Mini Split Brands - which one to select?
Jim Lewis
3 years ago
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mike_home
3 years agoElmer J Fudd
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Which brand of mini-split heat pump is worth buying?
Comments (6)I have a 9k BTU Sanyo heat pump in my home office. Completely trouble free for over 10 years now. I love it. I installed a couple of Samsungs in some elevator machine rooms a few years back and they did not perform well, seemed a little under rated if you ask me. I also bought a Samsung refer at Best Buy a while back and the compressor lock rotor'd after 40 days. BB would not take it back because it was past the 30-day exchange warranty and I did not buy the "extended" warranty from them. Samsung service was a nightmare, and had mutliple compressor failures in the first 18 mos. Almost impossible to get parts or service for it. I ended up giving it away and buying a Kitchen Aid refer. I strongly reccommend AGAINST anything Samsung....See MoreAny Mini-Split Brands to Avoid?
Comments (24)I realize there's a lot of love/hate perspectives based on brand, but after seeing prices of the big boys (Mitsubishi, Daikin, etc) at least 2-4x the cost of the DIY systems that have continued to get easier and easier to install and maintain it's an increasingly hard proposition to avoid modern HVAC over concerns of a $15-20k installation overhead when a comparable DIY install can be had for $5k-8k. As an example... After seeing my neighbor drop his electric bill 30-40% with a partial DIY Senville minisplit who had nothing but great things to say about it over his first two years of use, I took up his offer to help with install on 28k dual-head Senville system after extensive phone and email-based conversations with their sales teams on proper size, location, and acessories. The "trick" to ensuring your system's covered by most manufacturers' warranties (in Senville's case their 10 year warranty) is splitting out the "Bob Villa busy work" vs the professional stuff that could void a warranty or burn your house down. For example, all the interior work of drilling applicable wall holes, mounting interior head units (easier than a TV), filling those holes with foam, and installing the line set covers back to the compressor can easily be handled by anyone with even modest DIY XP. Just make sure you've measured out the total line set length, aren't crimping those metal lines, and (if you aren't comfortable with any of that) just leave any/all exterior lineset and/or cover work to the pros to run back to the compressor and cover up. Lineset covers are effectively glorified gutters: easy to install, not as easy to ensure they're not creating sharp angles or crimps in the lineset. Pro Stuff: checking system pressure, running new 220v/40amp electrical service with applicable cutoff(s), and ensuring that (even on systems that come pre-charged) that pressure is correct and the system starts, works to spec, and you have that warranty form filled out and signed by a professional that knows what they're doing. All in all I paid: $5,150: $2600 complete mini-split system w/covers (dual-head, 28k Senville SENA-30hf-d) $1200: electrician running new 220v/40a service (panel to compressor) $500: plumber connecting/testing line set pressures/operation $850: handyman mounting exterior compressor + buying/installing line set covers after factory covers were found not have necessary right angles) In just first winter heating costs dropped by 50% (prior pellet stove + electric baseboard so worst case scenario) and early spring/summer air conditioning has been even more impressive. The system's almost completely inaudible, the 2x10 house construction's transmitted zero reverberation through the walls (a common concerns for those wall-mounting their exterior compressor), and Senville's mobile app (which also works with the Midea app since apparently Senville's just a rebrand of Midea systems) allows fully remote, Alexa-compatible, and multiday schedules that are easily configured. I know all the existing professionals lament the fact that these DIY/quasi-DIY systems can disappear overnight and often won't touch them due to concern over future parts availability, but when costs compare at $5k vs $10-20k for even a modestly sized system it really calls into question how many inefficiently heated/cooled homes are left in the cold (no pun intended) over fear of extensive capital costs when systems like these can be the best of both worlds: an opportunity to work with local pros to understand how modern heat pump technology actually works, take a bit of the busy work off their plates and still make a living ensuring the more advanced work is not an unforced error on the part of the homeowner willing to exercise a bit of elbow grease to cut costs by 50-75% off traditional installations. Hope this helps....See MoreCentral Air OR Mini-Split
Comments (49)I don't see any coils of excess line in my Mitsubishi systems. The installer, who has been teaching at a local trade school for at least 30 years, must have figured out how to cut them. He must have figured out how to charge a system too since a reversing valve failed under warranty and had to be replaced. I have no doubt that older systems may be longer-lived than newer ones, and less complex. That does not mean that the stone-hatchet stuff is better in every way. If we followed that logic, we'd all be driving the cars that they still have in Cuba. Learning new techniques can be challenging and training is expensive when you consider the time needed, but it is necessary. The down side may be that it puts small shops at a disadvantage. I don't see how one or two people can afford to stay current on everything that is out there today. It is not limited to cooling either. Right now, I've been dealing with a boiler replacement at my dad's house and trying to do it on a reasonable budget. Putting a low-mass boiler in his old hydronic system (without a lot of expensive modifications) is a challenge. Finding a local installer that is up to date in his rural area has been frustrating. (Small here is really small. Katy is huge compared to his town of 2000.)...See MoreDuctless mini split : Mitsubish vs. other cheap brands
Comments (1)"Why someone would buy Mitsubishi/Carrier when there is much cheaper option." Because Mitsubishi is an established brand with a good reputation - the others are...... well....... as a rule, an unknown. Note that you can buy a Mitsubishi Mr Cool DIY system for around $1500, but finding a reputable installer may be a challenge (because they can no longer bury the labor charge and/or can't mark up the equipment). The smallest Mr Cool, I believe is 12,000BTU which is too big for your needs. Mitsubishi make smaller units but not in the DIY series, so you end up getting screwed by the contractor again!...See MoreMarc Well
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3 years agoElmer J Fudd
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoAustin Air Companie
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3 years agoElmer J Fudd
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3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoElmer J Fudd
3 years agoAustin Air Companie
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJim Lewis
3 years agokevin9408
3 years agoElmer J Fudd
3 years agoCharles Ross Homes
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3 years agoJim Lewis
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