5 Options for HVAC Ductless Mini-Splits before you buy!

[@diymco2728]

I need advice / direction. Here are the facts: 1) my home was built in 2007 2) it is two story with basement 3) I currently have two "traditional" (R22) hvac systems: one for basement and first floor. The other for second floor. 4) I think the second story mini split should be straight forward. My concern is the first floor minisplit install. Is there any way to leverage my current duct work to avoid having a "cassette" hanging on the wall? 5) are there any other pieces of info that would be helpful let me know. Thanks!

[@isabelespinheira360]

hi there, I was told my my AC contractor that I don't have enough room above my window to install a 12" tall mini split unit, I watched your video and tried to find the smallest ( height) unit in the market, but I could not find anything smaller, any recommendations?

[@davidwatchesyoutube247]

What’s doable for the ceiling but in a 2 story - downstairs garage and downstairs living room

[@phigo4kins]

Hi, I Have a 12K BTU Unit, Its Rated For Upto A 750CuFt Area. I Am Installing in In a Living Room of about 500CuFt Area. I Want To Extend it to Another Room Of About 150CuFt. Can I Do That? What Do I Need To Do? Just Get Another Indoor Unit? 🤔🤔🤔🤔 Thanks.

[@anthonyspadafora1384]

I try to install cassettes whenever possible. They use a radial fan that doesnt require cleaning and is much quieter than the long squirrel cage blowers plus they have a built in centrifugal (very quiet) pump. You must have a 2 ft opening to fit them.

[@rhonda2398]

I have 2 wall hung Daikin mini splits. Do you have any advice on cleaning them?

[@funfun8095]

I'm wanting a 5 head ceiling system. I'm in central IL, 2000 sq ft home. What would you recommend and can you sell and send to IL? Thanks.

[@dmac2890]

why does the Mitsubishi 24k h2i model MUZ-GS24nahz have such a high cooling and heating capacity compared to other 24k Mitsubishi models?

[@PAULAKEITH-m7m]

can you tell me is a mini split is alexa smart capable but needing an app and perhaps another device, can it record and listen in if you do not use alexa or another device like that?

[@NewHVACGuide]

Good question. I’ve heard of different manufacturers doing things differently. But I’m not aware of any that specifically work on Alexa control alone

[@swinkeymo]

Can you attach an erv to the mini split? Or does it recycle fresh air for an air tight home?

[@NewHVACGuide]

Complete honesty… I’ve never installed one with a minisplit. I assume you mean ducted. It might be possible with a Daikin system as long as you install a Daikin One as the controller.

[@xcmskim4]

LG used to sell freestanding/floor standing mini splits. Very popular type of mini split used in Korea. Basically a box shaped air handler that sits at the corner of the room supplying 42,000 BTU. Last discontinued model was LF426HV. Pretty common to see these here in Korean owned restaurants and churches in the NYC and LA metro area.

[@NewHVACGuide]

Have you done any work in Korea on HVAC?

[@xcmskim4]

@@NewHVACGuide nah just visited many times

[@NewHVACGuide]

@@xcmskim4 Would you be interested in doing an interview show video?

[@PHamster]

Can all modern DC Inverters Outdoor condensers be paired with any Indoor Air Handler? Do they need to have 485 Comms or will 24VAC work?

[@NewHVACGuide]

Most communicating inverter systems require a specific air handler to be matched with it. Bosch would be one exception. I’ve heard that Gree Flexx technology is similar to Bosch but I’ve never personally laid hands on one.

[@KPHVAC]

I wouldn't suggest mixing up any variable speed systems. The outdoor unit and indoor unit need to be matched together, otherwise the delivered efficiency would be anyone's guess. Also, these variable speed systems need to communicate with each other to ramp up and down as needed. An air handler or coil and the heat pump should be installed at the exact same time and be an AHRI matching system. (Same brand and certified to work together) If one goes bad you replace them both.

