I just purchased 2 split a/c systems as an upgrade from the units I currently have. It is now September 22, 2014 and I am unhappy with my 3 month old brand new units. I started with a Fujitsu 11000 btu in the master bedroom and a Mitsubishi 30000 btu in the living room. The Fujitsu was weak in cooling efficiency and even though I cared for it very well it required cleaning and servicing every 6 months. The living room was an older model - but if you set it at 71 degrees - we'd be freezing within the 1st hour. Both eventually had freon leaks. I replaced the bedroom with a 2014 Mitsubishi 15000 btu thinking I could run it on a low and quiet fan setting at night. The living room was changed to a 36 000 btu 2014 Mitsubishi which I was also hoping to run on a quieter setting. But - NO! We are running both of these units on MAX 59 degrees on a high fan to cool either room which takes a couple of hours. The air feels cold coming out of units - but not too far from the units. Recalled the installers and checked the freon, temps, and the workings of these. 2 month old units. "everything is Normal". Tech says that's how these new energy efficient units run. He says you gotta run them on max to start with or before the house heats up during the day or close the doors down the hallway to trap the cooler air in the living room. The bedroom is the same - we sleep at 9pm - so we run it at 7pm - on MAX!! It sucks - in Hawaii both units plus the install $6200. My electric bill is slightly higher because these energy efficient units run longer and on Max!!! So disappointing! I have tried different temp settings and combinations of fan power. Some have suggested that in Max mode- it is bouncing the cold air off the opposite wall back to the unit causing the thermostat to raise the temp. I am baffled - so junk !!!

Hello, Would like to know how many BTUs (for 1 wallmount system)would I need for two floors of 690 sqfeet (each floor). The Unit will be on the 2nd floor in the middle between 2 bedrooms and a washroom (over washroom door facing master bedroom). It will be a dual split system. ------------------------------------- Also would like to know which is a safe reliable cost efficient brand, example of wall mounted (split systems) air conditions I've heard of: Fujitsu (they give 10 years warranty parts and labour) Mitsubishi (6 yrs parts and labour however been making them longer) Daikin (6 yrs parts and labour) Igloo York Carrier Grey All about the same price... ----------------------------------- Finally, is it better to get a dual system (with heat pump), from my understanding they are almost the same price and the advantage is that it has a variable BTU which may save some $$. Since the heat pump will be at the higher level then it wont heat as much however it is coming at about the same price. Then again more electronics in a system more chances of malfunctioning sooner? Thank you, Stelios

Do you have a basement so condensate can run down? I have no experience with pumps to push it up, but that should work. If possible, I'd install the drains through a closet or something by placing them near the closets. That way you can get to them in case there is a clog or leak. You might consider covering several areas with the small, flat AHUs that connect to short ducts. I do have some advice for how to combine indoor and outdoor parts. Smaller systems are convenient in the case of a power outage because you can run parts of it with a smaller backup genset. In addition to that, group indoor units that will be running at times with low demand, low output, together. That way the outdoor unit driving them can modulate better rather than toggling on and off. i don't know why refrigerant lines in the attic would be a problem, but keep them as short as practical.

Thank you all for the responses. In short, based on responses here and some more research sounds like it doesn't pay to go with a mini split for a 3200 soft home (that's without the basement) + I think the look is too aggressive and trying to keep a clean minimal look.. even the ceiling cassette units that are relatively minimal stand out a lot... I think ill stick with a gas HVAC system and use coil so the air won't be as dry in the winter and also install a dehumidifier to have it nice in the summer... I did want to have a DAMPER for each room but was told that it can create issues and I need to limit each zone to maybe one or 2 damper tops per zone otherwise the unit can start icing and causing issue as they get "chocked" As for geothermal, My architect did tell me to look into it but once again don't know if it make sense for me. Don't know anyone who has it and its seems like it would be adding a big headache with starting to dig again..... @Ray Austin Thank a lot. I'm hearing this a lot where it will take so many years for me to see a return on investment and probably docent make sense... @mike_home yes I have gas and I will be using gas for the HVAC & domestic water. @Steve Greenberg I was explains that one outdoor unit will be able to handle about 4 zones but it seems per the comments here and other research I did for a house of api 3300 sqf it doesn't make sense finically to go with the mitzubishi + I'm not crazy about the look of them (cassette units) Im also concurred that the. entire house as a whole won't feel as comfortable (temp controlled) when there are so many individuals zones. BTW I was told they can work until -13° but in the nyc area we down really get to those temps.. @fsq4cw I wanted to to floor radiant but its going to be very pricy to do my entire home.. so with no choice I have to let it go.. as for Air-to-Water technology im concurred going with something that is not well known and don't have experience with... @sktn77a this is my findings as well and think I will stick with HVAC and maybe add to each zone (level) a dumper to 1 or 2 rooms per zone. was told that having a dumber in each room can cause the unit to choke and create problems like icing... @tangerinedoor you actually strengthened my fears of being concurred that the entire house or level will not be air conditioned evenly if doors not opened and/or installing another system (CERV)... leading me to stick with HVAC im curious to know how much more expensive was the mini slipt vs an HVAC assuming you got a quote in HVAC. not in dollars and cents but in percentages..