Heat Pumps: Pros, Cons, and FAQs of Mini-Splits

[@buildwithrise]

What has been your experience with ductless mini-split heat pumps?

[@mickg3738]

It isn't mentioned that heat pumps do not operate efficiently when temps drop into the teens and single digits, and shut down around zero degrees.

[@buildwithrise]

@@mickg3738 That's a great point, Mick! Heat pumps definitely have an ideal temperature range for efficiency. That's something that north-faring folks should be aware of, since you can buy models that work better in cold climates.

[@CaptainCrunch823]

@@buildwithrise Mitsubishi offers some that are rated down to 0 Fahrenheit

[@hvacmike1175]

Hyper heat systems by Mitsubishi work in extremely low temperatures.

[@cullenluka6899]

i guess I'm kinda randomly asking but does anybody know of a good website to watch newly released movies online?

[@garywilson5192]

This Mini Splits are absolutely incredible. I been a HVAC Contractor for 47 years in the State of Georgia. I've installed them in my home and my children's homes, along with several of my customers. My daughters power bill is less than $100 a month and this is a ranch style home with 2,000 SF. I've studied the Heat Pumps and believe in them very strong! I've installed 12-14 Daikin systems and never had a "call back."

[@tracyconway5418]

Hi just have a ? I'm from CT so it gets cold here is it a good product to use year round?

[@barbarat7754]

HI Gary - This is my first time considering this project...would yoou have any background on this question I just posted. would you embed (channel through the plaster/concrete) the piping in the wall in an old apartment mini split installation or would you use "Line Hide" or "Line Set" to conceal all the piping for a 2 room multi-zone project? I'd like it to look good but I want to make sure I don't have to worry about leaks or anything else if it's channeled out. The building was built in 1962. This installation would be done by a professional HVAC installer. Love to hear you opinion. I don't want it to look to cheesy but it's faster, cleaner and cheaper to do.

[@garywilson5192]

@@barbarat7754 Barbara, Mini split is by far way the BEST way to go. You will have no problem cutting through the plaster/concrete. The line set conduit is by far the best way to go to be hidden if necessary. You can even conduit to the Condensing Unit and hang it down low on the outside. I’ve put in several amp draw is less than 5 Amps on most unit. Super low power bill with top performance Feel free to email me at: [e-mail] You want go wrong putting a mini split. Daikin and Gree are my Favorite. Several good one tge market. Only use a Certified Mini Split installer. Get the facts from the Contractors Customer’s before you trade with anyone. Thank You Gary Wilson

[@Bobotrucker]

Install one in Michigan.. Won't be $100/month

[@bernardcaillouet5565]

Hi Gary, any thoughts on Carrier mini split units?

[@jack62509]

I have a few apartments that I have installed heat pumps into. Heat pumps can be a great addition if you're installing these units into an house with a relatively good (airtight) envelope. If you're house is old, and leaky, heat pumps will work continuously to keep the space warm (or cool). In my experience, finding a good contractor who will service the units when needed is pretty important. I've have a multitude of issue with my heat pumps from bad fan motors, leaky drain pans, bad sensors, ice buildup causing the outdoor fan motor to trip resulting in motors and electrical boards in the outdoor units needing to be replaced. I have a contractor who is usually 2-4 weeks backed up with service calls that often times, I'm left using another source of heat or cooling until the unit is looked at. Depending on air quality and whether you have pets, it's recommended that the indoor unit be cleaned out every 2-3 years. At $150-$200 per head, it can add up pretty quickly. I'm pro heat pump! Just keep in mind, any heating system has it's pro's and cons.

[@kevinpalmer5250]

I did my own install without any experience. In 2013 a pioneer 13 seers And its still working great 👍. Also I bought all the tools for less than $200. Minisplit was $749 00

[@marksimon8393]

Very impressive

[@2mozz]

Same

[@markedgarrivera5909]

I had three of them put in my home and it cost me $5,600 with labor included. I was going to have central air/ central heat installed in my home but the cost would have been $10,000-$13,000 for my home. Glad I got the mini split systems put in. I love them.

[@richmondejiofor6332]

Hey I am in the process of remodeling my basement and the thought of radiator noise is making me think of converting to mini split or central. How has been your experience. I am in Jersey you think it's cheaper or more cost effective than gas boiler?

[@markedgarrivera5909]

@@richmondejiofor6332 My experience has been great. Mini split system is the way to go

[@richmondejiofor6332]

@@markedgarrivera5909 I think I am leaning towards that. The contractor wants to veer me to central air. I am glad am able to research and get feedbacks from guys like you.

[@markedgarrivera5909]

@@richmondejiofor6332 I also like the mini split system in each room because everyone my house can control their own temperature in their rooms

[@richmondejiofor6332]

@@markedgarrivera5909 My dilemma is that we recently converted from oil to gas heating a few years ago, now the contractor makes it seems like forced air/ Central air would be one heck of a tedious job. That is why I think ductless mini split heated is the way to go.

[@JohnFarnham-dn4fo]

Helps keep the temperature down in the less insulated area of the house and reduces the time that our ac unit is running at home in turn saving money. Great item

[@googleuser4765]

Daikin split heat pump with R32 refrigerant is the best i purchased it before 5 year its still working like new it has the best cooling and heating efficiency even under extreme weather.

[@rachaelbyrn8360]

Do you have extreme cold weather where you live?

