The big problem is that there are no generic parts. Everything is proprietary, so they dictate prices, and I had to replace a DC board that was over $1k for one client. For me, recommending a mini is a last resort.
I'm a big fan of mini splits, but parts availability is a very real issue. It's so much easier (and generally cheaper) to find, for example, a capacitor or contactor for a traditional unit than a thermistor or control board for a mini split. IMO that's a catch 22 that probably won't ever be truly solved because no one is going to stock parts for systems that hardly anyone has or adequately train techs to work on them, but people (understandably) don't want to buy a very expensive product with poor parts availability that hardly anyone knows how to correctly service and most companies charge way too much to install just because they are uncommon.
It's about time somebody came up with something more to say than "HVAC hates change". UA-camrs are all about the shallow research, it's not like they can be held accountable for it.
In fall of 2022 I bought a Mitsubishi mini-split heat pump from a local vendor. They're a family run shop with a very good reputation. They completely failed to tell me anything about the maintainance requirements. After 18 mo I called to arrange a service call. The system was struggling to go into heat mode. It was stopping and flashing a code. They told me that they no longer serviced mini-splits. It was taking too much time and costing them money. They still sold them, but only serviced them for a year after installation. Since I was effectively abandonned, I not longer use that company. It turns out that the blower was dirty enough to cause a pressure problem when the fan was in auto mode. The blower needed to be cleaned. Their habit was a lazy approach, just using their refrigerant tank to blast some of the gunk off the blower. I've since learned how to take it out. Now I keep a spare on hand, so I can quickly swap blowers when a cleaning is required.
Before the internet: Home appliances and electronics came with manuals (a manual is a booklet with words printed on paper) We also had repair shops where they could send a technician to your home to diagnose, clean and repair these types of things (a technician is someone who has been trained on electrical systems and/or appliances)
The biggest issue is installation cost. Overseas contractors make about 600-1200 dollars for a 5 zone system install. In US they want 8K-15K plus material.
Adding a mini split to a older home is the way to go. I, my son and two co workers just put them in our homes. We all got them with the heating option.
If you look at other countries they're smart enough to use these and only thing scaring people is the HVAC companies are ripping people off a reasonable company told me three systems would be 27 thousand and I bought two systems and all the equipment to install them for about 25 hundred, there's no excuse for that difference I also found the brand they were going to install for 4 thousand!!!!!!
This is the exact problem. Living in foreign country, bought and had Mitsubishi GT Series installed for $700 after converted. He is correct, we have ours cleaned every 6 months, refrigerant checked and it's been running great for 2 years. Electric bill decreased 40% because of the inverter system and Efficiency of the unit.
This should be top comment. I can not tell people this enough, Mini splits are so much more affordable than HVAC companies make them out to be. Especially if you live in an area where DIY is an option.
"Hur dur Americans are stupid!" Mini-splits are popular here, you ignorant bigot, and that popularity is growing. You're at least correct that quoted costs for installation here are a major barrier to adoption.
Most other countries using them have older buildings which are frequently masonry so mini-splits are easier to install. Many only install them in the bedrooms.
So right about maintenance on the wall hung ductless...I have to clean my unit twice a cooling season, the second cleaning right before heating season.. if not, all the invisible but smelly mold spores blow out into ur room and immediately irritates my sinuses, plus it smells like piss. Each cleaning takes several hours to do it right with the proper equipment and cleaning solutions, and same with the outdoor condensor, twice a year, I wish I can wrap a filter around the whole condenser. High maintenance, good energy saving appliances for sure especially if ur paying 30 cents a kwh...good informative video !
I just did the same thing here in ohio this last fall, but for heating & cooling purposes. It compliments my geothermal heat from the main part of house that leaks into the garage. I like that I can now powerwash vehicles in my garage comfortably & remove salt & snow effectively to prevent rusting. I actually wouldn't mind one or two in the house to provide additional heating. They seem more effective with the direct approach. My house with long duct runs air isn't as warm.
@@dustind9242 I seen video of snow on the beach & the highway sign saying welcome to florida the sunshine state...kinda funny to see the snow covering there. I recommend it as a backup option. If it gets too much below freezing they do make models to defrost in negative temperatures. I know the snow got onto the outside unit & although not negative temperatures the defrost turned on. They also make ones that use solar panels, EG4..they can save energy costs without going full solar.
We have these in our office at work. The rest of the building has central air (renovated in the last 10 years) our office was never fully renovated. They always leak water. Its like a rainshower coming down. We then have to shut it down and sometimes it takes months to get parts.
And, by the way, it'd be nice if one of you folk bothered to point out that the U.S. has far more climate zones and sub-zones than does any other country on the planet. American homes and environmental systems have to deal with a wide range of conditions, and in many areas of the country those systems have to deal with extreme swings between periods of hot and cold, and wet and dry. Climate zones have a very significant effect on everything from the types of environmental systems that are viable to the types of material used in construction of homes.
