Mini split air conditioner

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crholliday

crholliday

Frisbeetarianist
Joined
Jun 6, 2004
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Location
OKC, OK
We rent out our garage apartment and the window A/C unit is on the brink. Its been a hot summer and since we pay the electric on the unit we are thinking of something more efficient. We are considering a mini-split unit and was looking for pros/cons and any brand recommendations.
 
I think there are some pretty efficient PTAC units out there. How big an area are you trying to cool?
 
About 600 s.f.
 
That is a perfect size for a PTAC and it will heat as well as cool, so you may get a break from the power company and I think they will meter it separately.
 
Great thanks!
 
BTW, if you can find a motel remodel or tear-down.......they usually dumpster all of them.
 
I just bought an amcor mini split heat pump. 18000btu with heat and cool for $859. Havent installed it yet, but I have heard a lot of good things about them. A PTAC is fine, but doesnt look quite as nice. If you look into the split systems more, be sure to get one with a toshiba compressor. There are also some that are inverter duty. I think this just means they are a little more efficient and the heating mode will work at a lower ambient temp (like 4 degF vs 16degF for a standard unit). I got mine from kingersons, it comes precharged with everything you need. It does need to be wired and the refrigerant lines need to be vacuumed. I will post something when I get done with the install.
 
It looks like you qualify for the federal tax credit if you buy a heat pump system that is <= 14 seer. Do you know what your Amcor unit is rated?
 
I have a mini-slpit at my office... It's okay. It is what it is, don't expect it do work like a duct system. You have to keep all the interior doors open.
 
beaufort-fj60 said:
I have a mini-slpit at my office... It's okay. It is what it is, don't expect it do work like a duct system. You have to keep all the interior doors open.
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Right. My options are the split system or a window unit. The splits appear to be a lot more efficient and much more flexible positioning.
 
Some of the splits can run more than one wall unit. Put one wall unit in the apartment and one in the garage. With that setup you can cool your garage on your tenants power bill. How is the garage apartment rental going? that always seemed creepy to me. Having some random person in your yard parking in your driveway.
 
I am a dealer for both Mitsubishi and Fujitsu. Feel free to PM me if you have questions.

Luke
 
My installer is recommending a 20 seer Fujitsu which qualifies for the tax credit. His price is $3200 turn key (second floor, new sub panel, etc). After the tax credit it will cost me about $2200 and compared to a window unit will take 3 - 5 years to pay off the difference in electric bills (which I pay). I think they are a plus for a new renter as well.
 
beaufort-fj60 said:
Some of the splits can run more than one wall unit. Put one wall unit in the apartment and one in the garage. With that setup you can cool your garage on your tenants power bill. How is the garage apartment rental going? that always seemed creepy to me. Having some random person in your yard parking in your driveway.
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Its fantastic. She pays a third of my mortgage and parks in the street. She doesnt party (pluses and minuses) and rarely gives me any grief. She was renting when I bought the house and doesn't appear to be leaving any time soon. My house is one of only 2 or 3 that are zoned to legally allow renting the apartment. Not that it slows too many of them down.
 
15-18K BTU/hr. Inverter driven. Mitsubishi MSZA17NA or Fujitsu RLxQ18. Both are heat pump (not that you need that) but that gives you low-ambient cooling performance that might be necessary with all the internal gains you mention.

Luke

crholliday- the price you mention sounds about right for a pretty competent installer. Obviously he's seen the job and I have not.
 
It was 116 here on Sunday and 114 yesterday.

Is a heat pump really what I need?

The humidity is rarely above 30%.

In the winter months you can count on your hands the days it get to freezing.

LukeZero said:
15-18K BTU/hr. Inverter driven. Mitsubishi MSZA17NA or Fujitsu RLxQ18. Both are heat pump (not that you need that) but that gives you low-ambient cooling performance that might be necessary with all the internal gains you mention.

Luke

crholliday- the price you mention sounds about right for a pretty competent installer. Obviously he's seen the job and I have not.
Click to expand...
 
You might never turn the unit to 'heat'- but in order to get the low ambient cooling, you need the inverter driven compressor- which necessitates a heat-pump.

Luke
 
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