Anyone out there Have a Mini-Split Heat/Ac unit?

[Rebeldad1]

With all this crazy heat and cold weather this looks like a great upgrade.

The good?
The Bad?

Thanks!!!

 

[DIYOrangeDave]

I have used 3 of them for my 2300 sq ft 2 storey home for 7 years. I use wood heat for comfort in the sitting areas. Great savings over oil, gas and baseboard electric.

 

[ponytug]

Lots of upsides, especially in comfort and energy efficiency, if they are sized correctly. The primary downside that I am aware of is reduced air filtration quality.

Poorly sized ones do not have good temperature or humidity control. Don't assume that because your old system was a certain size that the new one needs to match.

All the best,

Peter

 

[plowhog]

I have had great success with the Mitsubishi mini-split. But many companies make them now ...

 

[gsganzer]

I originally had an LG that didn't last very long. I currently have a Daiken, but only 4 years on it so far. I believe they're all pretty much throw away when they fail. Maybe someone who installs them for a living will chime in.

 

[IXLR8]

I have a 10 year old Mitsubishi mini-split, Love it. Use it for heating in the shoulder seasons and AC in the summer. Wood stove provides heat Dec-April. No issues, only maintenance, which consists of cleaning filters monthly, takes 5 min, and cleaning the blower once a year. We have a small, 1000 sq ft area to heat/cool. Costs me about $0.50/day for cooling and about $1.00/day heating.

 

[Doorman63]

We have two in our bardominium.
I believe 12,000 b

great for A/C and very quiet. The heat part……not so great!

we had quite a cold winter and a couple space heaters were needed a few times.

humidity control can be problematic

 

[Cataclysm]

I am a couple months in on a Cooper & Hunter 18,000 btu. Its properly sized for the space. Ice cold, dry air. Extremely quiet. Idles along on a humid 100 degree day. We will see what the winter brings. I have backup heat.

I installed it myself after watching a few videos. Not too difficult for a diy'er. The unit was just a couple hundred dollars more than the inefficient combo ac/heat 18,000 btu unit I was using. The combo units were only lasting 3 years average.

So far I'd pay for one of these again vs a free combo unit.

 

[Grumpycat]

I originally had an LG that didn't last very long. I currently have a Daiken, but only 4 years on it so far. I believe they're all pretty much throw away when they fail. Maybe someone who installs them for a living will chime in.

Every HVAC tech I have asked say to run away, fast. That they have not been successful at procuring replacement parts so when a unit fails the only option is to rip it out and install a completely new system.

Traditional US Standard HVAC systems are built with parts from independent OEMs who distribute outside the the OE parts system keeping parts are plentiful and reasonably priced. You can get a contactor that works and fits, no matter it may not be the exact same as the one that failed. You can get changeover valves. Stuck with the OE for controller boards.

 

[jaxs]

I installed two when I bought my present house eventhough it had a three year old central heat pump that works fine. On my reccomendation and after seeing my bills a few friends and family bought one and have been pleased. My home has over 2,600 sq ft,I'm in Tx where summer temps run in upper 90s and occasional 100+. We are retired, home all the time,temp never exceed's 78f anywhere or 72f in occupied rooms. Highest electric bill this year was $144 which neighbors can't believe since theirs average over $300. Some of my neighbors complained to the utility company who came out to see if my meter was by-passed. Here's why our bills are so much less than neighbors. T-stat in hall that control's central is set to 78f,m-split in den adjoining living,kit,utility and office is at 72f from 7am to 11pm then automaticly go's to 80f til next morning. M-split in master bed is set 72f from 10pm to 6am then automaticly to 80f til 10pm. Manually switched duct fans to bed rm 2&3. (Fan details on request). The cherry on top which convinced others after seeing my bills is that if central go's down,the m-split will bridge the gap. (Most only have one in living area)