[@TheCookster64]

I installed a Mr. Cool mini-split in my mobile home on our vacation property. It's working great and with the network connectivity I can always tell what the temperature is there.

[@rgood66]

What motivated myself was operating cost and comfort. Did a lot of research and purchased equipment needed. Picked fujitsu RLF systems then used ebay for new but maybe a dent on the outdoor unit some components from whoever had the best price online. Used single 9k wall mounts in two bedrooms in the master installed a slim duct with 4 way grill 12k inside of the closet, used a dropped ceiling to conceal it. The living areas that are open to one another, I went with one outdoor with three indoor units two ceiling cassettes one 9k 12k where they could be installed in the center of the room and one more slime duct 9k from the kitchen pantry like the master bedroom. I did everything by the book on the OCD side of things. like every line set was vacuumed to 250 microns then break vac with nitrogen and repeat 4 times. Did a 48 hour nitrogen pressure test at the max for each line set. you get the idea. that was 10 years ago and it is operating perfectly. 1. My 3000 sq ft home power bill was cut by almost half annually from $300 to $160 2. These systems convert a/c to D/C that allows a 9000 btu RLF wall mount to throttle all the way down to 1500 btu. So sizing is not as critical on the manual J. 3. Rooms not in use are set to economy mode, only cooling heating areas you need, I live in NC so cooling is priority but if the unit has a cooling rating of 12000 btu its heating rating is 16000 btu. So if you live in cold areas you will save the COP rating is 4 on most models. 4. I can set my bedroom to 66 and don't worry about freezing everyone in the house. 5. Spending a few months to find deals on ebay cut material cost. I did already have large nitrogen bottle for a sports car plus a garage full of tools only need to purchase about $1000 in pump a few gauges 410 flaring tool already had welding supplies for silver soldering. 6. A contractor bid for everything was $21000 and I got it done for about $7500. If i purchased everything from online wholesaler it would been about $11000 plus my time.

[@buildwithrise]

Wow! Heat pumps for the win!

[@josephgomez2249]

What a beast

[@XBOXHOODLUM]

My Amana ducted A/C w/glycol gas heat is 37 years old. Did I break a record? Hope it doesn't break now that I've talked about this.

[@bettyboop1524]

I'm currently researching mini-split for my shotgun style home in Kentucky built in 1900. I wish there was a store that I could go to and talk to someone and actually see what the units look like. I'm glad there are KZbin videos that show what these things look like. I finally found a picture of what the outside connection would look like - it's pretty intense and, quite frankly, pretty ugly, but the huge AC fan box outside isn't too easy on the eyes either. One of my questions is about placement in rooms, they always seem to be tucked in a corner or off to the side, wouldn't it be better for air/heat to flow freely into a room if it was in a central location? So many questions it makes my head swim.

[@buildwithrise]

Great question, Betty. With a ductless mini split you definitely want it in a central location. Ideally, your mini split is aimed at the widest part of the room and even toward any hallways. Mini splits work well for large rooms and open-concept homes, but face difficulties in homes with many smaller rooms. In that case, you can explore a ducted heat pump. Hope this helps!

[@hvacmike1175]

Mitsubishi offers a ceiling cassette indoor unit that would be perfect for what you are trying to do. Call Mitsubishi and ask for a local diamond dealer. This will give you a trained professional and a longer than standard warranty.

[@patriotsfightkids1495]

Have insulated 1500 sq/ft metal building- all open space. I'm going to use as a shop/man cave. May eventually split into two rooms shop/game room. Has electric but no a/c. Was going to put full central air then began researching mini-split. I think I'm going to go with Lennox 3 ton mini-split with two 18k (or more) BTU wall heads in case I do segregate rooms. Decided to go with Lennox b/c I trust that brand and it has 12 year warranty. I'm sure there are many great brands, I just have installed Lennox HVAC in every house I've owned and I love the quality, efficiency, and how well they've worked for me.

[@rgood66]

10 years ago I did the same and after a lot of research picked fujitsu most north american companies rebrand these systems from asia like Friedrich used fujitsu until they switched to lg. I just checked Hvac-talk.com and from what I read Gree makes the systems for lennox. also you can check hvac on ebay I found half the components I needed new and half the price.

[@Ivebeenaroundyouknow]

Good luck

[@Giorg189]

Here in Europe these split A/Cs are very popular. The cost of AC, plus instalation, starts at about 400$ per unit/room.

[@SuspendaS]

The best way to know what company is best is to walk around the neighborhood and see what other people are using. Lucky for me, I live in Japan where houses are close together and it's easy to see these mini splits everywhere as mini splits are the most common way to heat and cool in Japan. I bought a Fujitsu as That's the most popular I've seen here in Japan. Funny that you also have one from the looks of the video. I got a newer model which offers new tech, very happy with my system. Will mention that I also use kerosene heaters as another source, kerosene heaters are also very popular in Japan for saving money..

