into the case and an inside cover trims the unit out. Most motels use them and they are available in a lot of different BTU capacities but all fit the same wall case unit. Some motels are using cases 25-30 years old with new units being the only part needed to update the unit. Heat pump and resistance heat are also options on these units. Most units now have freeze protection built in that operates automatically turning on the heat, when unit temp is below 40 to keep the plumbing in motel rooms from freezing.

 

[Falcon67]

FWIW- the drag strip here uses Carrier PTAC units in the tower on each floor. You could not give me one of them and I'd call the cops if you left one in my front yard. The one in the office on the first floor has been disabled and replaced by a 24K Samsung mini split unit. THAT actually cools the room.

 

[Chucktown]

Not really, my $8500 quote was for a 3 ton and a 1 ton. The 1 ton was $3500, the 3 ton $5500.
Your 12,000 BTU Fuji is a 1 ton unit. The Mitsubishi is a little more expensive generally, so it looks like my quote is in line with yours.

Fred

Ok. I missed the 1 ton unit for the office space... FWIW, I did have him price a mitsubishi 18 SEER 12K BTU and it was $3200 installed.