Mini Split Maintenance and Drain Options

[@90Davidea]

Finally got it up and running. The only delays we had was because we realized we needed some extra parts (I’ll list that below) kzbin.infoUgkxihMYiJNXcHdbH-7ihymsLz61l7jVyb5O . So we have a loft where our current hvac just couldn’t seem to keep cool during the summer. We have been using a window unit since we bought this house over 6 years ago (all the houses in this neighborhood were built in the 80’s and majority of the houses built like ours use a window unit). I hate window units because they are just so noisy and the one we had really only cools one side of the loft. I had contemplated upgrading our current HVAC, but with all the rising prices these days, it would take years before saving up enough to do that. With the advice of my father-in-law (used to run an HVAC business), he recommended we get an inverter instead. We thought we bought everything we needed, but there were just a few other parts we didn’t anticipate needing (which is what caused most of our delay). My friend and father-in-law did all the work to get it installed and running and now we have nice cool air circulating nicely throughout the entire loft. It is very quiet and even the outside unit is much quieter than our main HVAC unit. Saved ourselves thousands getting this.

[@TaddyDigest]

Good job my friend

[@Luis-eo5pj]

Great info , everyone has they’re own ways of doing it but you’re always cristal clear and I get my answers watching your videos , keep up the good work 👍👍

[@TaddyDigest]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@scottallen5182]

The aesthetics of the pump mounted on the inside of the wall are great!

[@TaddyDigest]

Yeah I agree

[@larkhill2119]

Put the pump in a wall-mounted Ikea cabinet or bookcase with false book spines. Add soundproofing and pipes behind the gyprock. Or a fish tank :-) Greetings from Germany Gut nacht.

[@TaddyDigest]

That is a great Idea Thank YOU

[@dporrasxtremeLS3]

Tad if this was my home i would install a large enough plumbing access door to mount the pump inside the wall cavity, in a good mounting spot where you could open the access door to do your service, and run your line down and out, or up. I would also paint the access cover to match the wall. Very informative video! Thank you very much.

[@mikeygeee]

I would definitely say the aesthetics of this pump on an interior wall is a no go for me. Putting it in a wall cavity with access door and wiring in the wall is a much better choice. Potentially can be done with no sheetrock repair.

[@sfl6307]

Tad I would have to say, the wall it hard to look at with a pump on it, why not just run tubing in the wall and come out close to the floor at least you can hide the pump with something like cutting out the bottom of a flower pot and covering the pump, throw some fake plants in the pot and the plug would be on the floor also, maybe replace the cord to a white one. Like your videos!

[@shanefrank3281]

One option that would look better than the standard pump hanging on the wall is the Aspen Mini White Silent + or the Aspen Mini White. They actually mount on the wall flush to the bottom of your mini-split and so you can access them for maintenance/cleaning. Diversitech also makes one like that called the "Asurity Undermount Mini-Split Condensate Pump" and Refco makes the Gobi II (but I have heard these aren't that reliable).

[@coolsheatingacservices7375]

GREAT SHOWMANSHIP !!!

[@dianarosado2536]

Appreciate your videos

[@kevinpearce3281]

Hey next time put your condensate pump lower to the floor. It would look better. You can always run 3/4” down the wall into the pump. Plus your power cord coulda stayed rolled up just long enough to reach the plug.

[@TaddyDigest]

good idea thank you

[@Rap-dogg]

Nooo! I don't wanna get into all this! 😅 I just got a 4plex where about 8 of these were installed recently. Should I force my tenants to let me in to do maintenance and maybe wind up in a ceiling crawl space? 🤔

[@jasonvillanueva8541]

Are there any risks with putting the gravity drain inside the wall as mentioned at 11:13? How would you clean the gravity drain if in the wall? Great video!