[@brianmahoney154]

My wife and I just installed a four head three ton Mitsubishi on Long Island NY. were the low temp hits about 18f with a high of 85f. We worked on it part time and completed it in about four days. Total cost of unit, accessories and a few special tools cost us about $10,000. We will never break even on this, but the house didn’t have central A/C and now it does. So this will help the resale value. It is also my main heating equipment with a very efficient oil fired hydronic system to supply domestic hot water and backup heat. I really appreciate having the ability to control the heat throughout our 1,100 square foot ranch. And directly heating the air using the heat pump verses using baseboard hot water is more efficient. As far as the safety of 410A, it’s not poisonous. It’s danger is the same as most other refrigerants, it displaces the air in the room and smothers you. There are no heat pumps that contain this much refrigerant to be a danger to home occupants. As far as the environment goes, 410A does not contain any chlorine so it’s will not damage the ozone layer of the atmosphere. It has a high global warming potential which could add to global warming . Technicians are supposed to recover refrigerant charges. Hope mini-splits catch on here like they have in Europe and Asia.

[@suespony]

I have been watching a lot of videos on these heat pumps, you're the first one I ha e seen that says you can hook up to an existing hydronic system. Very intriguing

[@elizabethetienne1595]

I cannot say I am happy with my mini splits. They operate inconsistently. On a freezing cold night of 32 degrees in the middle of the night one of my mini splits suddenly shoots out I’ve cold air! The other shoots out luke warm air waking me up freezing cold. I had a Mitsubishi GL-15NA

[@mikeluongo537]

I had a 24,000 btu fujitsu. It took care of 1200 square feet of open concept living space. It replace 2 window units, 1 was 18,00 but and the other was a 6. It did a wonderful job, very even and quiet. I never knew when it was on. Loved it, get one, its a no brainer.

[@buildwithrise]

I love a good heat pump success story!

[@DiGiTaLdAzEDM]

I live in an 850 sq. ft. single floor home in the northeast. My walls are R12, ceiling R20. and floor is around R7 insulated (no frost wall or basement). House is tight--not drafty. Good quality windows throughout. An installer has recommended a 12,000 BTU mini-split system by 'Gree' (SEER-30.5, HSPF 14, and CoP 3.8). Overnight winter temps on average 10-15F, and somewhat warmer in the day, but it can get down to 0F temps on occasion. Currently heating with wood, supplemented with baseboard. Would plan to maintain wood as a backup for outages, and occasional use. Will a mini-split give me a good result? Hoping to heat in the $60-$80./ month range. I like an ambient temp of around 65-68F. Thanks for any help--great informative video.

[@Pinoyphilly]

Put in a 24,000 BTU Senville LETO. Great! But to successfully do it with my background; I got all the professional tools needed including nitrogen pressure testing. Its not a simple DIY. You need to be more than above average DIYer. After I did mine it gave way for me to install another 7 units all in the family. Another reason is it cost an arm and a leg depending on the contractor. My wife told me: you are a mechanical engineer that means maybe you can tackle it. I said: “sweetheart thanks for the encouragement”. You can do it.

[@Pinoyphilly]

The LETO was a heat pump: the AC and the heating options deliver as promised. Awesome!

[@buildwithrise]

Your mechanical engineering background definitely gives you a leg up!

[@Pinoyphilly]

@@buildwithrise Thanks, I guess anyone can install it as long as you adhere to instructions

[@tomm3138]

I’m having a problem with the air conditioner. Well I’m running the air conditioner after a couple seconds it just stops and the LED light next to plasma starts flashing. So then I shut it off and I recycle it and it does the exact same thing over and over again. Very frustrating.

[@kerrylara3927]

I have one but dose not heat all the room.

[@frenchiehomestead5473]

Hello We are so excited We got our unit delivered today Now is time for installation Process until we can text it Can’t wait to have it done Stay Safe Everyone!!

[@joannabuchannon9535]

Thank you, looking at a house that needs rehab. A ranch that had a boiler with baseboard heat. Vandalism took and broke a lot. Looking at different kinds. You are very informative, thank you.

[@buildwithrise]

Glad we could help, Joanna! A ductless mini-split heat pump is a great choice for wide, open rooms in a home. If you have a series of smaller rooms, consider a ducted system or several ductless heat pumps. Hope this helps! Good luck with your projects :)

[@eddougherty6087]

This is excellent, in several ways. First, it's really comprehensive in handling the many and varied concerns someone might have in going this route, especially in a new installation scenario. Second, while the Fujitsu system is talked about the most, you avoid being overly promotional: It's a great system, but even you concede there are a number of other worthy contenders. What strikes me as most interesting about this is how very dependent the consumer is on this kind of commentary and supplemental information. For many of us, we think 'I'll just pour myself in to the manual and learn everything I need to know, to make the right decision.' But in this case, the manual is pretty threadbare - just machine function - and never really gets at core questions like 'could I ever use the heating function as a substitute for the furnace system I have?' or 'How much coolant capacity do I need based on where we live, based on our needs?' That's why perhaps *the most interesting comment of all was that perhaps the most consequential decision you'll make in this process is selecting the right vendor/installer as your guide. That's because only someone who has immersed themselves in the nuances of the available equipment, the details of the local climate, only that person can ever give you solid assessments that help answer these questions and guide you on your buying path. The manufacturer just wants to sell you equipment, and of course everything they offer is the perfect solution. For these kinds of installations, you really need a translator. In our case, because of a combination of scheduling jams and equipment availability, the installation happened just as the cooling season was ending (with live in Philly) but before the heating needs are clear. So we haven't even tested the system, except for some spot heating to take the chill out of some of the rooms. Like it or not, informed or not, we have this system to the max (two large compressors, six splitters), and in a few months we'll know. If you're a consumer at the starting line, these kinds of reviews are vital because otherwise no one is answering your questions in this way. Keep researching! Well done.

