MrCool minisplit install question

[sgiss]

The install manual with this ac gives no advice/cautions about bending the cooper linesets. In comparison, the Fredrich DIY (discontinued) loudly cautions against kinks and provides a simple jig for making 90% turns. Any advice on installing the lineset? The only short sharp bends will be coming out of the unit going into the wall and again coming out of the wall and running down the outside wall. Then there will be extra to coil behind the outside unit- how small of a radius will I be able to make?

 

[Brian_WK]

Buy a tubing bender for the big size pipe, Tube cutter and flare tool. Make your bends with the bender line it up with the outdoor unit access ports cut off the extra and re-flare. Done.

Brian

 

[tab2]

Mr. Cool has the pre-charged line-set no? If so, don't cut them! You will send the r410a into the atmosphere, a big no-no.

They are what 1/4 & 3/8 or 1/2 & 5/8 line sets? Just bend them carefully. I am finishing up my Mitsubishi install tomorrow and has messed around with the copper a little. It isn't easy to kink them, but it is doable.

 

[sgiss]

Guess I wasn't clear - MrCool is DIY with precharged lineset, and preset length, for those of us not capable of vacuuming and charging. Not ideal, but so much less costly than prof install. I know not to cut.... I guess the answer is - careful and hopeful!

 

[cory58]

I will be installing a MrCool DIY later this summer in a new garage. Any helpful hints from your install would be greatly appreciated.

Cory

 

[PoorOwner]

Think of it as an awkward Romex wire that is 3" diameter. It feels about that way. The bend of the friedrich should be more than 3-4" radius. I find this is hard to conform to when coming out of the wall and turning downwards, but the lineset cover I used was just barely closed on the bent line.

 

[sgiss]

I will be installing a MrCool DIY later this summer in a new garage. Any helpful hints from your install would be greatly appreciated.

Cory

Cory, I expect to install 1st - 2nd week in August- will be glad to share feedback if that timeframe is helpful.

 

[sgiss]

Think of it as an awkward Romex wire that is 3" diameter. It feels about that way. The bend of the friedrich should be more than 3-4" radius. I find this is hard to conform to when coming out of the wall and turning downwards, but the lineset cover I used was just barely closed on the bent line.

Mr PoorOwner - thanks, that is what I needed to know.

 

[mike93lx]

Don't know about mr cool, but my friedrich was a pain in the *** to route carefully. I had two guys help. One held the interior unit, one fed the line through the hole in the bottom plate (we removed the drywall to hide the line) and i was in the basement routing it to the exterior unit. Don't try to do this alone.

 

[tab2]

You guys aren't building my confidence up for tomorrow! I have a 90 out and down the exterior wall, and then a 90 at the bottom (for each indoor unit) to a single condenser between where they exit the wall. My plan like Mike said it just to go slow and be careful.

 

[Richard Cranium]

A tubing bender sounds like the ticket for you

 

[chinboys]

slow and steady to make the minimum radius bends possible.
if the line set is charged, the inside pressure will help prevent KINKS somewhat.
also the insulation, pipe wrap and the sizes of the line set do help you not kink the line set.
as the lines set is fixed length, you will have to plan for the excessive remains of the lines either at one end, the other end or along the way.

slow and steady, watch out for the smaller liquid line set when making any directional changes.

my 2 red pennies worth.

 

[cory58]

Cory, I expect to install 1st - 2nd week in August- will be glad to share feedback if that timeframe is helpful.

Thank you! That will definitely work. I'm still waiting on the f-ing SOB metal building company to deliver and erect the building that had an original delivery date of the first week of May. Then I get to deal with the local power company for the new electrical service. Needless to say, no chance of me needing feedback before mid-August.

 

[Brian_WK]

Eww precharged lines. I didn't realize they still used those on things. I thought Trane burned that bridge.

In that case I have no idea every mini split i have put in was standard soft copper with insulation.

Good Luck

Brian

 

[Jackfre]

I have a Mastercool bender set that has assorted sizes of dies. They can be placed on the tubing and it is a sort of ratchet set up. They work well. for bare copper I put a spring bender on the line and just keep moving it up the line as I go. That has worked for me...so far.

 

[mike93lx]

I have a Mastercool bender set that has assorted sizes of dies. They can be placed on the tubing and it is a sort of ratchet set up. They work well. for bare copper I put a spring bender on the line and just keep moving it up the line as I go. That has worked for me...so far.

Precharged mini split lines are a different animal all together since you are bending multiple lines at once. Nothing more than a piece of pvc or a carboard curve is needed

 

[ardpub]

The install manual with this ac gives no advice/cautions about bending the cooper linesets. In comparison, the Fredrich DIY (discontinued) loudly cautions against kinks and provides a simple jig for making 90% turns. Any advice on installing the lineset? The only short sharp bends will be coming out of the unit going into the wall and again coming out of the wall and running down the outside wall. Then there will be extra to coil behind the outside unit- how small of a radius will I be able to make?

How did you do with this? I'm debating between a few locations for my MRCOOL condenser and some 90 degree turns would be involved with one. The only reason would be to get it further because of the noise but I understand these units are pretty quiet?

 

[GRivera]

I installed a 36K Mr. Cool DIY which has a larger diameter line set making it more difficult to maneuver. It is imperative you have a helper to pull the line through as you push it through the orifice. This was the hardest part. Otherwise the line set was quite pliable and as long as you're careful to avoid sharp bends it won't kink.

 

[GRivera]

One more pic:

 

[jjrbus]

I did my own mini install, not a Mr Cool. I often read the forums for any trouble shooting that comes up. This is encouraging as there are not many issues with minis!

I have been doing this for about 3 years and I do not recall anyone reporting that they kinked the lines on a Mr Cool! So should not be an issue or you can be the first!

I do not like the extra lineset coiled up by the outside unit and would use a serpentine method behind unit if needed.

 

[ardpub]

Thanks for the replies--good to know its not too fragile.

Rather than dealing with the extra line set, i decided to go another route, running all the lines except drain line through an interior wall, around the inside of my garage, and out opposite garage exterior wall. Will be far easier to seal the wall, use up all 25' of copper line set, and keep it in a little cooler environment. Condenser will be in a better spot, a little close to a picket fence (~60" while MRCOOL recommends 79") but I thinking there will still be adequate airflow given the location. This route will take 4 or 5 turns but if needed, I'll skip the line set cover in order to do more gradual turns.

Let me know if anyone sees any issues but otherwise, plan to install this weekend. Wish me luck!

 

[GRivera]

The only potential issue I see is if you ever have to remove the unit/line for service it’ll be much harder behind a wall. Much like a conventional unit. Otherwise a sound plan.