Sizing a mini split system

[Xray]

My installer (good friend) did mine for beer

He used Rigid brand tools for the flaring on the lines. There is a spec in the install instructions on the max/min length for the line set. If the length is below spec a little freon needs to be purged from the system. IIRC (my system) if the length of the refrigeration lines exceed 65' you add 0.27 oz freon per foot. He did a leak test with nitrogen on the lines and evaporator unit (indoor). Next he pulled a vacuum while we enjoyed a cold one... then opened the service valve on the pre-charged condenser (outdoor) unit to charge the rest of the system.

I bought the copper lines from Home Depot the morning of the install and only used 20' out of the two (5/8 1/4) 50' boxes. If I would of waited another week I could have ordered the pre-fabbed 20' set with flare nuts, already insulated, with a drain line and low voltage wire... all wrapped in a purty package for the same price I dropped on the raw copper.

Can't complain though, everything went very well. I spent around $200 on wire, conduit, copper, 30A breaker, disconnect and beer

 

[SloppyDogDrool]

I've got enough testimonials to go on for now. Have a guy coming this week to quote a professional install. Will post back the results.

Started pulling prices on insulation today. Think the ceiling is just going to be R-30 kraft faced and walls R-13 and drywall (unfinished). It's going to get dirty and beat up so I can't see getting fancy. Maybe I'll loose my mind and finish it myself.....NOT.

 

[sneezer41]

I have bought the mitsubishis for my house, 2 of the small 9k and one of the 22k btu

They work great, I just turned one on this morning to test it, as we are thinking about using one for the sole source of heat in a potential addition: 12 degrees F outside up from 8 earlier, very warm to HOT air coming out of the unit. It does not have heat strips AFAIK.

 

[sneezer41]

Oh, an I installed them myself, bought online, have a guy who although not cheap, will come out and do the pump down etc. A few hundred bucks but he is thorough.

I may buy the pump and gauges next time, just to have

 

[SloppyDogDrool]

I wound up with a 3 ton conventional unit. I have about a 1000 projects planned (slight exaggeration). With my work schedule I might be in there every evening for a week then not use the space for months on end. My evenings run from about 6:30 - 10:00 with a dinner break in the middle so I only get a good 3 hours of work time. Given my schedule and with cars and projects being moved in and out of the garage doors it seemed to me I'd be better off with a slightly over sized conventional system that could heat and cool fast.

I have a 3 ton system plumbed the way I wanted with the unit located in an unheated bay where I wanted it. I have a thermostat that works via the internet so I can turn it on or off remotely. It has a motion sensor that turns on when I'm there and auto off if I leave the area.

http://www.bay.ws/products/thermostat.html

http://www.diycontrols.com/p-5989-bayweb-internet-thermostat-white.aspx

If anyone is interested there is a seller on ebay that is an installer who sells them for I think about $210 and includes 2 sensors free.

Thanks to everyone for your information and input!

 

[ArcticFrog]

I'm a new home owner and would like to partially install my own mini-split system consisting of the outside unit (possibly on some sort of airtec bracket) with a wall mount blower on the inside. I don't know anything about what has to be to code besides the electrical work. I just want to know if I were to mount the unit myself, will there be a chance of violating some local code where I live? Thing's like...does the outside unit have to be a certain distance from the house?...would an Airtec bracket mounted to the siding violate some code?

 

[Slednut]

Go to www.ecomfort.com scroll down and click on Mini Split Sizing Tool.

 

[JakeKohl]

I'm a new home owner and would like to partially install my own mini-split system consisting of the outside unit (possibly on some sort of airtec bracket) with a wall mount blower on the inside. I don't know anything about what has to be to code besides the electrical work. I just want to know if I were to mount the unit myself, will there be a chance of violating some local code where I live? Thing's like...does the outside unit have to be a certain distance from the house?...would an Airtec bracket mounted to the siding violate some code?

First, we have no idea where you live and codes vary wildly all over the place. Second, how close the unit mounts to the house is more an issue with the specification for the unit you buy and less to do with codes. Unless, however, you live near water and the codes may require that the outdoor unit be elevated a certain distance above the ground. Codes in different locations require certain things - some may require that you have the lines evacuated with a gauge on them for the inspector to see, some may require that you pressurize the system with nitrogen for the inspector to see. Typically, however, codes (outside of the Chicago city) don't require a licensed installation but they do usually require inspections be carried out.