Author	[Modern View]
MarkB_MI 07-08-2012 05:47:41 66.87.4.104 Report to Moderator	Our house has baseboard hot water heat, so there's no ducting for central a/c and it would be nearly impossible to install new ducting. To complicate matters, our master bedroom has no window to house a window unit, just a sliding patio door. We've been getting by with a window unit downstairs plus a portable unit in the bedroom, but it's not very satisfactory. I've been looking at the ductless (aka "split") units that have a separate condensor similar to central air with one or more small indoor units. These are all you see in China: entire apartment buildings with a ductless unit for each apartment. There are several companies that sell these direct to customers. Has anyone gone the DIY route with a ductless unit? I have a vacuum pump and would have to buy an R-410a gauge set to evacuate the system. The units are precharged so there should be no need to add refrigerant. I know I should hire an HVAC contractor, but the tightwad in my can't resist trying to do it myself. Any thoughts on brands? Mitsubishi seems to be very popular. [Reply]   [No Email]
FarmerZeb 07-12-2012 20:47:06 76.92.176.221 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   i've installed 30 of them or so. we (the Army) use a lot of them on overseas deployments for our living quarters and operations centers. they can be DIY'd but the line set can be tricky since they are small diameter lines and kink very easily. i've never worked out the efficiency and energy usage compared to a central unit. -paul [Reply]  [No Email]
mm fan 07-11-2012 05:35:45 108.195.218.208 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   Mitsubishi and fujitsu are the best, follwes by LG and Samsung. I am a Carrier dealer, but we install Mitsubishi or Fujitsu mini splits. Mitsubishi has the best parts availability. [Reply]  [No Email]
KIP in MX 07-10-2012 21:53:29 190.213.42.208 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   In Mexico we that's all we had in our house and now here in Trinidad, mini-splits are the only a/c units I've seen. Most are Chinese made but we do have several Westinghouse and Mitsubishi at our offices. I am going to install one in my garage in MO if I can buy one. I won't pay to have it installed. [Reply]  [No Email]
jackinok 07-10-2012 06:23:04 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   we use them at work in offices,labs and things where someone has a need for special climate control.Ive not noticed any problems at all.better than a window unit in my opinion.out in some of our remote places(basicaly line shacks) we have window units installed through the wall.we have far more problems with them than with the ductless ones at work,and they only run 3-4 days a month. [Reply]  [No Email]
jackinok 07-10-2012 06:30:20 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to jackinok, 07-10-2012 06:23:04   the ones we use are carrier,one thing i really like about them over a window unit is the reduction in noise.the compressor being away from the inside evaporator unit makes a big difference. [Reply]  [No Email]
showcrop 07-09-2012 05:08:55 75.67.231.80 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   A buddy has been installing a lot of them. He raves about how well they work and that you can heat with them as well as cool. They can't be that tough to install because everything comes precharged and the valves open up as you tighten the connections. [Reply]  [No Email]
woodbutcher 07-09-2012 03:35:19 38.107.192.221 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   I have a Fujitsu model that I like. I have had a problem getting service work done, though, because there are no dealers in my area. Fujitsu won"t sell parts to individuals. I have heard good things about Mitsubishi. Butch [Reply]  [No Email]
Ted in NE-OH 07-08-2012 14:58:13 72.16.17.52 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   What are the brands? I know Samsung and Mitsubishi, any others. I plan on using them to augment central air which isn't enough to cool a large church sanctuary. Anything to look out for? [Reply]  [No Email]
daninsc 07-09-2012 16:18:56 70.35.64.132 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to Ted in NE-OH, 07-08-2012 14:58:13   i have installed all of them, i like LG's the best, actually i installed a 18k heatpump in a finished garage this morning, work great [Reply]  [No Email]
MarkB_MI 07-09-2012 17:01:51 66.87.0.102 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to daninsc, 07-09-2012 16:18:56   Dan, is there any particular reason you like LG the best? [Reply]  [No Email]
daninsc 07-08-2012 14:19:14 70.35.64.132 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   i am a hvac contractor, we have installed many lg brand mini split units, they make them in 9k 12k 18k and 24k btu's, they have a gravity drain, if that wont work, u can get a special made condensate pump to work with it. they also make them with 2 and 3 evaporators and one condensor so you can do more than 1 room. [Reply]  [No Email]
GordoSD 07-08-2012 12:40:50 64.33.250.162 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   I installed two of the AMANA Motel units in my living quarters in a pole barn. They handle the heat and A/C easily, plus the big bonus of 75% discount on electricity for "All Electric Home" My highest heat bills in Jan/Feb are 130 dollars.. Highest electric (cooling) bill in summer is 100 dollars. Of course that includes lights, washer/dryer, freezer, fridge, water heater, micro wave, oven, and fans. [Reply]  [No Email]
