DIY ductless minisplit
This pre-charged kit from MRCOOL makes for an easy HVAC upgrade.
Some jobs just don’t make sense to do yourself because the cost of the specialty tools you’ll need is more than the cost of hiring a sub who already has them. That’s definitely the case when it comes to commissioning a ductless-minisplit system. One of the last steps in a minisplit installation is to draw all the air out of the lines, and then fill them with refrigerant . But there is at least one manufacturer, MRCOOL, making a DIY minisplit with precharged lines. I recently installed one in my detached garage, and did the whole job in a matter of hours using nothing more complicated than a hole saw, a cordless drill, and some wrenches. The unit heats and cools quietly, all for a reasonable price.
MRCOOL DIY Minisplit
Models:
12,000 Btu
18,000 Btu
24,000 Btu
36,000 Btu
Price: $1200 and up, not including pad or brackets
Efficiency: 17.5 SEER for 12,000-Btu unit; 16 SEER for all others
Warranty: 7-year compressor and 5-year parts warranty
Justin Fink, editorial director
Photos: courtesy of MRCOOL
From Fine Homebuilding #282
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