[@JimS870]

Have two mini split heads. Aspen pumps below the heads, exact same pumps. The 24k BTU head pump pumps really slowly, like takes over a minute and 15 secs to slowly drain out. The 12k head drains out in in under 40 seconds. Any theories? My 24k is used more and the vinyl tube condensate line looks a little 'murky' but still drains whereas the 12k head drain tube is crystal clear. When they did maintenance (first annual) they didn't clean it up. Odd.

[@MattFerguson26]

7:30 is there no option to hide that behind a shelf or something? I thought you were messing with us keeping it there.

[@graveytrain32]

got mini split and it has a blue line down my wall from a tiny leak, what would cause? happens it seems when hot and humid outside, also i noticed the outside unit where valves are are frozen but only where insulation isnt on then

[@TaddyDigest]

Unit is probably low on charge

[@graveytrain32]

okay, its basically new, could it still be low? it still seems to cool okay, its a confortotal mini split

[@SmartMoneyRyan]

Do you think it's a good idea to route the drain water onto the outdoor coils to increase efficiency? When my coils are wet I notice like 60 watt drop. 380watts to 320 when the coils are wet

[@TaddyDigest]

not drain water but a ph balanced water maybe 🤔

[@oleksandrryzhkov6167]

How do you plumb drain for multiple heads? Will it require to have drain for each head or connect into one ?

[@TaddyDigest]

drain for each head

[@scottallen5182]

When you put gauges on the system, what pressures are you looking for to know the charge is correct?

[@TaddyDigest]

Check out my video on how to work On Mini Splits

[@mark.r8900]

Hi, the evaporator coil goes from top to front. The water only collects on front of coil and into drain pan. Why water doesn't collects ontop of coil and drips onto blower? Great video. Thanks.

[@TaddyDigest]

Your drain line could be clogged

[@mark.r8900]

Sorry what I meant was the design of the evaporator coil curves from top to front of unit. Why does the design of the drain pan only sits beneath the bottom front of the evaporator coil? What happens to condensate at back of coil? Thanks

[@TaddyDigest]

It slopes to either side where the drain port is located

[@mark.r8900]

Thanks

[@bryanclayton6780]

I have a gravity drain using standard condensate line, it’s about 30’ in length. Do I need to vent the drain line to prevent backups?

[@TaddyDigest]

It's not necessary but it's always helpful

[@aquicktake]

Hated gravity drains. The pipe would get so full of slimy gunk and would get blocked every 3 to 4 weeks - the condenser was mounted 3 stories high and same with the drain tube (pvc). PIA to clean out.

[@cjplay2]

"Hose Clamp". How do you feel about compression rings for a pump versus the hose clamp you showed? Too small for rings, or too much hassle, or not adjustable, or what?

[@TaddyDigest]

those work well

[@petersachs764]

Is there such a thing as a heated condensate lines? I live in Central Massachusetts where it gets very cold and have fiber cement siding that I really don't want to run lines over on multiple sides of my house and ruin the astectic. I was thinking of using ceiling casettes in the bedrooms below my attic and running the lines through the attic and down just one side of my house. My attic however is unconditioned and I'm concerned condensate lines might freeze in Feb and March.

[@TaddyDigest]

yes I have used heat tape wrapped around the condensate lines only during the winter or just go into the buildings plumbing and don't exit the building with the drain

[@davidciupei3585]

How did you connect the 2 wires from that wall mounted condensation pump to the mini split? Not sure where to run the 2 black wires.

[@TaddyDigest]

Break one line of power L1 or L2 with the black wires

[@zlo92x21]

How to wire those pumps and what to break for the safety pump to kill power on mini splits would be a nice video never had to use one yet but would be nice to know

[@TaddyDigest]

ok deal

[@bethbaxter7594]

Can 2 mini splits share a drain line? So both indoor units go to a single 3/4” PVC to drain outside or do they all have to pipe outside independently

[@TaddyDigest]

yes absolutely

[@bethbaxter7594]

Thanks so much trying to figure all this out.

