Small Mini Split Cost With Installation ?

[billt460]

I live in the desert Southwest, and this time of year daily temperatures are in the one teens. My master bedroom gets very warm in the late afternoon, because it absorbs direct Sunlight in the hottest part of the day on 2 sides.

What I would like to do is have a small mini split unit installed, that would be just large enough to help cool my master bedroom, and master bath that is attached to it. This would allow me to raise the thermostat during evening hours for the rest of the house, while emphasizing cooling to just the bedroom using the mini split. (It's only my wife and I).

I'm thinking 6,000 to 8,000 BTU's would be plenty for what I'm trying to accomplish. Does anyone know about what a ballpark price for one of these installed would run? My main busbox is located very close to where I would want the unit installed. Thanks in advance.

 

[pcmeiners]

What is the squ foot of the area to be cooled?

 

[billt460]

I'm going to guess right around 600 Sq. Ft. + or -.

 

[nadogail]

I am having a Fujitsu heat pump with 4 air handlers installed in a two story 1200 sq foot condo for $18,000.

 

[billt460]

I am having a Fujitsu heat pump with 4 air handlers installed in a two story 1200 sq foot condo for $18,000.

WOW !

 

[pcmeiners]

$18000..... Hope you only had a mild heart attack.

Generally smallest single zone minisplits start at 9k BTUs; a 9k will easily do your needed area as long as you have some insulation and you do not leave your windows open.
Retail cost for a very efficient Fujitsu unit is under $1800.00. Mind you, you need a very efficient unit due to the high summer temperatures. You can get cheaper units but you will pay with higher electric costs for their life time. Pay now, or pay latter,

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As to installation costs, it depends on your area's greed factor.

 

[billt460]

Well if the unit cost is $1,800.00, how much can installation possibly be, in a "most expensive" scenario?

 

[shade]

It's about 5 hours of work for a simple install. I'm a little slow though.
So figure whatever going rate is? 100 an hour?

 

[billt460]

It's about 5 hours of work for a simple install. I'm a little slow though.
So figure whatever going rate is? 100 an hour?

That sounds fair and reasonable. $1800 for the unit, and 5 hours at $500 comes in around $2,300 give or take.

 

[pcmeiners]

$100 an hour? Most places $2500 would be a closer number, that is with lineset, disconnect etc

 

[Jeff]

I did a mini-split in my master BR due to heat 2 years ago. MBR is 22x26. We went with a 12k btu unit.

But, before my HVAC guy would install he had me tint the windows with 90% reflective silver tint. Wow, the drop in heat gain from the western sun was amazing. Then he had me change the screens to a white solar screen which also stops heat gain. The MBR is at the rear, so no one will see the white screening. After this I probably didn't need the mini-split but it helps balance the house.

We went with a name brand Fujitsu unit. Unit cost was $2800, install $1000. Basically $4k including permits. Florida pricing.

 

[chinboys]

Do you need to have an inspection done afterwards?
Hire a recently certified HVAC-R tech from an accredited school or a newbie free lancer who already works for a company to install a single or multi zone unit.
Or if you are handy... A Mr. Cool system.

 

[billt460]

$100 an hour? Most places $2500 would be a closer number, that is with lineset, disconnect etc

I'm not paying ANYONE over $41.00 A MINUTE to work on anything. It's not a nuclear reactor for God's sake.

 

[billt460]

I did a mini-split in my master BR due to heat 2 years ago. MBR is 22x26. We went with a 12k btu unit.

But, before my HVAC guy would install he had me tint the windows with 90% reflective silver tint. Wow, the drop in heat gain from the western sun was amazing. Then he had me change the screens to a white solar screen which also stops heat gain. The MBR is at the rear, so no one will see the white screening. After this I probably didn't need the mini-split but it helps balance the house.

We went with a name brand Fujitsu unit. Unit cost was $2800, install $1000. Basically $4k including permits. Florida pricing.

That's almost exactly what I'm looking to do. 4K is a bit high, but doable. I don't know where people are getting these insane prices from..... Let alone PAYING them.

 

[mike93lx]

It's about 5 hours of work for a simple install. I'm a little slow though.
So figure whatever going rate is? 100 an hour?

Lol.

Good luck finding a hvac company that will install a mini you sourced elsewhere for $100 in 5 hrs. In the summer, no less

 

[billt460]

Lol.

Good luck finding a hvac company that will install a mini you sourced elsewhere for $100 in 5 hrs. In the summer, no less

Who said anything about buying it elsewhere, or buying it at peak season?

 

[mike93lx]

Who said anything about buying it elsewhere, or buying it at peak season?

The price quoted was not what your hvac company will charge and it is currently summer, correct?

You might get some fly by night guy on CL to do this for $500. Good luck

 

[billt460]

I haven't gotten any quotes yet. But as it's been posted, the unit costs for what I need run $1,200 to $1,800. People buy and have these things installed all the time from places like Lowe's and Home Depot, who use local companies for the installation. They're not paying twice the purchase price to have the thing put in.

 

[mike93lx]

I haven't gotten any quotes yet. But as it's been posted, the unit costs for what I need run $1,200 to $1,800. People buy and have these things installed all the time from places like Lowe's and Home Depot, who use local companies for the installation. They're not paying twice the purchase price to have the thing put in.

Let us know how it goes.

I got a quote for two minis about 10 years ago, it was $10k.

If you want to save money, a diy system from Mr cool would be worth looking at. No specifialized refrigeration tools, just need electrical, mounting and routing the lineset.

 

[billt460]

Let us know how it goes.

I got a quote for two minis about 10 years ago, it was $10k.

If you want to save money, a diy system from Mr cool would be worth looking at. No specifialized refrigeration tools, just need electrical, mounting and routing the lineset.