[@0111LFS]

How many watts do these systems use?

[@cliffordbradford8910]

Also HVAC refrigerants used in homes have never been toxic for humans, the newer ones are less damaging to the ozone layer and probably have lower global warming potential but having an R-22 leak back in the day was not going to kill you by itself.

[@evelynrubia6987]

Mine has been on all night is that ok

[@barbarat7754]

would you embed the piping in the wall in an old apartment mini split installation or would you use line hides to conceal all the piping for a 2 room multi-zone project? I'd like it to look good but I want to make sure I don't have to worry about leaks or anything else. This would be done by a professional HVAC installer. Love to hear you opinion.

[@buildwithrise]

Hey Barb! A ductless mini-split heat pump doesn't need additional indoor piping. Each zone has a single enclosed unit that ducts directly to the outside. That's the beauty of "ductless" mini splits!

[@dramspringfeald]

I'm looking to put these into a mini home (300') and likely satellite on site buildings as needed, 3d printing shop (200'), an on site Office (200') and a Voice booth/engineering building (230'). would it be a good move to use these or on site window units/plug in heaters?

[@paulcourtemanche2386]

I just installed a pair of 24K Mitsubishi MKZ units. I have a 6 room ranch with no open concept. I did the install myself from soup to nuts, with some help from my brother to hang the units on the side of the house. My father has been an HVAC contractor for 60 years as a one man operation, so I have worked in the industry. The only mistake was that I should have used a ceiling cassette in the living room. It is wide and long, but I could not center the wall unit. I am guessing that I have 45 to 50 working hours, because I had to think my way through the installation as it was my first one. I live in Manchester, NH

[@DarwinChaug]

I'm in the same predicament, would a ceiling cassette provide great benefits? Why would a ceiling cassette be preferable to a wall mount cassette? thanks in advance

[@timkr66]

@@DarwinChaug I'm looking at these systems now as well. I thought I could live with the wall mounts, but now I'm looking into ceiling units in the attic. I think those will allow a bit of duct work in the attic to cover a couple of rooms.

[@DarwinChaug]

Tim Krego I just got my 4 zone system installed. Ceiling cassette is quite expensive and much more labor intensive. I went with wall mount and works great. Each unit needs their own lines anyway so usually they are run along the exterior of the house back to the condenser. Not worth the premium in my opinion but maybe worth it for looks if design is important.

[@carloscodina1717]

I needed this information, thanks for assembling it and posting it.

[@mickg3738]

It isn't mentioned that heat pumps do not operate efficiently when temps drop into the teens and single digits, and shut down around zero degrees.

[@carloscodina1717]

Hey, thanks for the tip. I live in South Texas, outside of last week's historical freeze; it never gets below 24F degrees. Well, may once or twice a year....Winter lows usually average around 32 degrees for 1-2 weeks.

[@10tenman10]

I liked the content but the intermittent music was a distraction.

[@TheKiman2]

Basically every home in Japan has these... along with the Toto washlets (bidets). Central cooling/heating is a foreign concept there in residential homes.

[@jasonking8671]

Great video, im about to have one installed and I see you used a Fujitsu unit, what are your views on the Panasonic inverter unit? Thanks

[@buildwithrise]

Panasonic is another very strong brand!

[@roshi98]

@2:30 Please tell me the holes were drilled at least 2" away from the edges of those joists.

[@robskully3539]

it all depends on the cost for oil if you have baseboard heat … or … the price of Kilowatts cost ! Ours was cheap to use until National Grid here in Massachusetts went from 12 cents per kWh to 33 cents per kWh. Now I am thinking of using my oil furnace more. My electric bill went up $200 in one month alone just using the mini split :-(

[@treich1234]

Do these units dehumidify at all and if so is there a condensate line that needs to be installed?

[@vanmonroe4346]

They pull a lot of water from the air. They have a drip hose that needs someplace to drain, usually outside.

[@bonniedevine1150]

We have installed a mini split to heat a 350 sf open area in our home. However our bathroom is always cold. It is off of the 350 sf room. What do you suggest we use to heat the bathroom?

[@synewparadigm]

1.floor heating. 2.fan with an heater.

[@robertl.fallin7062]

I installed a two ton, one outlet Mitshubishi in the fall of 2015. It is close to saving me the installed cost of $4200.00 . over using a 82% effeciency oil boiler and 10.8 EER window units. My total degree days is 6,000 yearly about evenly devided between summer and winter. Two things amaze me, one is the summer humidity is low eliminating a long standing issue of summertime mildew and mold. The second is the lack of any noise inside or out. These units require humidifiers in the winter but I have no other issues and highly recommend the technology for their effeciency and reliability, in particular Mitshubishi.

[@arthurcormier2017]

Love my mini split

[@BoriPR82]

My experience, I had electric baseboards which cost me $1400 a month to barely heat my home. The heat pumps brought my cost down to $150 a month and a heated home of 78f all through the winter, upstate NY. My whole house is electric including water heater, so 150 is everything included.. I installed myself but I took hvac training in high school and I have a universal refrigerate license. Fujitsu and Mitsubishi are the only units I would install.

[@Matt-rz9fh]

Hey, what size indoor units and out door unit did you install? We have electric baseboard heat and want to upgrade to furnace or mini split.