Great video. I have 2 Daiken units, 3 and 2 head. 3 of the indoor units are the floor mounts. I clean the filters religiously every month, as well as the entire exterior. I did put a wall unit in our bathroom and no issues. We are very satisfied with them and the installer was amazing. I also clean the outside units as well, and actually, I wax them actually. I get them checked every year as well and my HVAC guy knows I am OCD.
I love my mini split. Hot water heat and no air unless I use window air conditioners until my three-zone mini. Put up with it for twenty-four years. I also heat with it to ten above. Good vid Lee
The only flaw I see in those mini splits are the filter designs. They could improve those with a disposable filter that would do a much job. They are very affordable to use and if placed in the right location, can do a lot of cooling or heating for the money in purchase and in operational costs. I'm wondering why we don't see natural gas central air conditioners since gas is way less expensive than electric and much less noise.
Availability of replacement parts. Manufacturers are retiring complete models for new models after a few years. If you can't buy a new replacement head and the new model isn't backwards compatible your stuck installing a new indoor head and outdoor unit
MERV 11 air filtration is my minimally acceptable cleanliness level. So any mini-splits fans need to handle high static air flow. We have allergies to contend with.
The major issue with heat pumps is that they do not work well in older homes in the US. I live in the north East. My home came with giant cast iron radiators. I switch to a properly sized heat pump. I have been so cold in my home over the past 2 years. The rooms technically gets to the proper temp but it’s uneven heat. My feet shouldn’t be cold. Also a big issue is that these companies try and tell u you will save money on heat pumps. Absolute nonsense. If you set it to a comfortable temp you will be paying though nose. My electric bills have not been less since switching. Just reinstalled my cast irons radiators and I am very happy.
Older houses with boiler radiator systems are not well insulated and depend on thermal mass of the water in the radiators to keep rooms warm and counteract drafts.
If you are designing a machine that breaks itself under what you consider not normal use, but someone else considers normal use, then you should re design your product so you don't have any issues with it being "oversized". What if I want my room freezing cold, and quiet. If your machine breaks if the humidity gets too high or whatever, add a dehumidifier to your machine. The customer is always right. Don't pretend that everyone should be okay with non "oversized" units.
We have them here. I have one in my home. I had to wait for quite a while because they're so popular. GD, why do you people insist on making sweeping generalizations about one of the largest, most populous countries on the planet?
I like an air handler to serve multiple rooms, programmable thermostat, and able to install a MERV-13 filter on the air handler, and I hate mini split condensate pumps that tend to fail and make noise and prevent cooling, and lack of ventilation between rooms
I had a 1982 York that was still running fine when I replaced it in 2007. The ducting job was horrible and I had finished off the full basement so I had the house ducting upgraded and a 5 ton Carrier Infinity with zoning installed with a SunPure SP-200 4 inch filter system with catalytic converter and UV disinfection. When I moved 7 years later the inside of the indoor cabinet was as clean as the day it was installed. Just had to change the filter and UV lights once a year.
@@skarscalp8157 R-22 was the predominate refrigerant used in HVAC systems before it was banned and replaced by R-410A, which also is now being phased out because of it's global warming potential.
I've been helping a buddy plan out finishing his mom's garage, and have been intending to throw a ductless mini split in it. I'd probably oversize a bit because there's only so much I can do to insulate and restrict airflow in and out of the garage.
You mentioned about turning the system down when not home (less heat in the winter and less AC in the summer) but I've found that if this is done on a day to day basis, my bills were significantly higher as it had to do a lot of extra work to catch up upon my return home.
This is true mostly when there is backup heat from electric resistance, which is more expensive, and kicked on when the thermostat temperature is raised. We have a heat pump backed up by a gas furnace, and use a 3 degree setback for more comfortable sleeping. We haven't had high bills from that.
@Thisoldhiker I guess I was just speaking in general. Although my experience with it was in the summer with air conditioning. I'd turn the thermostat up about 4 degrees while away for work and have it set back down for my return home. Can't say I've tried it in the winter though.
Multi-head systems, especially with zone control, could save a lot of energy and be easier for installation (due to no ductwork) A major issue is that general contractors and HVAC installers hate change or doing anything different than the status quo, and either refuse to work with non-ducted systems at all, or charge even higher prices. HVAC installers love getting 5-10k dollars labor for replacing a system, even when they can complete the work in just 2-3 hours.
When my central air dies, I am replacing it myself. Companies charge way too damn much. A friend paid 2k to have a compressor installed for a warranty replacement. Everything you need to know can be learned in youtube videos watching people do it and explain it. For that kind of money, its cheaper to buy the tools and do it yourself.
I don't know anyone who has any concern with mini-splits other than the outrageous prices we're quoted here for them, and that mini-splits are nevertheless quite popular in the U.S.
I work in hvac. Mini splits are great when they work right. Main issue is refrigerant leaks. Their factory flares are always crumby, cut them off and make your own flares.
