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Pioneer mini split install

dw1

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I just install a 24k pioneer in my garage last week. 30x20x9
3 car garage, builder grade door insulation, no windows, no installation except for the wall shared by the house, and no attic installation. Keep it set to 75 and had no problems all week long. It got up to 100 this weekend so I was pleased. I was going to get an 18k but I'm glad I didn't. Once I add insulation, it's not going to be a problem.
I got the + not the ++.

Did you do the install yourself? just curious. I just ordered a 24K Pioneer myself yesterday. Hopefully it will be here in a week or so!!
 
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softailtom

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I just install a 24k pioneer in my garage last week. 30x20x9
3 car garage, builder grade door insulation, no windows, no installation except for the wall shared by the house, and no attic installation. Keep it set to 75 and had no problems all week long. It got up to 100 this weekend so I was pleased. I was going to get an 18k but I'm glad I didn't. Once I add insulation, it's not going to be a problem.
I got the + not the ++.



Do you use the auto function or just cool ?


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roadrunner255

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I picked up 2 18k units for my 12 x 36 x 40 metal building. My wall height is 11'. What's the recommended mounting height for the air handler?

Also I ordered the wifi dongle, for others that also ordered it where do they put it in the shipment?
Thanks

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justinjoyal

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I picked up 2 18k units for my 12 x 36 x 40 metal building. My wall height is 11'. What's the recommended mounting height for the air handler?

Also I ordered the wifi dongle, for others that also ordered it where do they put it in the shipment?
Thanks

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8-9 ft is good
 
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softailtom

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Tom, did you make any progress on your issues?



No the temps here have been cooler than normal so not a good test but when night time temperatures hit 66 to 68 the temperature in the the shop is still running 72 to 74 and that's the lowest temperature I've seen add more blown in the attic 15 inches of fiberglass and also going to put in a 12k window unit to help.


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PoorOwner

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No the temps here have been cooler than normal so not a good test but when night time temperatures hit 66 to 68 the temperature in the the shop is still running 72 to 74 and that's the lowest temperature I've seen add more blown in the attic 15 inches of fiberglass and also going to put in a 12k window unit to help.


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I have had two mini splits so far and when the outside temperature is below 70 it doesn't cool that well. The heat from the outside condenser gets weak but it still use quite a bit of power. I also have a portable conditioner in the house with 2 hoses. It extract a lot of heat through the exhaust when it is hot but when the intake is cooler, I can feel the exhaust is only slightly warm which makes sense. This is mostly at night when the temperature dips to around 65 and inside is still warm i have to make the decision of opening then windows or continue to let the weakened AC work hard.

It works much better in the day time where it can properly superheat

It still blows cold air and continue to slowly drain condensation and feel comfortable. But it just not that efficient at pulling down the inside to below 68 when the outside is also the same temp. not sure if it is a r410a thing or not. A lot of home inspectors have a rule to turn on the central air when below 65.

If it's 60s outside might make senses to open the garage doors if humidity isn't too high
 
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geyas

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Looks like you did a nice job
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ticklechicken

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softailtom - I got my Pioneers installed a few weeks ago and they are working great. They are oversized more than I thought. I installed two 18k units in my 1,080 sf shop. I can drop the temp by 10 degrees in about 45 minutes. After about 2 hours, it was 70 degrees and still dropping while it was in the 90's outside. It could have cooled more, but I thought that was enough of a test. On days where it's hovering around 90, I can use just one unit to keep it 74 in the shop.

The difference must be the insulation. I have no windows and closed cell foam (2" in the walls, 3" in the ceiling). My inside units are mounted as close to the ceiling as the manual allows.
 
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softailtom

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softailtom - I got my Pioneers installed a few weeks ago and they are working great. They are oversized more than I thought. I installed two 18k units in my 1,080 sf shop. I can drop the temp by 10 degrees in about 45 minutes. After about 2 hours, it was 70 degrees and still dropping while it was in the 90's outside. It could have cooled more, but I thought that was enough of a test. On days where it's hovering around 90, I can use just one unit to keep it 74 in the shop.



The difference must be the insulation. I have no windows and closed cell foam (2" in the walls, 3" in the ceiling). My inside units are mounted as close to the ceiling as the manual allows.



Sounds like they are working like they should, unfortunately my Pioneer stop cooling at all. Ive got to the point that I'm tired of messing with it. Nice quiet fan hanging on the wall. [emoji102][emoji15]


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dw1

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Sounds like they are working like they should, unfortunately my Pioneer stop cooling at all. Ive got to the point that I'm tired of messing with it. Nice quiet fan hanging on the wall. [emoji102][emoji15]


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Tom, by any chance did you use the leak guard sealer? mine was missing in the packaging, but I used some refrigeration oil and lubed up the flare fittings pretty good, apparently these are notorious for leaking!! maybe a pro can chime in and offer some advice, don't give up.....
 
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softailtom

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Tom, by any chance did you use the leak guard sealer? mine was missing in the packaging, but I used some refrigeration oil and lubed up the flare fittings pretty good, apparently these are notorious for leaking!! maybe a pro can chime in and offer some advice, don't give up.....