[@1995Benzo]

My home is 100% electric baseboard heating as well. I'm hoping to get a Mitsubishi mini-split in a couple weeks. I initially wanted it for air conditioning, but found out the multizone units include a heat pump. After doing research about the heating, as my baseboard heat never feels comfortable, I've gotten more excited about getting one of these.

[@BoriPR82]

@@Matt-rz9fh hey sorry I'm responding so late. I have an 18k btu in my livingroom which heats my livingroom, kitchen, hallway and entrance. In the two bedrooms downstairs I have two 9k btu. My down stairs bathroom is heated with the air that circulates from the minis in the rooms.

[@BoriPR82]

@@1995Benzo you will not regret it. We used our heat pump the entire winter and I never had to turn on the electric baseboards. Save thousands of dollars. My mini splits paid themselves off the first year. I did everything myself so it was cheaper, but these units are fantastic. I recommend that you air seal your home, and also put in an hrv so that you can get fresh air in the house and remove the bad air.

[@affordabledesertliving3487]

My goal is to heat and cool and EXTREMELY well insulated 200 sq ft cabin. I wonder if a mini split will do the trick.

[@Joe_1971]

What's you opinion on air-con mini split? I see one on Amazon 24,000btu for $1389.00

[@mickg3738]

I avoided using in an add on room because the manufacturer indicated shutdown around 0 degrees and inefficiency when temps are in the single digits and teens.

[@dirty2shame]

I’m currently installing a bulrushes 3 ton with 4 separate air handlers running 12000 btu each. I have to finish wiring and line set connection. I’m going to have tech vacuum and release coolant..to be continued

[@dirty2shame]

Sorry product is a Bluridge...not bulrush, lol

[@hvacmike1175]

48000 BTU indoors ON A 36000 outdoor unit?

[@dankriewald4764]

Great show Thank You , i do vote no on music 😀 Rock On !

[@buildwithrise]

Haha - noted!

[@sprockkets]

Fun fact, R32 is just R410a without the R125 in it. The only reason why they blended R125 with it is to tamper R32's penchant for flammability. Unfortunately that increases its GWP. Had we just used R32 we could have just kept on using it. At least for mini splits most repairs don't involve brazing.

[@prophetseven728]

Good Video. Not sure how this would be cheaper then Gas Heaters? If you have no Solar.

[@garywilson5192]

Fantastic I been putting them in for years. Only been back on one in two 1/2 years and had to add a few once's of Freon. Super efff.

[@jimrafalko9622]

Do you have a brand that you deem the best? I want the A/C functionality the most. No need for heat.

[@garywilson5192]

@@jimrafalko9622 Daikin 100%

[@Matt-rz9fh]

Our house is a 1500 sqft tri level with electric baseboard heat located in northern Illinois.... would you recommend a mini split or a gas furnace?

[@robertl.fallin7062]

I live in the central Va area with maybe 50 hours a year below 5° and 5 days a year of 100° heat. My unit is good for zero temptures but you can purchase "cold weather units" good to negative 15°. however the unit only puts out the the rated btus down to zero. I love my mini split but I retained a 82% effeciency oil fired boiler for the rare zero days and for when I lose electric service thanks to my areas infestation of squirles and drunk drivers! I can run my boiler plus a few lights and a refrigerator on a 2500 watt gen set . My mini needs 2700 watts during very cold weather . I am a fan of Mitshubishi mini splits, have had five years of use, saved the installed cost in the five service free year iv owned it. AND no longer have summer time mildew or mold.

[@garywilson5192]

MINI SPLIT 100%

[@buildwithrise]

I'm in Canada and I don't regret my mini-split for a moment! As Robert said, you can purchase units that retain relative efficiency to -15°. The mini-split will be extremely efficient most days of the year, and those few frigid weeks/days are when you can turn on your electric baseboards. That's a very common combination up here.

[@Blah-blah-sure]

Thanks for the simple explanation

[@RAMakaWERO]

Mr cool diy is all u need 😎

[@toddhutchens]

Until you need to fix it.

[@timkr66]

@@toddhutchens That's my concern. I've seen less expensive DIY systems, but this is a long term investment for my home. I'd rather spend a bit more for a solid unit with a warranty and support.

[@toddhutchens]

@@timkr66 You can't tell people how to spend their money. But you can show them why you shouldn't with knowledge and facts.

[@darrendaniel2578]

Mr Cool DYI units have the same or better warranty with half the cost. I could buy two units and have one as a spare for the same cost as a HVAC company installed mini split. Sorry, most HVAC companies doesn’t even do a load calculation. Learned this the hard way. Now I’m putting in a mini split to make up for the lack of cooling the $10,000 “License” company installed.

[@hvacmike1175]

Rely on a heat load calc. There are to many variables to “eyeball” the size of the HVAC system. A heat load calculation Is the only way to know the system requirements. These units are extremely efficient and will reduce your energy cost when properly sized and installed correctly. Mitsubishi is the way to go. These are reliable when installed by a Professional.

[@dawnwheat6663]

We just had one installed ... we thought not was 220v but it was 110 v . The efficiency # was not as good as we thought? Our friend was not much help & he’s a pro ac guy? 🤔

[@buildwithrise]

Did your installer purchase the unit? If the installation didn't meet your expectations as outlined by your installer, you should request they remedy the issue. It's their job to choose a unit that is suited for your home and your priorities as a homeowner.