[@TaddyDigest]

You're welcome I am here to Help Please consider joining Join this channel to get access to perks: kzbin.info/door/uMyjTVlkM4xZ5z_eSyoB1wjoin Wanna Learn more about hvac? Check out my hvac tips for technicians playist. kzbin.info/aero/PLVjetZt5xgenmO76adHwb2ctyeBIFKUus

[@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity]

Just wondering if we could drop a chain through a 7/8" hole, like we do when pulling a tstat wire up through the wall??? Then pull the 5/8" ID drain hose back up.

[@TaddyDigest]

Yeah definitely that's a good idea

[@dontblameme6328]

Stand still!

[@jordanculver9521]

This is very helpful, but the way you are rocking back and forth on your feet in the beginning is making me a tad seasick :-)

[@TaddyDigest]

Just a tad

[@guppygb6078]

That looks awful. At that point, just put in a window AC unit or keep the mini pump in the attic.

[@dianarosado2536]

Ur hilarious,...that's for the videos there very helpful

[@TaddyDigest]

Glad you like them!

[@abatro5664]

I’ve seen line hide to cover the drain. Going through the floor if you can.

[@richardharmon874]

Tad look into omega mini split condensate pump and please take that pump off of that wall.the omega is the best option for that.please look it up i use them all the time when i install mini splits on interior wall.

[@TaddyDigest]

I'll check it out thank you very much

[@johnclarke4863]

Many of these units actually have room to install the pump inside.

[@lestalkmorebasss]

Those tiny pumps can be ticky as hell but wow I can’t believe they’re ok with that big pump being visible…. But hey on the other one I’m the guy charging $500 bucks to patch all that sheetrock in a day lol

[@cantyoufeelthelove]

What about ceiling cassette maintenance? Is that the same'?

[@TaddyDigest]

I will do a video on that soon

[@naturalistfarmstead2141]

Is recharging the outdoor unit something a homeowner can do (like ac charging a car)? We have a unit that doesn't seem to be blowing as cold as it's supposed to. We haven't checked pressure levels yet.

[@TaddyDigest]

If you have the know how and you have the tools then then do it

[@cookiect2003]

Negative

[@shanefrank3281]

If you know what you are doing it isn't that difficult. But you don't want to overcharge the system. Technically you have to be EPA 608 certified to refill refrigerant. You can get certified with an online test and I think it is only about $75.

[@snackbardipper]

I would prefer a gravity fed line neatly running down the outside of my wall than that ugly pump on my interior wall.

[@TonyRodriguez-ok2ix]

always test the pump to make sure it works.

[@wgh15330]

Where does the new pump drain line travel to/through?

[@TaddyDigest]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2OyemSum9-Hb9U

[@kevinstephens2834]

Dude. The info is good, but the rocking back and forth is HARD to watch.

[@brianttt]

I should have bought 2 window units instead.

[@cookiect2003]

Did you really mount a full sized pump to the wall? WTF?

[@TaddyDigest]

yes absolutely

[@wgh15330]

Why did that bigger unit have a trap on the drain?

[@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity]

The bigger unit pulls a negative pressure on the drain and sometimes the air entering can prevent water from exiting the condensate pan drain port. Mini split indoor units do not have a return duct and do not pull as much of a negative pressure on the drain port, making it unnecessary to have a P-trap or a run trap.

[@TaddyDigest]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2OyemSum9-Hb9U

[@TaddyDigest]

exactly thank you for answering this question 🙏 😊

[@wgh15330]

Well that makes sense. Thanks!

[@mordeth999]

I personally try and avoid putting any kind of drain trap on the positive pressure side of the blower. Nothing wrong with doing it, but not usually necessary as the positive pressure of the (in this case) furnace blower will be enough to allow the water to gravity drain from the coil. Definitely do need a drain trap if the drain line is on the negative pressure side of the blower, as that will cause the water to be pulled back into the drainpan.

[@frankgall6]

DO NOT HOOK GAUGES UP ON EVERY MAINTENANCE!!!!

