New mini split ordered

[buzz4041]

It took me about 4 hours to run the conduit, pull the wire and hook up the receptacle and panel breaker. Spent about 1 hour clearing rock from the flower bed and leveling for setting the foundation. Drilling holes in wall and brick for lineset took about 1 hour along with mounting indoor bracket. To install lineset and indoor unit including strapping of lineset took about 2 hours. Setting and anchoring outside unit to foundation 1 hour. Hook up of lineset and power cable 1/2 hour. The lineset cover and sheeting took me longer than the rest of the install that took me about 8 hours. So total time I have in from start to finish was close to 18 hours by myself with help from my wife twice for about a total of 15 minutes to pull wire in conduit and fish lineset through wall. It was really very simple job. I don't know why I didn't do this long ago.

 

[buzz4041]

Follow up on installation 4 years later. System is still working strong. I must admit I do not run the unit constantly but over 4 years I have only had to a drain line cleanout and general clean of the inside unit which took a few hours. This has been a great investment let alone the comfortable working conditions it has provided.

 

[OldSoldier]

I'm happy that yours still works. Mine crapped out after only two or three years, I don't recall which. You can't buy one of these anymore, at least new anyway. I moved on to a professionally installed Daikin, which was a major pain in the booty.

 

[jjrbus]

I'm happy that yours still works. Mine crapped out after only two or three years, I don't recall which. You can't buy one of these anymore, at least new anyway. I moved on to a professionally installed Daikin, which was a major pain in the booty.

Curious, when you did your DIY install, did you follow the suggested instructions. Torque fittings, pressure test, micron gauge, use a flair gauge, no oil traps in lines?

 

[Ohmthis]

Curious, when you did your DIY install, did you follow the suggested instructions. Torque fittings, pressure test, micron gauge, use a flair gauge, no oil traps in lines?

I believe both systems were precharged quick connect (I know the OPs was). None of that was required.

 

[Ohmthis]

OP, that’s great news that your system is still running great. I have always wondered how durable the DIY type systems are.

 

[fitter30]

Is it a heat pump or cooling only?

 

[OldSoldier]

Curious, when you did your DIY install, did you follow the suggested instructions. Torque fittings, pressure test, micron gauge, use a flair gauge, no oil traps in lines?

As Ohmthis already responded, it was a Friedrich Breeze, which is a DIY system and came pre-charged. The lines did not require flaring or any special tools or workmanship. Simply connect the lines. As far as oil traps, I thought that might be a problem, but the lines were not modifiable. That is, they were not copper but stainless braided and could not be cut, but rather designed to be rolled up for storage of excess. The Breeze line is a heat pump.

 

[Djtepe]

I have a word of caution putting these systems in regarding surge protection. Put an LG in my shop and it got slammed by a nearby lightning strike (didn’t hit it directly). I was hoping to replace the system boards with my fingers crossed that it didn’t take out the compressor. Had HVAC company look at it and alas, the entire system was zapped. Be sure to install surge protection (if it’s not included) on the outdoor unit power input. Since the lines run along the outdoor wall for a small distance, they will catch magnetic flux from nearby lightning strikes. You could put a protector on your incoming power breaker box but it’s better at the equipment. The ironic part of this lesson is that my primary expertise is lightning protection. I assumed that it was part of the system since it was installed outside and I was wrong.

 

[Fueler]

Djtepe has a point.
I used this on my installs. Learned about it here I believe.
The good news is that I have not had to field test it yet.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DGABTRO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jjrbus]

Djtepe brings up a good point which is not mentioned enough. From what I read on the net mini's seem to be sensitive to surge. I used a whole house protector.

 

[justinjoyal]

I have a word of caution putting these systems in regarding surge protection. Put an LG in my shop and it got slammed by a nearby lightning strike (didn’t hit it directly). I was hoping to replace the system boards with my fingers crossed that it didn’t take out the compressor. Had HVAC company look at it and alas, the entire system was zapped. Be sure to install surge protection (if it’s not included) on the outdoor unit power input. Since the lines run along the outdoor wall for a small distance, they will catch magnetic flux from nearby lightning strikes. You could put a protector on your incoming power breaker box but it’s better at the equipment. The ironic part of this lesson is that my primary expertise is lightning protection. I assumed that it was part of the system since it was installed outside and I was wrong.

I'm not saying it can't happen, but I have yet to come across a mini-split with a fried compressor from lightning/thunder/electrical surges.

I've replaced numerous circuit boards, but not a single compressor.

 

[SALIV8]

Thanks Justin.

 

[Ryan Matheson]

Got the conduit finished up wire pulled and hooked up. Set the concrete foundation and set the unit in place. Will drill the mounting holes tomorrow along with the holes in brick and walls for installation of inside unit and line set. During this fired up the pit and smoked up some ribs, sausage, chicken. Enjoyed the afternoon with family.

Nice mini-split i've been considering adding a small one to my detatched shed for some time. i've read that it's important to get each unit Nitro pressure tested, did you blow out the lines or do any pressure testing when you setup this guy?

 

[justinjoyal]

Nice mini-split i've been considering adding a small one to my detatched shed for some time. i've read that it's important to get each unit Nitro pressure tested, did you blow out the lines or do any pressure testing when you setup this guy?

His unit is a DIY model that comes with pre-charged lines with quick-connect fittings, no pressure testing or vacuum to do.