Mini Split with Heat

[nighthaw2k]

I'm having issues trying to decide which one to buy. I'm in Ohio & my garage is 24x36. Are the Klimair units any good. I've been looking at the inverter style units but i just dont know what to go with. Anybody have one of these in the North & how do they do in the Winter. Thanks

 

[danski0224]

You have to look at the specs.

The specs will give the minimum operating temperature and btu's delivered.

You will have to do a load calculation in order to determine if the heat portion is sized properly.

Good Luck.

 

[nighthaw2k]

I've looked at the specs. I need a 24,000 btu unit. What i need to know is how well these work in colder climates. Are any of these brands any good. Grunaire,Pridiom,Kilmaire, or Ramsond.

 

[danski0224]

I've looked at the specs. I need a 24,000 btu unit. What i need to know is how well these work in colder climates. Are any of these brands any good. Grunaire,Pridiom,Kilmaire, or Ramsond.

Your list of brands tells me you are looking at cheap chit available to homeowners online.

If you looked at the specs, you would be able to answer your own question.

(1) How many btu's of HEAT do you need in your garage? Clue: your location tells me that you probaly need more heating btu's than cooling btu's. Did you do a load calculation?

(2) Is the piece of equipment capable of delivering that?

(3) How COLD does it get where you live?

(4) Will the piece of equipment deliver the required btu's at the design temperature in your area (see: #3)?

Do 1-4 above, and you will have your answer. Numbers 3 and 4 are particularly important when looking at heat pumps.

If you haven't heard of the brand, and if the brand is cheap chit, how well do you think it will work? Will The Internet come and fix it when it breaks?

 

[Jackfre]

i'm in the MS business and don't recognize any of those brands. the MS market is growing quickly and there are many off brands. Major brands are Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, Sanyo (now Panasonic), Daikin and LG. Your 24 should be more than enough. Your heat will fall off at extreme temps, but above 30f you can push the COP's of water source hps.

At 5f a Fujitsu 24 will use 3.44kw (3414btu/kw) and generate 24.1kbtu. At 32f, 3.4 and 32.2, at 47f 3.4 and 36.2. You can go to www.miniheat.com and run some numbers. Pay particular attention to the temp/hrs table. 90% of the year you are absolutely in the wheelhouse for efficient output on the ms

Having watched the ms market for a lot of years I would recommend sticking with one of the majors. You may need a part someday.

 

[nighthaw2k]

What's everyones opinion on this LG model.
LG: LS240HSV
LG 24,000 BTU Single-Zone Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner with Heat Pump Inverter - High Efficiency

 

[Jackfre]

LG makes ok equipment. Given that your primary concern is heating, have your preferred vendor send you the heating capacity charts to ensure that you have the necessary capacities at the lower temps.

I can tell you that from a heating performance standpoint Fujitsu and Mitsu are 1 & 2.

 

[nighthaw2k]

There prices are #1 & 2 also. Unfortunately i dont have unlimited funds.

 

[Jackfre]

Again, that is why you need the heating output charts. If the operating costs are significantly different, then you can justufy the expenditure of the higher priced product.

 

[Rosco]

There prices are #1 & 2 also. Unfortunately i dont have unlimited funds.

I was in the same boat. Ended up saving some extra cash by putting off a couple of projects and purchased the Mistubishi. I am very impressed. Chose the Mitsubishi over Fujitsu due to the availability of techs/service/parts in my area (Georgia). The inverter technology is awsome. I am on the top side of the recommended size for my room due to the heat in the summer here. The inverter allows the compressor to run at slower speeds when the temp is close to the thermostat setting. If my room is within 4 degrees of tstat, you can hardly hear the compressor running standing next to it. The heat function is awesome also.

One thing I found out. Mini splits are not as forgiving as a household unit. Unless you know what you are doing, have a certified HVAC tech do the install/service. And make sure they are familiar with mini-splits. I paid to have mine installed (hate doing that) for the peice of mind and most importantly the warrantee.

 

[danski0224]

What's everyones opinion on this LG model.
LG: LS240HSV
LG 24,000 BTU Single-Zone Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner with Heat Pump Inverter - High Efficiency

LG makes ok equipment. Given that your primary concern is heating, have your preferred vendor send you the heating capacity charts to ensure that you have the necessary capacities at the lower temps.

I can tell you that from a heating performance standpoint Fujitsu and Mitsu are 1 & 2.

Again, that is why you need the heating output charts. If the operating costs are significantly different, then you can justufy the expenditure of the higher priced product.

Until you do a load calculation of the space you intend to heat or cool, you do not know what you need.

If you don't live in the southern, southeastern or western USA, you had better find out the minimum rated temperature of operation in heating mode.

If the air source heat pump is only rated to 14*F, and if it gets colder than that where you live, you will not have air source heat pump heat without some type of "emergency heat" (backup heat for heat pump users).

Traditional air source heat pumps generally lose a lot of capacity as the outdoor temperature drops. There are a couple of very specialized exceptions to this.

An inverter based heat pump may well be able to deliver it's full capacity throughout the operating range... but it probably has a minimum outdoor temperature. You need to find that out... or confirm that it will operate at your design temperature (-1*F, for example).

I could not find the answer to your problem in a few minute search of LG's online engineering specs.

That means either you need to email them (LG), or have whoever you are buying this from do the research for you.

Or, pick another product/vendor that has the information readily available.

All of this is assuming that you need 24k btu of heat in your garage, and unless you do a load calc, you are guessing. Online "square foot" sales tools are just that- guesses to make you feel good that you "did it yourself" and "saved money"... then pop out the credit card.

Note that many AC products bought online do not have a manufacturers warranty. How do they know? You'll find out if you need service

 

[Jackfre]

All of this is assuming that you need 24k btu of heat in your garage, and unless you do a load calc, you are guessing. Online "square foot" sales tools are just that- guesses to make you feel good that you "did it yourself" and "saved money"... then pop out the credit card.

Note that many AC products bought online do not have a manufacturers warranty. How do they know? You'll find out if you need service [/QUOTE]

Fujitsu's on-line calculator is corrected for the 18% losses that a normal Manual J includes for duct losses on central ducted systems, as there is no duct loss.

There is no question that we have been guesstimating your load.

Also correct is the statement that some manufacturers (Fujitsu for one) does not offer warranty support for on-line sales.

 

[danski0224]

Fujitsu's on-line calculator is corrected for the 18% losses that a normal Manual J includes for duct losses on central ducted systems, as there is no duct loss.

There is no question that we have been guesstimating your load.

Also correct is the statement that some manufacturers (Fujitsu for one) does not offer warranty support for on-line sales.

Is the Fujitsu calculator available to Joe Schmoe, or is it a dealer only tool?

Interesting on the 18% losses thing.

I was referring to the "calculators" or tables offered by many of the websites selling mini-splits or traditional HVAC split system stuff (at full retail) to people looking to "save money" and buy it themselves.

The load is as stated by the OP in post 1... did not specify cooling or heating, though.

 

[nighthaw2k]

Thanks for the info. I did call several vendors & they all said 24,000 btu. Since no one can guarantee anything on what kind of heat i will get out of this i've decided to go with a Mr Heater 75,000 Natural gas heater.