Small installations are pretty simple if you can run the electric yourself. Then just hire an HVAC tech to purge the lines and fill to manufacturer specs. Done. Complex installs with multiple head units per outdoor unit get complicated as you have maximum and minimum line lengths and the length of installed line impacts amount of refrigerant needed and such, takes a good bit of planning and knowledge.
It's essentially the same (unless you use one of the DIY kits with pre-charged lines) as a full sized split system (traditional AC unit.) You (should) pressure test your lines and vacuum them out before releasing the charge. You also have to get a create a really good flare connection.
In addition, running the electrical is usually done by the HVAC company and setting up the mounting pad for the outdoor unit.
I completely agree that it isn't rocket science, and it's well within the realm of a skilled DIYer with about $250 in specialized tools. However, I can see why an HVAC company charges as much as they do. For an average install (not dead simple), it's probably 5-6 hours of labor, they have to pay for the company equipment, vehicles, health insurance, permits (my township requires one for a mini), taxes, etc.
In an apartment building, installation is going to cost you more than the actual unit. You need to run fairly heavy hoses to the condenser. You also aren't going to put a fleet of little one-ton units on the roof, so you're looking at much larger central condensers or possibly cooling towers for chilled water (which often ends up cheaper for large installations but requires more space).
I installed a MrCool mini split a few years ago and it's still running great in both summer and winter.
Installing one of these is a pretty advanced project for a typical home owner though. You have one chance to get those pre-charged linesets connected perfectly, and if you screw it up, good luck finding an HVAC contractor that will come and help you recover your botched installation of an off-brand heat pump.
That said, there are certainly homeowners who are experienced enough to pull it off, and I'm glad these DIY products exist. I could see potential for further innovation from ElectricAir to make this sort of thing accessible to more people (at a higher cost, obviously, to pay for that sweet sweet design)
In my understanding, it takes more to maintain such setups. Talking to the HVAC guys that do this for a living rather than just the scientists reveal more about the practical realities of these systems.
Outdoor units are pretty flexible in the sorts of places they can be mounted and the insulated refrigerant lines can be run to the interior of buildings fairly easily. Don't just assume a solution can't work until an expert says no.
And even if you can't hook into your existing radiators wall mounted mini splits don't require extensive interior changes to function (plus you get cooling as well)
You'd have to sweat together new copper fittings though and probably deal with draining + recharging the refrigerant lines. Not a trivial project for a novice.
> you can expect to pay $2000+ to install on top of that, depending on how hard the job is.
Installing a mini split is nowhere the difficulty of an HVAC though, assuming your have the electrical circuit (which I'd guess would be an electrician's job not HVAC) it's a few hours' work, at least for a simple case and if the installer knows what they're doing: pierce the wall, mount the external unit, mount the internal unit, connect the two, charge[0], done.
By "simple" I mean a 1:1 setup with both units mounted on the same wall (and a wall-mounted indoor unit). Obviously a more complicated setup (multi-zone, slim duct, more distance between the two units) would take more time and be more expensive.
I can see $2000 for a non-trivial multi-zone setup.
[0] if you're handy there are mini-splits sold specifically for DIY installations which come pre-charged, though that means the pipes won't exactly fit the distance I guess
In my locale the installer does just that. Install. Perhaps some calculation in order to sell you a bigger capacity, but certainly not optimization. Even talking about optimization with only high school physics with the people like installers and energy advisers gets you blank stares quickly. I think the benefits could be like 10% on your gas bill, but alas it’s untapped potential for those not into DIY.
They make systems like that but they tend to be more commercial systems. You could get a ground to water heat pump then run chilled/heated water to the mini split heads depending on what they are calling for but even that is pushing into commercial territory. And sadly with commercial HVAC comes significantly higher prices.
I installed a Mr. Cool DIY mini split in my home for 2 rooms and so far it’s been great. That initial foray was a bit of an experiment. I’d like to just replace my central air now with a ducted heat pump but I haven’t found a good solution that doesn’t cost a ridiculous amount for a professional to install.
I think you have a big problem with selling direct to homeowners. Most HVAC companies will not touch a homeowner-purchased system. So if you’re selling direct, then you’re going to need DIY quick connect line sets like Mr. Cool.
Even ones connected to fancy heating and cooling systems aren’t that complex and instructions are usually spot on. A simple heating system like you describe is, well, simple. Connect wires, get heat. I’m sure you can figure it out.
HRVs/ERVs are not specialized knowledge, they are just uncommon knowledge at the moment. They are even simpler to install than heating/cooling systems, as there is no fuel or refrigerant to deal with. Many are even DIYable.
Yep, you want the whole thing to act like a system not a bunch of parts. Energy savings and a comfortable environment really depends on this. A poorly setup system can be a nightmare for the maintenance staff.
I recently installed two MrCool DIY minisplits which worked out great. They come with pre-charged quick connect coolant lines so you can install them without the need for flushing coolant or soldering the lines.
If you're comfortable putting a hole in your house for the line and running power, it can really save a lot of money.
Yes, for example a mini split unit. You can purchase these at the hardware store and install them yourself. You just can’t do this with units that integrate into a central heating/cooling system which require the installation and charging of the refrigerant lines.
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