My problem with heat pumps is they're limited in how cold they can operate and ground source systems agree extremely expensive. However there's a hybrid id totally love to use it in could swing it
Yeah, I'm one of those people who had to deal with the previous home owner's "it works" when we got our house in 2020. Original Trane air handler from 1999 with a leaky coil, questionable capacitors secured with various colors of duct tape, nailed in place moldy air filter, and a leaky 5 ton Goodman condenser unit from 2006.
How many BTU would you suggest for cooling the inside of a 10ft box inside a box truck during the PHX AZ summers? I don't wanna oversize, but I also don't wanna go too low and have it be inadequate.
The biggest problem is finding people who can work on them. It's hard enough finding people who can fix a regular ac system. Then you go and throw inverter driven technology in there with EEV's and and communication with no parts on the truck to fix them. So people are left without AC until the part comes in and its a good chance that part wasn't diagnosed properly. So now the customer is left without AC AGAIN.
They are really popular here in the Caribbean a lot of non name brands but a few good ones like daikin and Mitsubishi that are sold locally here Lennox is pretty popular as well
Too easy for homeowners to install and that threatens the HVAC companies. Ductless mini splits... you can have 4 separate exterior units with 4 separate interior units. Then if one goes down you aren't left with ZERO cooling or heating. 3 would be running nearly continuously instead of close to 70% of the time. add a fan and the whole place is conditioned.
Mr coll is the only DYI install and they have their faults. others need to have the line sets connected and chared properly by a professional, especially if lines need to be cut and re-flared properly, the charging is very very specific and no home owner has the needed equipment.
No no, the video is about why the entire country, one of the largest and most populous on the planet, HATES them! They can't be popular! Americans are so stupid and backward, they can't be buying these things hand over fist, even installing themselves to get around the outrageous costs many HVAC companies charge to install them.
Most HVAX technicians won't touch these and when they come to fix it takes over 2 to 3 weeks to get it fixed because the technicians can't get parts which costs an additional cost and extra trips.
These are so quiet. You can have 5 air handlers for one unit. They can supplement you central HVAC. Very efficient as heat pumps. Anything with moving parts needs yearly maintenance. I live in Hawaii. We heat or cool individual rooms. Ceiling mounted units are completely hidden.Mr cool you can install yourself. No leaky ducts. No ducts in the hot/cold attic. My units are 12 years old without issues. Mitsubishi are solid. These are variable speed DC vs AC that sip electricity
I bought and installed my own mini split. It was about a grand, and a day or so to install. If and When it fails, I don’t care. I’ll just buy another complete unit if needed. I have gauges and a vacuum pump, and Ill just Buy the micron meter and return it after the install
I wanted to go with a mini split, but the price of over 24k after government rebates, was just too much. I live in Connecticut and have no air ducts. Heating is hot water baseboard radiators.
@@NewHVACGuide I don't have the quote anymore, it was about a year ago. House is about 1,600 Sq ft., 3 bedroom cape. System was needed to replace old heating system, AC ability was a bonus from my point of view. A coworker of mine who lives in Massachusetts put a system in his house that is similar to mine. Total price was about 19-20k, but after state rebates he only paid 8k and was very happy with it.
@@nccrchurchunusual I have no problem with the radiator hot water kind. Although sometimes you have to bleed out some air. For AC we use window units in the bedrooms.
several things, some brands are way better than others in the US. Foreign countries have used these for a long time now, but long time brands, and smaller homes/apartments than the size of US homes also, many of which have had to be retrofitted over there and have a long history with them and better at installations. Here we have some cheap brands and less knowledge of installations so more failures, and how used, many not appropriate locations, size etc. These are not going to replace a ducted system for a larger US home,
#1. They are a pain in the butt to clean. You have to do it standing on a ladder and if you have multiple heads that each need to be cleaned. #2. They require multiple holes in the building envelope including multiple drains which can become clogged.
If it's a video about something in America, it's going to portray America and Americans as ignorant, backward, and inferior because other countries are allegedly doing something different, better, and in a way that is superior.
I'm in Australia ... I have a split system in every room ...we don't call em mini splits .. I have 10kw reverse cycle one in the main living area that's 34000 BTU's there are cheap to run and come with a 5 year warranty cost about $1000-$3000 plus install $800 Australia dollars.. what's going on in the USA ... these things are brilliant
Can you explain short cycling @ 2:55 mark. Is turning on for 5 mins to get to setpoint every hour "short cycling"? How about on every 30 mins .... I have never found a HVAC "expert" who can explain the "perfect no short cycling" scenario
that is because there is no perfect no short cycling scenario, in the spring you will not need as much cooling than in summer and again in fall when cooling loads are lower. I feel that the only way to go is with a 2 stage a/c unit, when you need all of the cooling (say 3 tons) then both stages would come on, first 1 stage (1.5 ton) then 2nd stage (3 ton). problem is nobody makes a unit like this.