[@AJB-jj5qg]

Very informative video.Thank you.

[@jasonbertucci1012]

OK so a ducted system will move air around much more evenly. For instance we have a ductless unit in the dining room. To get the living room and kitchen cool you have to let the dining room absolutely glacial. Something I wish we knew.

[@notd0ll109]

That seems like it would be common sense though since the source is only coming from one room and you are having to force air across two rooms to get to the third, vs just having a duct in the room you want to cool.

[@thearmy88ify]

This is one of the best money saving DIY projects in a home. The idea that this isnt a diy project(by scaring people with the back of an unprofessional/unorganized HVAC truck) is completely wrong. Specialty tools needed are less than $400 and the unit already has refrigerant in it. Just FYI, the old refrigerant was insanely cheap and non flammable compared to all the new stuff. If there is a fire, the new refrigerant creates highly toxic gas.

[@jga996]

How expensive are they

[@buildwithrise]

Expect about $5K installed, plus or minus about $1-$2K depending on the size of the system and details of the installation. Good luck!

[@shanemccabe_7]

What kind of companies install these types of units? I am finding when I talk with regular HVAC companies (specifically air/con) that they are reluctant to advocate for them. I can not understand this. I currently live in Central Florida

[@buildwithrise]

Hey Shane! If you're speaking with A/C installers, it's no surprise that they are advocating for an A/C installation over a heat pump. In very warm climates like yours, if heating isn't a requirement then perhaps an efficient A/C unit would be a better fit. Look for the Energy Star label and a SEER number above 20.

[@Pinoyphilly]

Reluctant? You bet because i was told they dont make an great amount of money on mini splits.

[@1995Benzo]

I'm in CT and most HVAC companies install these units.

[@Officialbillyd23]

Are they using spray foam for your basement?

[@buildwithrise]

Hey William! After a LOT of research, I chose spray foam for my basement. I don't love the VOCs it gives off, but I felt safe knowing my family wasn't in the home during the install, and the basement isn't a space we frequent. Spray foam doubles as an insulator and an air sealer, which was a great choice for my older home. I chose blown-in cellulose for my attic we did a video! Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYfbp4mgfdh4jMk&t

[@donaldkrobinson900]

My Kerr MININSPLIT IS GIVING ME A LITTLE TROUBLE IT WILL START BUT SHUT OF AFTER A FEW MIN. BUT WILL RESTART AND RUN ABOUT 7 MIN. AND THEN COOL DOWN JUST BEFORE IT SHUTTS DOWN NO MATER IF I HAVE THE HEAT TURNED TO 75 AND THE TEMP. IS ONLY 69 OR 72 OR WHAT EVER IT IS SET TO IT DOES THE SAME THING.

[@MrDaryboy]

3 to 5 grand? Mitsubishi is around $1800. Where you getting 3 to 5 grand?

[@andrewblack5396]

Thank you!

[@buildwithrise]

Thanks for watching, Andrew!

[@davidsallee3867]

Very helpful info thanks

[@mikee3997]

Im installing one for first time after installing ducted units for years as a Ct licensed technician

[@buildwithrise]

Nice, Mike!

[@billwilliamson3031]

Super easy to install if you are installing on the same wall inside and out. I’m also a tech/installer of Hvac systems.

[@GCSol]

I've been thinking of installing a mini split but I've been reading a lot of reviews where people's electric bills went up 30-50% using a mini split.

[@WeTrudgeOn]

A homeowner does not need a licensed electrician to DIY any electrical device.

[@cliffordbradford8910]

(1) Yes that might be true in the USA but a savvy homebuyer might pass when you're trying to sell particularly if your work is not up to code (and if they're savvy they'll be able to tell) and (2) that may not be true in other countries.

[@sryth1]

Did you say that the mini-split is more efficient at heating than an oil/gas fired furnace?

[@sprockkets]

Depends on cost of the fossil fuel and its efficiency. Natural gas mostly wins, but if you are in part of the season where you only have 30-45 degree F temps, then the mini split probably will be cheaper. Vs propane it should mostly win, and if fuel costs go back to 4 dollars a gallon, then it's no comparision.

[@sprockkets]

Of course if you can use solar panels to offset your carbon foot print, you'd be doing much more for the environment long term. Natural gas puts out tons of CO2.

[@rgood66]

Yes I Think electric heat such as base board has a cop of 1 or oil/gas is COP of .93 and the fujitsu units I use have a COP of 3.8 to 4 Coefficient of performance. When you check the model mini split in the specs it will show the COP.

[@sprockkets]

@@rgood66 Just remember COP can drop to around 1.5 as temps drop below 0 F.

[@rgood66]

@@sprockkets I didnt know that thanks for the info.

[@paul_london]

No it’s really easy to diy

[@PatinaChevy56]

I live in East Texas and have a 1000 square ft. brick home, built in the mid 70's. It has blown in insulation and what looks like a foil heat barrier in the attic on top of the insulation. Ours central AC went out ten years ago and I've been using two 5000 BTU window units and one 10,000 BTU window unit and they cool the house much more efficiently than the central AC ever did at about half the cost. I am wondering if it is worth the cost to change to ductless AC instead of going back to a central AC unit. I still have the ductwork in the attick.

