Need to pick a mini split quickly

[jeopardy98]

So I got some extra cash to use towards my house and I'm looking to have a mini split installed. I need to make a decision very quickly. I had all but decided on the Klimaire 24,000 BTU for my 900 sq ft garage space. 9.5 ft ceilings insulated, all walls insulated and sheetrocked. I'm looking for one that will cover my heating and cooling needs. I'm looking to spend about $2000 total so prob no more than $1500 for the unit and linesets and wall mount.

Any recommendations? Links to places where I can send my AC guy to in order to purchase it?

 

[Notgrownup]

http://www.alpinehomeair.com/viewcategory.cfm?CategoryID=97
I just ordered a 9000 BTU Amana PTAC unit... delivere din 4 days. $724.00 12 eer... 24000 BTU for 900 Sq ft ??? isn't that a bit overkill?

 

[jeopardy98]

http://www.alpinehomeair.com/viewcategory.cfm?CategoryID=97
I just ordered a 9000 BTU Amana PTAC unit... delivere din 4 days. $724.00 12 eer... 24000 BTU for 900 Sq ft ??? isn't that a bit overkill?

I don't think so. With my concrete floor and heating and cooling needs I estimate 18,000 (1.5 ton) for cooling and 24,000 BTUs for heating. I've always been told to size for the heating and not the cooling.

Am I way off?

 

[Falcon67]

I have 960 sq/ft and would need a two zone, but I'd use a total of 24K easy.

 

[jeopardy98]

I would rather a 2 zone but I can't swing that right now.

 

[Notgrownup]

I don't think so. With my concrete floor and heating and cooling needs I estimate 18,000 (1.5 ton) for cooling and 24,000 BTUs for heating. I've always been told to size for the heating and not the cooling.

Am I way off?

I don't know, it was actually a question... I could've worded it differently I guess...
I have no room to talk about over kill I just put a 9000 BTU unit in a 288 square Ft sunroom... I will have icicles on my nutZ...

 

[jeopardy98]

It's all good. I'm actually curious now too.

 

[Warrenator]

I put a Pioneer 24k unit in my living room. Cools whole house with fans if I leave the doors open. Nice unit, no regrets. Very quiet.

 

[Slowgsr]

I bought a very gently used 2 ton mr slim for my 900sq ft garage (14'6" ceilings)
Hvac installed did the lines & startup for $300. I did the other install & electrical.

Mitsubishi units seem to have a good reputation so I didn't mind buying a 1 season old unit

 

[jeopardy98]

I'm looking at a 22000 LG for heating/cooling right now.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Mitsubishi and Fujitsu are the #1 and #2 sellers in the US.

 

[streetdaddy]

Check out the diy mr cool mini split.

 

[jeopardy98]

Check out the diy mr cool mini split.

Thanks! I'm intrigued.

Anyone have any experience with this product or company? I know what everyone says about cheap businesses that will be out of business but this company is family owned, BBB accredited, and offers a 5/7 year warranty. The kit also is truly DIY requiring no licensed HVAC in order to maintain warranty. It is also a pretty powerful unit with medium efficiency for a good price. Anyone care to comment on what I'm missing?

http://ingramswaterandair.com/mrcool-seer-ductless-minisplit-heat-pump-p-22721.html

 

[buzz4041]

I just put a unit in my 1150sqft shop. I documented the install in another thread. ( New mini split ordered )

 

[jeopardy98]

Thank you! I'll check that out. Now I'm to the point where I need to figure out the best way to go about installing because the sheet rock is already up but the siding is not so I could remove a piece of OSB from the exterior and run it that way.

 

[slodat]

I have two Pioneer 24k single head systems from highseer.com. Very happy with them. They are around $1100 shipped on eBay including line set.

 

[Fueler]

So I got some extra cash to use towards my house and I'm looking to have a mini split installed. I need to make a decision very quickly. I had all but decided on the Klimaire 24,000 BTU for my 900 sq ft garage space. 9.5 ft ceilings insulated, all walls insulated and sheetrocked. I'm looking for one that will cover my heating and cooling needs. I'm looking to spend about $2000 total so prob no more than $1500 for the unit and linesets and wall mount.

Any recommendations? Links to places where I can send my AC guy to in order to purchase it?