@@robertcounts5300there are plenty of systems like that. Rheem’s standard heat pump systems are 2 stage cooling. A lot of old school HVAC guys are stuck on single stage systems and old ways. There’s 2 stage, 3 stage, variable speed equipment where they ramp up and down based on load conditions
@@robertcounts5300Commercial systems are like this, with 3 separate compressors and 3 sets of condensor coils. Residential systems have one variable speed compressor to support multiple stages.
hello love your videos can you explain how the heat bank works im in North Carolina in a all new home area and a 2 year old house burnt down from the heatpump
Our HVAC pirates can’t charge 20 grand. The DIY aspect makes the industry crazy…. It’s what happened to plumbers when shark bites came on the scene. Lol
Funny thing is the people creating that stuff are ripping homeowners off just as much. HVAC contractors pay less for equipment then homeowners buying from Lowe’s or something like that. The contractors price is higher because there’s labor and overhead expenses and obviously profit that needs to be made, you’re not in business to make nothing. Granted there’s a ton of crappy contractors who way overcharge, but there are some honest ones out there. Finding them isn’t always easy though
Ductless splits have their place in a homes HVAC system if there are limitations (actual or self imposed). They're great as an auxiliary/addition to one's existing system (ya got that one room that isn't quite warm/cool enough. If you're building a home to Passive Home Standards, this is all that (they say) you need. Personally If I were designing a homes HVAC system I'd use a heat pump system, but install ducts for better air flow & better air filtration.
It made more sense to add a window AC to my small home. It was only $400. A mini would have run me around 5k to have installed, which made no financial sense to me. The 12,000 BTU window AC cools my 450 sq feet house just fine.
How so? It depends on where you live. In moderate climates you are correct. I live in the northeast where it gets cold and natural gas is cheap compared to electricity. It doesn’t make sense for anyone in this area to buy a heat pump. They only put out moderately warm air in comparison to a natural gas system. That is really only true if you only have electricity available.
My heat strip broke years ago and I never had it fixed. Don't need it. I live in Fl. Why would I bother spending money on a heat pump unless I want to heat my pool. 🤣😂
@mikee2923 the most of USA requires heating, even in Florida, there are cold nights in the winter. In warmer climates it doesn't make any economical sense to have natural gas hooked up. Using gas for $10 a month and paying $40 fee just to keep an account with the gas supplier active
@@pfitz4881 but I had B in first grade math class. So they quoted me a system for $14 000 and I bought everything I needed for installation for $1957. It has been up and running for 6 years now, when it breaks and free customer service will not help I just install a newer more advanced system. I pay 28 cents per kilowatt and have no intention to make lazy technicians life easier at my expense
I would like to buy one but I hear lots of comments about reliability and parts availability. They sound like French cars. You buy one to use and a 2nd for parts...
"I want to save money and save the environment!" -- "OK, we've got the perfect solution for you." -- "No, it has to be PRETTY!" SMH, roll eyes, walk away, because you can't fight people who emphasize aesthetics and ignorance over cost-effective performance. We have 4 different heat pumps, with two of them being mini-splits. These units are one of the ways the rich get richer...resistance to them is one way the poor stay poor.
Oh get over yourself. Mini-splits are very popular in the U.S., their popularity is growing, and the primary barrier to adoption is the cost the average person is quoted for installation by HVAC companies, and tales of HVAC companies refusing to service them.
@@Objectified - What are you talking about? I know they're becoming more popular. I mentioned having 4 different heat pumps on my two properties. SOME people are resistant to installing them because of appearance, as the video stated. Yeah, others don't like the installation cost or the challenge with servicing them, but even that is changing with DIY options and a better understanding of how they work. Are you upset that I mentioned how the ignorance around the value of these products is contributing to wealth inequality?
In almost every case, a mini-split is what you install when you can't do the job right. It adds extra points of failure, more complexity, ugliness, poorer conditioned air distribution (no AC in the bathroom!!), crappy filtration, etc. Yes, it is probably cheaper... cuz its not as good. That's why so many other countries use them. Look at how they construct their apartments in many of those countries... Some don't even have the water and waste pipes inside the walls... you can be sure they won't be putting in proper ductwork... no, they will hang a mini-split and call it good. If you have an old house and live in a moderate climate and just want a bit of cool air when it's 88 outside, sure the mini-split will get you by for the couple rooms you're in most of the time till it cools off and you can open a window. Kinda like if my kitchen had no room for a real refrigerator I might put a little cube refrigerators on the kitchen counter and in a couple other rooms.
It's crazy how often I see them installed incorrectly. Indoor unit way too close to the ceiling, outdoor unit way too close to the wall (and not even lifted), etc. It's not rocket science, you know.
The only real problem with using ducts on a mini split system is a loss of some of that super efficiency that the mini split offers. Your video provides some really good and useful information👍👍
I do like how ignorance is basically most of these. It is new to people in this region. There are always going to be growing pains. I would love to get rid of my 6 AC for my house. High price point for me right now to get this.