[@toddhutchens]

You could just use one system for your home and be good. 12 or 15k. No reason to use old ductwork in an attic that gets hot and is leaky.

[@PaulBodyBuilder]

What about using green, sustainable, passive materials like hemp, solar, heat exchangers, heat pumps

[@buildwithrise]

Great question, Paul! For most sustainable home enthusiasts the ultimate goal is an efficient home that is built with recycled or renewable materials and that creates more energy than it uses. For many homeowners looking to renovate for energy efficiency, the first step is air-sealing their home and step two would be installing an efficient heat or cooling source like a heat pump.

[@ravipullela7345]

thanks for this! very informative. do you know if you lose lots of energy from the unit if you use the heat pump system to heat your infloor heating? is single units better than multizone? (more efficient?)

[@buildwithrise]

Hey Ravi! You can definitely use a heat pump system to efficiently heat your floor with a radiant heating system. Whether you're heating/cooling your air or your floor, you will need to choose a heat pump model that suits your square footage. This would be a conversation to have with your installer or the manufacturer. Hope this helps!

[@cfldriven]

single units are more efficient than multi zone units. Plus having single units allow you to run one in heat and the other in cool, something which you can not do with multi zone unit.

[@NormanMcGregor]

No better that my baseboard heater.

[@richardmckrell4899]

You can install them yourself with a little research.

[@richardmckrell4899]

@420 Friendly I said a little research. You can always run the wire and have an electrician do the box connection.

[@jimlittle737]

There are DIY units available.

[@norman6694]

@420 Friendly yeah you should see what the so called licensed professional did on my install

[@darrendaniel2578]

Mr. Cool sales a DYI model with the same warranty as a “contractor” installed unit. For The price of the “contractor” Installed unit you could buy 2 units and keep one as a spare.US HVAC companies are driving the demand for DYI systems. They are literally making 50% profit.

[@Carbman]

@@darrendaniel2578 yea i was quoted 2900 today for a $1000 9k btu carrier unit. Pretty crazy they want to make $2000 for a job that might take 3 hours.

[@Mr5Stars]

All I heard were the Pros......anyone, What are the Cons?

[@buildwithrise]

Some of the disadvantages of mini split heat pumps include: their high up-front cost, their reduced efficiency at low temperatures, the ugly appearance of the exterior unit, and the cost of annual maintenance. Hope this helps, Max Power!

[@kkmart43]

I want to add the head to my propane furnace ducting instead of hanging it on the wall.

[@jcepri]

Using one if these as a hest source has got to be expensive electric heat is expensive

[@karmendimas5274]

I don't care about payback all I care about comfort and the power bill LOL

[@dingopisscreek]

the uk govt. is offering £5000 towards the cost of installing a heat pump. is this an incentive? perhaps to those who are better off. the poorest will not be able to afford the money above the £5k they get as a grant and if landlords install the pump they will add the cost onto the rent and the tenant will pay in the end. personally i will wait, as the forecast is that in the coming years the price 'will plummet'. where is the incentive? for me there isn't one.

[@naturalhealing9970]

It is not true that a mini split will save money of gas furnaces. The cost per unit of Natural Gas is much, much less than electric. On average in Chicago, heating with a Mitsubishi Hyper Heat mini split costs 50%+ more than a gas furnace!! Don't mislead people, efficient does not equate to cost when comparing gas to electric.

[@hairywon]

Our experience has been all negative. Began with poor advice from the representative and the installer who told us they would be fine in our older home despite the fact that each level is all chopped up with walls and doorways. Tried it for a year and it heated one room and the others stayed cold. The installer recommended moving it to the large kitchen...so we did...which gave us a hot kitchen and cold living areas. The money saving sure didn't happen either. Was 'gaurenteed' it would only cost about $50 a month to run both....nope...with only the one running in the bottom floor light bill went fron $300 bi-monthly average to....brace yourself....$700 bi-monthly....The only positive aspect of the whole experience was that the supplier promised a full refund if I wasn't happy and he lived up to that....removed after second winter. We didn't think our home was suitable for a ductless system...and we were right....So what did we learn...bottom line ...be sure of who you take advice from and do your homework.....especially of you are a senior like us!!

[@buildwithrise]

That is such a bad experience! The rep and installer should have been able to tell you that your home's layout isn't ideal for a ductless mini-split heat pump. They would essentially be working themselves out of a sale, but it's their responsibility as a professional to make sure you get the heating solution that suits your home. What do you use for heating now?

[@hairywon]

@@buildwithrise Our home is a 12 room , two story house that has undergone renovations over the 30 years we have been here. The heating system is a combination wood/oil furnace with a pellet stove in our large kitchen by the bank of windows on one wall.....

[@buildwithrise]

@@hairywon Wow, sounds like a maze of a house! Have you folks done other renos to improve your energy efficiency? Extra insulation, air sealing, etc?

[@hairywon]

@@buildwithrise I kinda chuckled at this...the old house has been virtually rebuilt...could have built a brand new house with the money spent on renovations! Big addition added...new steel roof, new foundation to replace rock wall one, new oil.wood furnace with new double flu chimney, and all new ductwork, all new plumbing, wiring plus new electric panel, all interior walls torn out(plaster and lathe)....insulated and gyproced, all new windows and all new doors, pellet stove in kitchen....sooo...as you can see....we have spent a ton turning an old house into what it is now....a friggin money pit...we love the property or we would never have done this....and I can tell you I would never do it again...lol..have considered solar panels or ducted heat pump but at our age and now on pensions...it just doesn't make any economical sense....

