Cheap Mini-Splits

[Roughshod]

Small garage, 19' x 19' x 8' tall cinder block walls, 8' wide roll up uninsulated steel garage door and an uninsulated steel roof. I could probably talk myself into insulating the ceiling, but that would come later if I decide I need it. For now, I'm looking at doing a DIY install of a mini-split, 12k BTU I think is the right size. Not planning to run it all the time, just when I'm out there working, mostly on the weekends.

When the topic of mini-splits come up I usually see someone recommend Mitsubishi, so apparently they have a great reputation. That would be great, but I'm looking to do this on the cheap, so I'm looking at pretty much the opposite end of the price curve...like this 12k BTU unit on eBay, some brand I've never heard of, $485 shipped to my house. That is the unit with a line kit and wiring. I've seen some others just slightly more expensive that have an option for a USB WiFi dongle that would let me remote control it, but that is about the only upgrade I would really be interested in. If this was for my house, I would be looking at only the best equipment, but the consequences of failure in my shop are pretty minimal. DIY install, so warranty isn't going to be a factor since nobody will warrant a DIY job anyway.

So what is you guys experience with cheap mini-splits? Are the cheapest ones out there even worth considering? $485 is a pretty damn compelling price point, IF it will work. Is it one of those things where adding a couple hundred bucks to the price would get a much better unit, but still be under half the price of premium brand name? I guess I'm asking where the best bang for my buck is in these things?

 

[braxton357]

Not really an answer to your question but I install ductless ac's a few times a year and I would suggest for what you're needing you buy a heat pump 18k btu window unit and permanent mount it in the wall. Nether have a very good filter, in a shop you're going to have to clean the coil at least twice a year.

 

[Roughshod]

Not really an answer to your question but I install ductless ac's a few times a year and I would suggest for what you're needing you buy a heat pump 18k btu window unit and permanent mount it in the wall. Nether have a very good filter, in a shop you're going to have to clean the coil at least twice a year.

If I already had a window I would probably consider that, but I don't. The idea of drilling out a single 2-3" hole in one cinder block for the lines to pass through is more appealing to me than busting out several whole blocks for a window unit sized hole.

 

[willness33]

I researched a lot of them last spring. I was going to go with a pioneer model off of amazon. I ended up with a 12k btu Mr Cool unit. This was to supplement my way too hot in the summer and way too cold in the winter living room. Prices have shot up like crazy when I got mine I see. Anyways, its been performing flawlessly since install. My next install in my bar will be a much cheaper pioneer from amazon. These units are all bazically the same. Most of them work as intended, occasionally there are some duds. Mr cool does warranty diy install on its diy units. That's the reason I picked it. Having done one now, I'm quite confident I Gan go with a cheaper one next.