[@ryanbrown5334]

@@NewHVACGuide Allied Air’s Lynx unit is another. Bosch units are 24v capable with most other brands as long as it uses a TXV.

[@BackPorchPhilosopher]

There are all kinds of new minisplit options coming down the pipe. They are definitely the way of the future of HVAC in the US as the ease and cost of installation is way better than a traditional system. Thanks for highlighting some of the more interesting items. Are there any that you are particularly excited about?

[@larmiger]

When do you think they will make an AC unit that can be easily installed and repaired by a homeowner? Like I can just swap out parts easy like a computer and charge the Freon like the ones in a car. stuff like that. Seems they make the systems to be way more complicated than they need to be.

[@ewicky]

They do. There are window and portable units, and have been on the market for decades.

[@btarb242]

MrCool offers some DIY systems. The trick is they put valves on the lineset that already have a vacuum established and do not require brazing to the unit. It limits you to using that exact length of supplied lineset.

[@averyalexander2303]

As others said, window units and portable units are exactly that. Mini splits kind of are too depending on the home owner's skill and tools. I have basic HVAC knowledge but I'm not a professional and I installed my Pioneer mini split no problem. It came pre charged for the 25 foot lineset as most do so I didn't have to worry about charging with refrigerant or anything. The only specialty tools I used are a gauge set and vacuum pump, but I had that stuff anyways from fixing cars, window AC units, etc.

[@btarb242]

Curious, is it feasible to omit the 2nd stage cooling wire on a 2 stage heat pump to get more heat capacity? example.. manJ heat=53k and cool is 29k. Using a two stage 4 ton unit would get me most of the heat and be only a about 15% oversized for cooling that's limited to the 70% stage 1.

[@averyalexander2303]

If I understand what you are asking, no. If the system is set up properly and more heating or cooling than what low stage can provide is needed, the second stage should kick in automatically. You don't need to leave wiring out to get the maximum capacity out of the system. If only the first stage is required, the second high stage just won't be used.

[@KPHVAC]

Go for a Variable Speed system and you won't ever have to worry about any of that. Meaning they can run from about 20% power to 100% power with dozens of stages in-between. As far as I know all the Mitsubishi and Daikin Mini Splits are variable speed. They only make the amount of Heating or Cooling that you need at that moment. They ramp up and down as needed on their own.

[@averyalexander2303]

@@KPHVAC Great advice if they can afford it. I heat and cool my whole house with a 12K BTU inverter mini split and it basically runs constantly while costing me 1/3 to 1/2 less in electricity than my neighbors with similar houses. And since it runs almost constantly, the dehumidification is amazing. My particular unit has an advertised range of 4500 BTUs up to 17000 BTUs and I have measured the power consumption as low as about 300 watts and as high as almost 1K watts.

[@KPHVAC]

@@averyalexander2303 I love that! My parents heat the vast majority of the year with a single Mitsubishi Hyper Heat Ductless system. Their unit does 18,000 BTU's for AC and 27,000 BTU's for Heat, down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit outside temp. It's a 1,700 sqft house that is extremely well insulated. On a few of the coldest days, (about 12 degrees), they run 1 or 2 of the electric wall heaters in the far bedrooms. We need more moderately sized single story homes that are extremely well insulated. Their worst electric bill was about $150 and their entire home is electric. No gas or propane.

[@btarb242]

@@KPHVAC Unfortunately, my ductwork is uninsulated and so i presume it'll condensate with the long run times of an inverter-based system .. and the wife isn't a fan of looking at mini splits or their lines. My initial plan was to put in a relay so that 2nd stage was disabled if cooling was on .. BUT i just recently learned that the premium line of ecobee tstats allow you to set the T Delta for when the 2nd stage cooling is enabled. If i set the delta large enough then it'd only kick on for extremely hot days - avoiding the short cycle problem stage2 would normally have from being so oversized for the cooling load.