northstar87
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- Sep 19, 2012
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Where are you guys placing the inside air handlers for your mini split systems in your garages with high ceilings? Pictures and building size with BTU of unit would be great. Thanks!
Placement of air handler for mini split in high ceiling barn?
- Thread starter northstar87
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They are typically mounted around 7' in a typical ceiling of 8' -- this is determined based on manufacturer specifications -- the heads all have slightly different designs. Reading most install manuals they give a minimum distance from the ceiling.. So it's not a how high should I mount it -- it's how high can I mount it.
I have done two projects where I used a MS to provide AC and supplemental heat for a one story slab addition. These were situations where I wanted to make a small room more usable -- so I extend the space with a room off of the house -- in both cases the addition was done with a cathedral ceiling. In those cases the mini was installed on what was the old outside wall of the house so when you are in the existing room looking out at the new addition you can't see the MS -- in those cases the bottom of the mini sits about 8' 10". I have not noticed any problem with heat. I have Mitsubishi units and they have the ability to direct the air at a fairly sharp down angle.
Understand -- when designing AC you only want to cool where people are. You don't want the AC blowing air out at the top of a high ceiling. The goal is to allow the heat to rise and only cool the lower 7 - 8 feet. That's why running ceiling fans in a property designed high ceiling building actually increases cooling load. Again the MS are fine ... in that ... not over 9' space.
With heat the higher the vent -- the greater the waste. So again -- not too high so the MS fan and vanes can blow the air down ... or at best angled .... you don't want horizontal with heat in high ceilings
So -- regardless of hight you want to maintain that 7.5 to 9 or so feet.
The stacking effect is magnified when you install an oversized heater -- it's not uncommon to have 89-90 degree temp at the peak of a 30' ceiling.
Here is an early picture of my current project -- showing a mini split install. It's too high -- the correct placement is lower hidden behind the beam (the beam is many feet in front).
A MS can only throw so far .. and most can do so almost horizontal from the bottom
I have done two projects where I used a MS to provide AC and supplemental heat for a one story slab addition. These were situations where I wanted to make a small room more usable -- so I extend the space with a room off of the house -- in both cases the addition was done with a cathedral ceiling. In those cases the mini was installed on what was the old outside wall of the house so when you are in the existing room looking out at the new addition you can't see the MS -- in those cases the bottom of the mini sits about 8' 10". I have not noticed any problem with heat. I have Mitsubishi units and they have the ability to direct the air at a fairly sharp down angle.
Understand -- when designing AC you only want to cool where people are. You don't want the AC blowing air out at the top of a high ceiling. The goal is to allow the heat to rise and only cool the lower 7 - 8 feet. That's why running ceiling fans in a property designed high ceiling building actually increases cooling load. Again the MS are fine ... in that ... not over 9' space.
With heat the higher the vent -- the greater the waste. So again -- not too high so the MS fan and vanes can blow the air down ... or at best angled .... you don't want horizontal with heat in high ceilings
So -- regardless of hight you want to maintain that 7.5 to 9 or so feet.
The stacking effect is magnified when you install an oversized heater -- it's not uncommon to have 89-90 degree temp at the peak of a 30' ceiling.
Here is an early picture of my current project -- showing a mini split install. It's too high -- the correct placement is lower hidden behind the beam (the beam is many feet in front).
A MS can only throw so far .. and most can do so almost horizontal from the bottom
The actual thermostat sensor is mounted on the evaporator coil itself. Mounting it to high will throw off the accuracy of the reading. Also, in cooling the air will be blown straight out of the evap and settle to the living area, being heavier than the hot air. In heating mode the air is blown almost straight down. Put the evap to high and it will affect the distribution of warm air. No higher than 8' and 7' is better. You can buy a wired remote stat should you choose to go higher, but you are just spending more dough to fix a problem you created
GRivera
Well-known member
30x40x12' pole barn - installed mine at 8' (measurement taken at bottom of unit) based on recommendation from Ingrams heating and air. Sorry for the sideways photo! How do I fix it?
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8343056&postcount=48
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8343056&postcount=48
Last edited:
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
In any large open building, fans are required to do a decent job of distribution.