I have owned both a mini-split system, and did so for over 10 years. Also I have had window AC with in wall heaters, and then full HVAC ducted systems in various homes. Of all those, their use depends upon the climate conditions where the home is located. I will eliminate the widow AC with heater, as frankly that is the least economical, no matter where you live, but it did work pretty well in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.. I moved to a ductless mini-split in that home. 2 story, with 2000 sq ft. The system performed very well, but it only had 2 heads. Airflow worked great downstairs, as there were basically 2 areas, and the head was located at the end of the area where we mostly were living within. (Kitchen and family room.) The other area downstairs contained a formal living and formal dining. Heating and cooling worked quite well. Upstairs though, because there were multiple bedrooms, the airflow to keep the area both cool and warm was an issue. That could have been solved with a second mini-split with a head in the hall, and one in the main bedroom. But, the days that was a problem were very, very few. Quite efficient and low cost. Maintenance was simple. I have also had standard ducted HVAC. It of course ducts air to every room. The home is the same square footage as the 2 story we had before, but is one story. Maintenance is much more complicated. The system has to have it's ducts cleaned at least every other year. It has to be serviced 2 times per year, has failed (by a very bad QC by Goodman in it's outside unit where they had pipes rubbing against each other in the initial build.) The efficiency is poor compared to the ductless system because both heat and cooling generated has to travel through the ducts where heat is gained to the cool air in the Summer, and heat is lost in the Winter. (Yes the ducts are insulated as is the attic to modern standards. Also, there is put one thermostat controlling the HVAC, and rooms at the ends of the ducts that have closed doors at night, do not maintain temp range, thus get cold or hot. When this current system fails, I will replace it with ductless units. (probably 3 units, at a much lower cost than replacing the ducted system.)
We are coming around to them, I can tell you that much. With the price for whole house systems going up and up into the stratosphere and mini-splits being a lower price alternative, people are moving to them quickly. When I do rehabs on smaller houses I am putting in Senville Arctic Series heat pumps and the tenants love them. Lower install cost for me and lower power bills for them.
Having lived in Thailand and Japan you will only ever find mini split systems in domestic homes. The problem you have with short cycling has almost stoped with the rise of inverter units, where you can oversize by 50% and still have humidity control. Now the percentage of inverter units is probably over 90%. Living In Thailand the humidity is often over 80% in the rainy season and the inverters will control that quite easily. The huge disadvantage with ducted systems is the large volume of your house that they take up, unless you like to box in the ducts they will have to run over the ceiling or under the floor so then you loose the hight of the ducts + the insulation + the clear for the hangers. With a mini split you save about 90% of that volume.
And, hey, could Americans stop making content that 1) purports to describe and/or speak for the U.S., a country of nearly 350 million people spread across one of the largest and most geographically and culturally diverse nations on the planet; and 2) portraying all of that in some negative light, often being "Dur hur Americans are stupid and backward and other countries are smart and superior." You don't have to cater to that fing ignorant anti-American bigotry. You don't have to affirm that ignorant bigotry. You don't have to propagate that ignorant bigotry. You don't have to do any of that to discuss any topic that does that.
@captainwho1 Yes! Refrigerant leaks (and hunting down the leak and then getting it repaired - $$$), definitely! Electricity prices vary from region to region. Some folks have dirt cheap electric, and if you have expensive electric, you can get solar panels which can fully mitigate high electric costs.
@@MrWoodward42 Yeah and the damage to the environment when people opt to just keep refilling it with refrigerant because it is cheaper than fixing it. Also, in many locations solar isn't practical because of trees shading the house and government subsidies aren't the answer for offsetting the cost of solar because nothing is free and there is no such thing as a money tree.
@@captainwho1If it weren’t for the EPA (big business) changing refrigerant requirements and energy efficiency standards, they’re doing more harm than good to the environment. You have landfills filling up with perfectly good and usable equipment only because it has a refrigerant leak, most of which are easily and permanently fixed, simply because the refrigerant, which actually cost pennies per ton to manufacture, is costing between $100-200 per pound. The only thing that is recycled in an HVAC system is copper. The rest, including the oil from the system goes to the landfill. Freon being bad for the environment is BS funded by big business. Nothing more. I’ve worked in this industry for over 30 years.
@@mikee2923💯 truth, the poison is in the flourine, and c8 is a small part... flourinated polyethylene is a big non addressed threat....shh that lil f in pfas is the same as the f in cfc hcfc hfc....ect. 😮
They aren't liked because they are cheap and cheesy. If you are going to to use ducts do yourself a favor and get a real HVAC system. I would only use a mini split as a last resort. And yeah, I have experience. As for the "bonus advice" it applies applies to all HVAC systems. If anything this presentation confirms this should be a last choice.
Reddit is chock full of people who got shit professional installs. I see a great business opportunity for someone to audit people’s energy bills and straighten out their mess and save them some serious money.
I have a love hate with them. They are handy for small rooms and weird loads. But you will always have condensate pump issues. Cleaning them is an absolute mess. And interior walls installs make things fun.