Klimaire has their own outlet so to speak. In the same building complex anyway.
http://www.heatandcool.com/

Earlier this year I installed a Klimaire 32K in a 1600 sq ft pole barn 12 ft walls, open ceiling, just ok insulation (working on that). All I can say is it kicks **** on the AC side. I kept it at 68 through our highest heat spells and it was chilling almost. Once everything was saturated it usually ran at idle up to first gear most of the day. During peak times it might get to 4th gear for a 30 minutes to maintain that super cool.

I suspect any company you choose will work also. Probably most of them come out of the the same Chinese factory anyway.

Don't know much about the heat side of it yet.
It's not my primary source of heat but I will let it do it's thing to see how far and affordable it might be over my propane/radiant tubes. I do like the tubes. Perhaps a combination of the two will show a reduction in winter heating costs.

 

[jeopardy98]

I settled on the MrCool 24K DIY unit.

 

[jeopardy98]

So I finally finished installing this unit. The install was pretty straightforward. I wanted to hide my lineset in the wall so that was a chore since this comes with a 16' precharged lineset. The rest went pretty smoothly. I've only done initial testing but I'm extremely pleased so far.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Hiding the lineset in the wall IS difficult but it looks great !

 

[jeopardy98]

Hiding the lineset in the wall IS difficult but it looks great !

Thanks! It felt great to fire it up and have it work.

 

[larry4406]

Nice installation. Is this the unit and company you purchased it from?
http://ingramswaterandair.com/mrcool-diy24-seer-ductless-minisplit-heat-pump-p-22615.html

 

[walrus]

Did you snake the line set up thru an empty stud bay? By code you need a disconnect outside by outdoor unit

 

[jeopardy98]

Did you snake the line set up thru an empty stud bay? By code you need a disconnect outside by outdoor unit

There will be a disconnect outside. I just wired it temporarily. The lineset is snaked through 2 stud bays. I had to drill 2 holes in the stud to cross over because I couldn't fit 15' in a 16" space. 32" was difficult enough.

Nice installation. Is this the unit and company you purchased it from?
http://ingramswaterandair.com/mrcool-diy24-seer-ductless-minisplit-heat-pump-p-22615.html

Yes, that's it. Iwill caution you that if you need a true 2 tons this might not work. It's only a 21000 btu unit according to the specs that come with the unit.

 

[miketyler]

I would have liked to have done that with mine but it spanned two floors and was just more work than I wanted to get involved with. May consider it when I put the 2 ton in for the lower floor.
Condenser looks to be very close to the wall, was there a minimum distance spec?

 

[larry4406]

...I will caution you that if you need a true 2 tons this might not work. It's only a 21000 btu unit according to the specs that come with the unit.

Not sure on the size I need. My attached garage is about 625 square feet. 8' tall 2x6 walls insulated with 21, insulated garage door (specs not known), ceiling insulated maybe to R19.

I'm in Fauquier County so similar climate to you.

I would need a line set about 80' long so that the outdoor unit would be co-located with the house heat pump outdoor unit which is opposite the garage. We have a nice patio on the back of the garage and don't want to hear the unit running.

I read thru the manual and it did not describe refrigerant additions for longer line sets.

 

[jeopardy98]

I would have liked to have done that with mine but it spanned two floors and was just more work than I wanted to get involved with. May consider it when I put the 2 ton in for the lower floor.
Condenser looks to be very close to the wall, was there a minimum distance spec?

There was. 12"was the minimum but when I called and told them I was wall mounting it they said it would be fine at 8" which is what I have. That 12" minimum is for mounting on a pad.

Not sure on the size I need. My attached garage is about 625 square feet. 8' tall 2x6 walls insulated with 21, insulated garage door (specs not known), ceiling insulated maybe to R19.

I'm in Fauquier County so similar climate to you.

I would need a line set about 80' long so that the outdoor unit would be co-located with the house heat pump outdoor unit which is opposite the garage. We have a nice patio on the back of the garage and don't want to hear the unit running.

I read thru the manual and it did not describe refrigerant additions for longer line sets.

You can't adjust the lineset length in this particular unit. It is a completely sealed system designed for install with no hvac license required. 16' is your only option.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Fueler if you have 12 foot walls and open ceilings all your heat your unit puts out is in the space above the ceiling. Install some ceiling fans above the ceiling, blowing down and you will be shocked at the amount of heat you already have. I have just 12 foot walls and closed ceiling and a fan makes a big difference in just 5 minutes run time.