Yes used the sealer.


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ticklechicken

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Sounds like they are working like they should, unfortunately my Pioneer stop cooling at all. Ive got to the point that I'm tired of messing with it. Nice quiet fan hanging on the wall. [emoji102][emoji15]
That stinks. I was really looking forward to my a/c install, and I would be very disappointed if I was having issues like you are. Good luck.

I have the 21 seer version of what you have. That shouldn't matter for cooling ability. I can tell you that mine is working very well, and I would think yours has the same potential. Keep trying.

My exit air temp is about 18-20°F colder than ambient. Are you getting the same?
 
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softailtom

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That stinks. I was really looking forward to my a/c install, and I would be very disappointed if I was having issues like you are. Good luck.



I have the 21 seer version of what you have. That shouldn't matter for cooling ability. I can tell you that mine is working very well, and I would think yours has the same potential. Keep trying.



My exit air temp is about 18-20°F colder than ambient. Are you getting the same?



When it was cooling I was sometimes seeing 25 to 30 colder but now it's just room temperature.


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69385vette

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Round Rock, TX
I completed the install of my 24K BTU 20.5 SEER Pioneer heat pump over the weekend. I installed it myself and had an HVAC installer friend pull the vacuum and release the gas. Works great so far. I am very happy to have heat and air in my new shop.

Shop is an 18 x 30 x 8 area in a 30 x 54 x 12 Morton building. R19 Walls, R30 ceiling. One walk-in door, one 5' french door, one window.
 

justinjoyal

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I completed the install of my 24K BTU 20.5 SEER Pioneer heat pump over the weekend. I installed it myself and had an HVAC installer friend pull the vacuum and release the gas. Works great so far. I am very happy to have heat and air in my new shop.

Shop is an 18 x 30 x 8 area in a 30 x 54 x 12 Morton building. R19 Walls, R30 ceiling. One walk-in door, one 5' french door, one window.



I sure hope you have one hell of a heat load because 24k btu is grossly oversized for not even 600 sq ft. (Or maybe you want/need quick recovery and dont care about RH.)
 
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softailtom

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I completed the install of my 24K BTU 20.5 SEER Pioneer heat pump over the weekend. I installed it myself and had an HVAC installer friend pull the vacuum and release the gas. Works great so far. I am very happy to have heat and air in my new shop.

Shop is an 18 x 30 x 8 area in a 30 x 54 x 12 Morton building. R19 Walls, R30 ceiling. One walk-in door, one 5' french door, one window.



Sounds Like you got it right but if you give in to the oversize notion I've got a 18k I'll trade you that way I can be oversized!🤣[emoji482] How about some pictures?
 

dw1

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Just installed the wifi dongle, it seems to work ok. All in all, my Pioneer install is working great, it has no problem if its 88* outside, cooling my finished, temporary, living quarters, its been running all this week and working very well. Tom, have you made any progress on yours?
 
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softailtom

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Yes the HVAC guy offered 400.00 trade in on a Fujitsu or install a used compressor for 175.00, I took the used compressor and it is working better than it ever has. He was going to leave the old compressor to see if I can get any thing out of the seller. Cools like it should. I love the wifi option on mine always work good never any issues with that.


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PoorOwner

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Yes the HVAC guy offered 400.00 trade in on a Fujitsu or install a used compressor for 175.00, I took the used compressor and it is working better than it ever has. He was going to leave the old compressor to see if I can get any thing out of the seller. Cools like it should. I love the wifi option on mine always work good never any issues with that.


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Hey, so good to hear you got it running properly now. So just to be clear it was $400 to use towards buying a new fujitsu?

It seem like you have the unit for less than a year, no resolution or warranty where you bought it from? (where did you buy it from?)

Anyway, $175 is good considering he has to come to install and recharge the system. How did you guys find out the compressor is bad?
 

ticklechicken

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Yes the HVAC guy offered 400.00 trade in on a Fujitsu or install a used compressor for 175.00, I took the used compressor and it is working better than it ever has. He was going to leave the old compressor to see if I can get any thing out of the seller. Cools like it should. I love the wifi option on mine always work good never any issues with that.


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Glad this is starting to work out for you
 
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softailtom

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Hey, so good to hear you got it running properly now. So just to be clear it was $400 to use towards buying a new fujitsu?



It seem like you have the unit for less than a year, no resolution or warranty where you bought it from? (where did you buy it from?)



Anyway, $175 is good considering he has to come to install and recharge the system. How did you guys find out the compressor is bad?



Yes it was a offer for Fujitsu install by him.
I have been working with High Seer (seller) since April when the performance started to go down hill talked with there tech department and engineers only to have them say it's working normally. If you go to their web site you can read only part of my review the rest they deleted no returned phone calls or emails.
I'm not sure how he diagnosed it but he did say on these cheaper mini's you have to double the size of what your load calculator calls for. For what it's worth High Seer recommend 12k unit for my shop.


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