They are fine for a garage or shop. They are an eye sore inside and outside. I have a nice house I don’t want the outside unit on the wall second story up, or heavy gauge copper tube wrapped in insulation running up the wall outside my house. That’s my biggest problem. Trust me thought about it
Great information, I agree 100%! I think another huge factor is that the large and relatively inefficient design of American houses in general makes getting a comfortable house under all conditions with ductless systems very difficult and prohibitively expensive. Think of an average 2500 sq ft suburban McMansion built to the code minimum with at best mediocre insulation and air sealing and many bedrooms, closets, bathrooms, etc vs an average ~600 sq ft house (or apartment/condo) in the UK with a much more open design, way fewer rooms, etc and you start to see how that could be an issue here, especially when cheap utilities (compared to much of the world) doesn't create much of a demand for efficiency. The difficulty of getting a mini split installed or serviced for a reasonable price just because of the low demand doesn't help either. From my understanding, in regions where mini splits are common, installation is much cheaper and parts and service are way more readily available simply due to the economies of scale that we are currently lacking here.
The U.S. also has, by far, the largest number of climate zones and subzones on the planet to contend with, and in many areas of the country homes and environmental systems need to deal with fairly extreme swings of hot and cold, wet and dry.
Yes there is generic parts fir mini splits boards are $200 not 1k ive been doing hvac for 45 years mini splits are for spit cooling of one room they should be banned for residential and only for commercial in IT rooms
❓FRESH AIR PLEASE… Air Quality is a concern. There is no exchange of outside to inside air. In another video a family had ripped out all the duct work in their crawl space and went with zoned mini-splits. The problem was there was no air circulation between rooms and the air stayed stale. The solution was pressurizing bedrooms and adding circulation ducts. Fresh air is also very important and most people don’t do their homework on this. ASIRI has a channel that covers indoor air quality.
My mini-a-lit thermostat suck. Once ON, it newer shuts off the system. 75 F Setpoint, and still cooling at 70 F. You will not save money if it ne shuts OFF.
It's social media. Every video about the U.S. has to portray it and Americans as ignorant, backward, inferior, dumb, behind the times, and every other country as smart, informed, superior, ahead of the curve, blah blah blah. No one ever goes broke peddling ignorant anti-America bigotry to audiences, even to American audiences.
Vs traditional, they are over priced, harder to repair, cost more to fix and do not have the track record of traditional units. Great idea for a garage or some out of the way area, but for all others.... your still better off with a traditional unit and opening/closing vets to "zone it".
The big problem is that there are no generic parts. Everything is proprietary, so they dictate prices, and I had to replace a DC board that was over $1k for one client. For me, recommending a mini is a last resort.
I'm a big fan of mini splits, but parts availability is a very real issue. It's so much easier (and generally cheaper) to find, for example, a capacitor or contactor for a traditional unit than a thermistor or control board for a mini split. IMO that's a catch 22 that probably won't ever be truly solved because no one is going to stock parts for systems that hardly anyone has or adequately train techs to work on them, but people (understandably) don't want to buy a very expensive product with poor parts availability that hardly anyone knows how to correctly service and most companies charge way too much to install just because they are uncommon.
It's about time somebody came up with something more to say than "HVAC hates change". UA-camrs are all about the shallow research, it's not like they can be held accountable for it.
That is a good point. It is strange that control boards are that expensive.
In fall of 2022 I bought a Mitsubishi mini-split heat pump from a local vendor. They're a family run shop with a very good reputation. They completely failed to tell me anything about the maintainance requirements. After 18 mo I called to arrange a service call. The system was struggling to go into heat mode. It was stopping and flashing a code. They told me that they no longer serviced mini-splits. It was taking too much time and costing them money. They still sold them, but only serviced them for a year after installation. Since I was effectively abandonned, I not longer use that company.
It turns out that the blower was dirty enough to cause a pressure problem when the fan was in auto mode. The blower needed to be cleaned. Their habit was a lazy approach, just using their refrigerant tank to blast some of the gunk off the blower. I've since learned how to take it out. Now I keep a spare on hand, so I can quickly swap blowers when a cleaning is required.
Before the internet:
Home appliances and electronics came with manuals
(a manual is a booklet with words printed on paper)
We also had repair shops where they could send a technician to your home to diagnose, clean and repair these types of things
(a technician is someone who has been trained on electrical systems and/or appliances)
The biggest issue is installation cost. Overseas contractors make about 600-1200 dollars for a 5 zone system install. In US they want 8K-15K plus material.
That will sort itself out when the US installers are homeless and out of business.
Adding a mini split to a older home is the way to go. I, my son and two co workers just put them in our homes. We all got them with the heating option.
If you look at other countries they're smart enough to use these and only thing scaring people is the HVAC companies are ripping people off a reasonable company told me three systems would be 27 thousand and I bought two systems and all the equipment to install them for about 25 hundred, there's no excuse for that difference I also found the brand they were going to install for 4 thousand!!!!!!
This is the exact problem. Living in foreign country, bought and had Mitsubishi GT Series installed for $700 after converted.