I'm going to be doing this in late February, or early March of next year. Before the heat sets in next Summer. Right now is the worst time because this is the peak season for anything A/C related. And it's also the busiest.

February and March not much is needed out here cooling or heating wise. So most of the HVAC companies are pretty dead. I'm too old for a DYI on something like this, and I have exactly zero experience with refrigeration. I'll resurrect this thread again when I start getting actual quotes and will report back.

 

[loganb]

I'm very happy with my now 3 yr old Mr Cool in the garage. I had one Hvac place quote a Mitsubishi hyper heat unit and the install charge was around 2,300 for an easy install that already had the electric service for it done. I bought the Mr cool then and installed in 5 hrs or so

 

[mike93lx]

I'm going to be doing this in late February, or early March of next year. Before the heat sets in next Summer. Right now is the worst time because this is the peak season for anything A/C related. And it's also the busiest.

February and March not much is needed out here cooling or heating wise. So most of the HVAC companies are pretty dead. I'm too old for a DYI on something like this, and I have exactly zero experience with refrigeration. I'll resurrect this thread again when I start getting actual quotes and will report back.

You could get the disconnect ready, in the meantime. A 12/2 feed will support any mini up to 24k.

The hvac installer will likely have to sub this out anyway, so might as well do it at your convenience and have a chance to shop it around if desired.

You'll need a 120v convenience receptacle nearby as well

 

[BroncoAZ]

I am having a Fujitsu heat pump with 4 air handlers installed in a two story 1200 sq foot condo for $18,000.

This is about the going rate on Cape Cod for a whole house system with four air handlers, too. I looked into a similar setup on our old house to get rid of the window units. We ended up moving to a new house with central air instead.

My buddy diy’ed four separate single air handler systems in his house across the street. I helped him with a couple of them, install wasn’t to hard with the pre charged lines.

 

[Notgrownup]

7 years ago or so I bought and installed a Blueridge 18000 btu unit in my shop delivered for about $1200 delivered. Only thing I had a local guy do on the side was cut, flare and pull vacuum my lineset. He charged me $200. Probably would be more now but I would do it again in a skinny minute.

 

[tncatadjuster]

Any chance you could live with one of these 500 sq ft units?

 

[billt460]

Any chance you could live with one of these 500 sq ft units?

My windows open and close from side to side, not up and down. It makes any kind of window unit a royal PITA.

 

[mike93lx]

My windows open and close from side to side, not up and down. It makes any kind of window unit a royal PITA.

A piece of plywood cut to fit can make that work pretty easily.

 

[racecougar]

I haven't gotten any quotes yet. But as it's been posted, the unit costs for what I need run $1,200 to $1,800. People buy and have these things installed all the time from places like Lowe's and Home Depot, who use local companies for the installation. They're not paying twice the purchase price to have the thing put in.

You may be in for a bit of an awakening. Good luck.

 

[billt460]

A piece of plywood cut to fit can make that work pretty easily.

My bedroom window won't open far enough for any decent size unit.

 

[tncatadjuster]

My bedroom window won't open far enough for any decent size unit.

Replace that window. Keep window for when you move in 6 years. All in you are still ahead $.

Is there anyone keeping you from installing an new window? Do you practice golf at home?
I'm guessing you window looks like the back small one in this screen capture.

 

[dscheidt]

Well if the unit cost is $1,800.00, how much can installation possibly be, in a "most expensive" scenario?

As much as they think they can take you for.
I know a local hvac installer that estimates the install time, multiplies by their normal installer labor cost, and then multiplies that by somewhere between 4 and 8. They routinely tell people it will cost more to install a mini-split than it would to install a conventional system that would requires lots of labor to install ductwork.

 

[danski0224]

Does anyone know about what a ballpark price for one of these installed would run?

Anywhere from $5 to $60k...

 

[billt460]

Replace that window. Keep window for when you move in 6 years. All in you are still ahead $.

Is there anyone keeping you from installing an new window? Do you practice golf at home?
I'm guessing you window looks like the back small one in this screen capture.

Then I'm looking at cost for a new window, stucco work on the outside. Drywall work on the inside. Then priming and painting hoping everything will match... Which it won't.

The whole thing gets parlayed into a ton of work. Not to mention the unit will be roaring and blowing right above the headboard of my bed.

 

[Notgrownup]

The units can be had for really reasonable.

 

[mike93lx]

Anywhere from $5 to $60k...

Come on Dan, that's ridiculous.


No way it goes over $40k

 

[danski0224]

Inflation is craaaaazy....

 

[tncatadjuster]

Then I'm looking at cost for a new window, stucco work on the outside. Drywall work on the inside. Then priming and painting hoping everything will match... Which it won't.

The whole thing gets parlayed into a ton of work. Not to mention the unit will be roaring and blowing right above the headboard of my bed.

ok I would do all the above myself and the units are quiet. Looks like you pony up the $. Good luck.

 

[paranoid56]

San Diego, Ca prices, i got a quote to install a single 9k dakin minisplit and that was right around $9500, and a 3unit setup for 19k. I thought this was crazy. quoted time for the single was 8hrs.

Sooooo, i bought the same unit for $950, a vacuum pump and gauge set for $100 bucks, figure another $100 in random stuff and boom. installed it. And its sooo nice to have lol. super quite too.

 

[pcmeiners]

"People buy and have these things installed all the time from places like Lowe's and Home Depot, who use local companies for the installation. They're not paying twice the purchase price to have the thing put in."

You are correct, it more like 3 times the unit's purchase price.

 

[danski0224]

When I worked at Orange Borg, the kitchen installation extras were marked up 100%.