[@buildwithrise]

@@hairywon What a saga! Hopefully, you don't regret putting all that work in,. What matters most is that you live in a home that fits your values, whether it's your comfort, health, carbon footprint, or something else altogether!

[@donjuan4067]

I am so happy I did not end up buying this.. I live where summer is only 4-5 months max.. Portable AC with window vent is the way to go. 6x cheaper. 6x less ugly, as its not something ridicules hanging on your wall 365 days of the year. And lets not even talk about the connections and garbage connections outside.

[@pennyweigel2869]

DO NOT use these in a tropical climate. I had them in a BnB I built on Maui and they quickly began to stink. No amount of cleaning or spraying helped. I had to take it apart to get the barrel fan out and it looked like it was covered in black bear fur! No wonder I have asthma now. We replaced them with simple wall units… an expensise health risk.

[@sylence4u]

that's odd. a resort in cancun had these. no smell whatso ever and cancun is super humid.. also have these in our home in southern california.. no smell.

[@norman6694]

I first saw these in Okinawa, they work great over there

[@blessedarmadillo8257]

Regarding "the health of occupants", did you give consideration to the affect on occupants by the tightly sealing of your household? Chemicals and biological pathogens can build up without proper ventilation.

[@jkelectrical]

Contractor should not have gas bottles in closed van - very dangerous.

[@dieseldc409]

Environmental factor lol. Dude they’re all 410 😂. No one uses r22 anymore unless they lose some b/c of a leak. I get it though, every company wants to be environmentally friendly.Your argument was kinda goofy for the points you brought up which were pretty vanilla. If you wanted to be really with the environment, talk about how you remove freon, reuse old equipment or dismantle and recycle broken ones. Don't go off a tangent that makes it like you didn't know what you were talking about or words were on the tip of your tongue - attempting to blow smoke up someone's butt.

[@josephbohme7917]

I disagree if you have discipline and true undestanding of the scope of the work it is D I Y. When money is an issue $500 is what you are going to save and that is the real decision. Top you have even $1500 to buy the smaller 12K unit. Can you be prepared, take a full weekend to do what a prepared installer would in less than perhaps 5 hours. Do you have $1800 or $1300. Peace of mind costs. You must have the install quoted and under contract with every detail listed. Get more than a few quotes, only if you are going to use sombody, Don't waste their time. Quote and contact for All the parts and action. Absolutely no hidden fees or costs. Brackets, screws, wire, conduit, connectors, switch boxes, Breakers. A laundry list. Their Tools = drill, hole saw, ac lines, gauges & pump, wrenches. To do this you need to be aware of electricity, how to shut off your power, place a a new 220 breaker and run a new circuit. That is the biggest hurdle. That is the main decisoin if you work alone or get some experience to help. Again all this effort is only to save money or get to learn how if you want to do it again elsewhere or fix things. Is $500 on top of a decent small

[@buildwithrise]

Thanks for watching, Joseph! Certainly, if you have the experience, anything could be a DIY job. In general, though, we advise most homeowners to seek a professional for HVAC/electrician/plumbing jobs.

[@samuelolteanu]

"the colder the climate, the harder they have to work" statement is ambiguous. I'm sure you know this, but at low outside temps, the compressor will actually work less because there is less heat to...pump and/or defrost cicles are managed.

[@averyalexander2303]

That statement is partially true. If someone has a standard heat pump that is either on (100% capacity) or off (0% capacity), the compressor's power draw will in fact be lower with a lower ambient temp because it will be absorbing less heat and therefore building less pressure, so it won't be doing as much work. However, since we are talking about inverter units with variable speed compressors, your statement is false under most conditions. Let's say someone has an inverter mini split set to 70 degrees in heat mode with a 50 degree outside temperature. Assuming the unit is correctly sized, the compressor is not going to have to work very hard to maintain 70 degrees, it may only need to run at 1/3 of its capacity. Now let's say the outside temp drops to 20 degrees and the compressor needs to run at 100% capacity, but it is still able to keep the structure at 70 degrees. It will need to do more work to keep up since the structure's heat loss will be higher due to the higher delta T between inside and outside, also lowering the system's capacity. However, let's say the outside temp now drops to 0 degrees and the compressor is still running at 100% capacity. Since it won't be able to pick up as much heat from outside the compressor won't be doing as much work, so the power draw will be lower. Anyone with a heat pump (myself included) will tell you that their power bills are higher on colder months.

[@samuelolteanu]

@@averyalexander2303 We may talk about very different models but in my area, all the ac inverters get to around 1/3 of their rated power draw when outside temp is getting close to their rated minimum working temperature. Of course the bill is higher, there is more amount of heat produced overall.

[@cavsomecadence6117]

...in my solar-powered She-Shed...

[@phildirt3]

You better get a reputable contractor and heating cooling company.

[@buildwithrise]

Great advice!

[@Bobotrucker]

So much incorrect information.. Viewer's beware

[@cindy68780]

Fiujitsu sucks, dead after 10 years.

[@RM-um9dg]

PLEASE ditch the useless background music on future videos. What purpose does it serve but to ruin your video!