He is correct, we have ours cleaned every 6 months, refrigerant checked and it's been running great for 2 years. Electric bill decreased 40% because of the inverter system and Efficiency of the unit.
This should be top comment. I can not tell people this enough, Mini splits are so much more affordable than HVAC companies make them out to be. Especially if you live in an area where DIY is an option.
"Hur dur Americans are stupid!" Mini-splits are popular here, you ignorant bigot, and that popularity is growing. You're at least correct that quoted costs for installation here are a major barrier to adoption.
i think costco sells @@Goni983
Most other countries using them have older buildings which are frequently masonry so mini-splits are easier to install. Many only install them in the bedrooms.
So right about maintenance on the wall hung ductless...I have to clean my unit twice a cooling season, the second cleaning right before heating season.. if not, all the invisible but smelly mold spores blow out into ur room and immediately irritates my sinuses, plus it smells like piss. Each cleaning takes several hours to do it right with the proper equipment and cleaning solutions, and same with the outdoor condensor, twice a year, I wish I can wrap a filter around the whole condenser. High maintenance, good energy saving appliances for sure especially if ur paying 30 cents a kwh...good informative video !
Several hours per cleaning, twice a year, for each head? That's a deal killer for many.
As someone who has spent their entire adult life working in technology, more technology is not better, reliability comes from simplicity
Down here in FL and I'm planning to add one to my 710 sq ft garage to help make it more tolerable to workout in during our miserable summers.
Is your door insulated?
That's a good use case for them.
I just did the same thing here in ohio this last fall, but for heating & cooling purposes.
It compliments my geothermal heat from the main part of house that leaks into the garage.
I like that I can now powerwash vehicles in my garage comfortably & remove salt & snow effectively to prevent rusting. I actually wouldn't mind one or two in the house to provide additional heating.
They seem more effective with the direct approach. My house with long duct runs air isn't as warm.
@@Gamerz00760 Well, apparently I need it for heat as well down here in FL. 9 inches of snow in the panhandle last week... 😂
@@dustind9242
I seen video of snow on the beach & the highway sign saying welcome to florida the sunshine state...kinda funny to see the snow covering there.
I recommend it as a backup option. If it gets too much below freezing they do make models to defrost in negative temperatures. I know the snow got onto the outside unit & although not negative temperatures the defrost turned on.
They also make ones that use solar panels, EG4..they can save energy costs without going full solar.
We have these in our office at work. The rest of the building has central air (renovated in the last 10 years) our office was never fully renovated. They always leak water. Its like a rainshower coming down. We then have to shut it down and sometimes it takes months to get parts.
And, by the way, it'd be nice if one of you folk bothered to point out that the U.S. has far more climate zones and sub-zones than does any other country on the planet. American homes and environmental systems have to deal with a wide range of conditions, and in many areas of the country those systems have to deal with extreme swings between periods of hot and cold, and wet and dry. Climate zones have a very significant effect on everything from the types of environmental systems that are viable to the types of material used in construction of homes.
Very popular in Brazil you can control the temperature by roon don't have to wast cooling or heating roons that isn't being used.
Great video. I have 2 Daiken units, 3 and 2 head. 3 of the indoor units are the floor mounts. I clean the filters religiously every month, as well as the entire exterior. I did put a wall unit in our bathroom and no issues. We are very satisfied with them and the installer was amazing. I also clean the outside units as well, and actually, I wax them actually. I get them checked every year as well and my HVAC guy knows I am OCD.
do you have a voltage monitor?
@@joshschumacher7984 I do just for 110. Nothing for bigger stuff. Why do you ask?
I love my mini split. Hot water heat and no air unless I use window air conditioners until my three-zone mini. Put up with it for twenty-four years. I also heat with it to ten above.
Good vid
Lee
The only flaw I see in those mini splits are the filter designs. They could improve those with a disposable filter that would do a much job. They are very affordable to use and if placed in the right location, can do a lot of cooling or heating for the money in purchase and in operational costs. I'm wondering why we don't see natural gas central air conditioners since gas is way less expensive than electric and much less noise.
Minies are cheaper to run than gas.
@@Lee-qp6gf Not in my state, we have them sign a waiver that they know it will raise the cost of heating over NatGas. Maybe your think propane?
The filters are so cheap because the motor is so small it can't overcome the pressures of even a base media filter.
@@jonsaircond8520 Could be however, would be convenient to replace a filter vs. disassemble the OEM grid and wash it.
On a recent trip to Isarael I noticed that mini splits were everywhere, so they must work especially in that environment.
I live overseas for 20 years and all I’ve ever seen are mini splits, there fantastic and a lot cheaper in other countries just not here.
Availability of replacement parts. Manufacturers are retiring complete models for new models after a few years. If you can't buy a new replacement head and the new model isn't backwards compatible your stuck installing a new indoor head and outdoor unit
MERV 11 air filtration is my minimally acceptable cleanliness level. So any mini-splits fans need to handle high static air flow. We have allergies to contend with.