[@TaddyDigest]

lol why 😆 😂 😆

[@frankgall6]

It’s a critically charged unit, you let a little refrigerant out every time you put gauges on, not to mention what you can let into the system. You need to do it preferably with probes at start up but after that if the unit has the proper split why would you take the chance??? Laughing emoji 🙄 look up measurequick it has non evasive testing where you take the line temp and temp slit at unit to get capacity. Any other questions?

[@frankgall6]

I enjoy your content. It’s just not best practices to put gauges on every time you go to a call, that’s all. 👍🏻 keep up the good work.

[@ctrlartdel]

@@frankgall6yes sir! Still hard to not lose some unless you have brand new gaskets

[@Quaght]

My self-awareness that I'm an idiot allows me to ask: While I understand that the pump is drawing water from the mini split (or water is flowing into the pump from the unit) but where is the pump pumping the water to?

[@TaddyDigest]

Pumps the water outside

[@Quaght]

@@TaddyDigest I figured that, but is it pumping it up into a drain in the ceiling to outside, or through a drain in the wall (where there apparently wasn't an option for this particular install since you didn't use a gravity drain)? I'm asking because I have a room that I'm thinking about cooling with a mini split and the only walls are interior walls (there is an exterior wall but it faces the front porch and I don't want anything out there for aesthetics). I have a slab, so no drilling into the floor.

[@TaddyDigest]

This was pumping up into the ceiling across the ceiling. And then out with the copper line sets and the wiring.

[@Quaght]

@@TaddyDigest AHA! That makes a whole bunch of sense. Thanks for the explanation!

[@richardharmon874]

I stopped using the aspen and only use the omga pump

[@TaddyDigest]

Very cool Richard

[@KamoruAdetayo]

I join

[@douglasthompson2740]

Big red flag. Because of the design and construction of all mini splits the charge can not be ascertained by "connecting the gauges"! Tthe charge has to be vacuumed out and weighed then that weight is compared to the manufacturer's specs to find out if it is completely charged or not. An expensive process when performed unnecessarily every year.

[@algomez9805]

i join

[@TaddyDigest]

Here is the link to join kzbin.info/door/uMyjTVlkM4xZ5z_eSyoB1wjoin

[@paulhobaica7323]

Found the information was great- it helped me- but really didn’t find him funny-not even slightly did I even slightly think the accent or whatever it was was helpful, relevant or important. This guy should knock off the “Jerry Seinfeld” ( aka-attempt at comedy-I love Seinfeld and only using his name as reference) routine- it was intolerable and just when I was clicking off -he fortunately stopped that goofball talk. I am not concerned about even representing a political correctness point of view- I am far from that-but it that talking the way you did was really annoying and will prohibit growth if you continue to think it should be part of you content and routine. Bottom line- great relevant content-goofball on delivery and style. Also suggesting that that type of maintenance should be done 1-2 times-per month is not accurate. Thanks.

[@jcwinkel]

Mini splits are trash. They must be engineered by AC technicians. Who can afford all that maintenance? Taking them apart is a joke. The clips break like crazy. The pumps go out. Who's going to clean their filters every two weeks? I've two of them. They look terrible and are a nightmare.

[@paulcampbell8696]

Sounds like somebody is biased against them. I have had two for two years and they have been perfect and I am happy to clean those filters. Not sure what all your fuss is about.

[@get2it7]

They are annoying when it comes to taking out the blower wheel in my experience

[@edgardelgado9937]

Actually they’re engineered by idiot engineers who think a HVAC techs job is so easy even a idiot home owner can do it

[@DougDemsko]

My mini split system is great. I had more issues with my central air conditioning in my house in Ohio.

[@jrm523]

Umm no they are not. They are extremely efficient and low priced. Obviously there will always be some brands that are better than others but just because you had a bad experience doesn't mean they are trash..

[@erickfcc]

What an eyesore on that wall