tomNE 07-08-2012 10:34:35 75.221.227.187 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   I've had mine about 5yrs. love them. I have 2 outlets on mine. We live in an 1870's farmhouse, where another house was added in the 30's. no place for ductwork. condensation needs to be considered when installing. the problem i ran up against is none of my local contractors had any experience with them. the bids were all over the place. some, including sears were double what it cost me to get mine and have it installed. my final bill was under $3200 for unit and install with warrenty. i used the warrenty twice for the same leaking line. he finally replaced the union and that was the last problem. get bids if your going to buy and have a contractor install. [Reply]  [No Email]
Dusty MI 07-08-2012 10:23:37 108.86.37.202 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   How do they handle the condensation ? Dusty [Reply]  [No Email]
Bill(Wis) 07-09-2012 03:49:57 184.75.123.14 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to Dusty MI, 07-08-2012 10:23:37   Usually with gravity drains. In one of our installations involving side-by-side offices, each having its own wall unit, they combined the drains which, for whatever reason, didn't work very well and one drain backed up into the other. Their solution was to put a little drain pan and a pump where the drain backed up which caused a sucking noise at random times. [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 07-08-2012 08:28:24 50.104.225.241 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   My brother-in-law was the first to install a large commercial Mitsubishi in Northern Indiana. They also installed the split Mitsubishi in their home. Haven't heard anything bad about Mitsubishi. I don't thing there is any one who will sell a DIY guy a Mitsubishi unless you are a good drinking buddy of the HVAC. Mostlikely it would void the warantee and the HVAC's insurance. As for my country home can't install duct work so use window shakers. They are very cheap and don't add to your property tax. $350 for 2 A/C, 10,000 & 7000 BTU's will cool a well insulated 1500 sq ft home. My city home has a central. George [Reply]  [No Email]
davemk 07-08-2012 08:45:22 76.177.185.150 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to George Marsh, 07-08-2012 08:28:24   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see [Reply]  [No Email]
davemk 07-08-2012 08:44:57 76.177.185.150 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to George Marsh, 07-08-2012 08:28:24   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see [Reply]  [No Email]
Tramway guy 07-08-2012 08:06:54 166.137.88.168 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   The technology is not anything new. Walk-in coolers use the same principle. Just substitute the room for the cooler and of course the temperature is probably not as low. [Reply]  [No Email]
JMOR 07-08-2012 07:43:36 99.20.36.34 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to Dick2, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to seeWouldn't suffer those terrible attic duct losses! Don't know anything about their efficiency in general. Quieter than window unit, for sure. [Reply]  [No Email]
TonyIN 07-08-2012 07:02:30 72.49.12.76 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   We've used them in several residential and commercial projects where ducting was not feasible. Only had one system give us fits and Mitsubishi replaced the board in that one - it was a 2 zone system. They had good response/support. Customers seem to like them and we've had no complaints. On the commercial side, we've used them for server closets where a client has come back and added a lot of computer equipment to a small room. So far (4+ years), they seem to be a good solution and way better than a window unit. Good Luck Tony [Reply]  [No Email]
SweetFeet 07-08-2012 06:57:50 70.35.110.213 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   MarkB_MI, If you buy ductless, please post back how it works out for you. I did not even know there was such a system... and we too have hot-water heat, so no ducts. [Reply]  [No Email]
tractor300 07-08-2012 06:32:03 50.40.149.225 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   There are a lot of window unit's mounted permantely in the wall in my part of the country. They seem to work real good. A little bit of work to initially install, but is there when needed. [Reply]  [No Email]
Chris Jones 07-08-2012 07:32:01 98.26.240.6 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to tractor300, 07-08-2012 06:32:03   I've seen that done a lot but I've always wondered what happened when the unit needs replacing and the new units weren't quite the same size. [Reply]  [No Email]
tractor300 07-08-2012 11:11:04 50.40.149.225 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to Chris Jones, 07-08-2012 07:32:01   Generally not a problem as most newer units are made smaller, and cheaper, than the older units so not a big problem. Could be if going to a larger Btu. Have did remodeling over the year's and replaced a few, and has not been a problem. [Reply]  [No Email]
C.R. 07-08-2012 06:25:16 72.251.63.206 Report to Moderator	Re: Ductless air conditioners in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-08-2012 05:47:41   friend of mine had a house that had one of the mitsubichi systems it worked well good idea I thought [Reply]  [No Email]