The major issue with heat pumps is that they do not work well in older homes in the US. I live in the north East. My home came with giant cast iron radiators. I switch to a properly sized heat pump. I have been so cold in my home over the past 2 years. The rooms technically gets to the proper temp but it’s uneven heat. My feet shouldn’t be cold. Also a big issue is that these companies try and tell u you will save money on heat pumps. Absolute nonsense. If you set it to a comfortable temp you will be paying though nose. My electric bills have not been less since switching. Just reinstalled my cast irons radiators and I am very happy.
Older houses with boiler radiator systems are not well insulated and depend on thermal mass of the water in the radiators to keep rooms warm and counteract drafts.
Love mine in my guest home.
Also Minnesota, -22F last night, (-40F windchill) and I was just just starting to struggle.
Had on on gor 4 years until a power surge took it out. My home insurance covered it so I bought the same one. Could be more happy.
If you are designing a machine that breaks itself under what you consider not normal use, but someone else considers normal use, then you should re design your product so you don't have any issues with it being "oversized". What if I want my room freezing cold, and quiet. If your machine breaks if the humidity gets too high or whatever, add a dehumidifier to your machine. The customer is always right. Don't pretend that everyone should be okay with non "oversized" units.
I’m surprised in America we haven’t migrated to Multi Head Mini Split systems
We do have Multi Head Minis in the US.. There is one in my daughter's house.
We have them here. I have one in my home. I had to wait for quite a while because they're so popular. GD, why do you people insist on making sweeping generalizations about one of the largest, most populous countries on the planet?
I like an air handler to serve multiple rooms, programmable thermostat, and able to install a MERV-13 filter on the air handler, and I hate mini split condensate pumps that tend to fail and make noise and prevent cooling, and lack of ventilation between rooms
Totally agree. Best use case for a mini spit is for an add on room or a tiny house,.
22 year old R22 system still going strong.
R22 was the best of the best.
I had a 1982 York that was still running fine when I replaced it in 2007. The ducting job was horrible and I had finished off the full basement so I had the house ducting upgraded and a 5 ton Carrier Infinity with zoning installed with a SunPure SP-200 4 inch filter system with catalytic converter and UV disinfection. When I moved 7 years later the inside of the indoor cabinet was as clean as the day it was installed. Just had to change the filter and UV lights once a year.
What is a R22 system?
@@skarscalp8157 R-22 was the predominate refrigerant used in HVAC systems before it was banned and replaced by R-410A, which also is now being phased out because of it's global warming potential.
I've been helping a buddy plan out finishing his mom's garage, and have been intending to throw a ductless mini split in it. I'd probably oversize a bit because there's only so much I can do to insulate and restrict airflow in and out of the garage.
You mentioned about turning the system down when not home (less heat in the winter and less AC in the summer) but I've found that if this is done on a day to day basis, my bills were significantly higher as it had to do a lot of extra work to catch up upon my return home.
This is true mostly when there is backup heat from electric resistance, which is more expensive, and kicked on when the thermostat temperature is raised. We have a heat pump backed up by a gas furnace, and use a 3 degree setback for more comfortable sleeping. We haven't had high bills from that.
@Thisoldhiker I guess I was just speaking in general. Although my experience with it was in the summer with air conditioning. I'd turn the thermostat up about 4 degrees while away for work and have it set back down for my return home. Can't say I've tried it in the winter though.
Multi-head systems, especially with zone control, could save a lot of energy and be easier for installation (due to no ductwork)
A major issue is that general contractors and HVAC installers hate change or doing anything different than the status quo, and either refuse to work with non-ducted systems at all, or charge even higher prices.
HVAC installers love getting 5-10k dollars labor for replacing a system, even when they can complete the work in just 2-3 hours.
When my central air dies, I am replacing it myself. Companies charge way too damn much. A friend paid 2k to have a compressor installed for a warranty replacement. Everything you need to know can be learned in youtube videos watching people do it and explain it. For that kind of money, its cheaper to buy the tools and do it yourself.
I don't know anyone who has any concern with mini-splits other than the outrageous prices we're quoted here for them, and that mini-splits are nevertheless quite popular in the U.S.
Agree, the internet and knowledge at your fingertips vs word of mouth without internet
I work in hvac. Mini splits are great when they work right. Main issue is refrigerant leaks. Their factory flares are always crumby, cut them off and make your own flares.
My problem with heat pumps is they're limited in how cold they can operate and ground source systems agree extremely expensive.
However there's a hybrid id totally love to use it in could swing it
Yeah, I'm one of those people who had to deal with the previous home owner's "it works" when we got our house in 2020.
Original Trane air handler from 1999 with a leaky coil, questionable capacitors secured with various colors of duct tape, nailed in place moldy air filter, and a leaky 5 ton Goodman condenser unit from 2006.
So new.... I have a furnace from a company that went out of business in the '50s. And an air conditioner condenser close to 30 years old
installers charging extreme premium for them. Just had a 24K -22F Dakin quoted at 10k for a easy install with no electrical in the quote.
How many BTU would you suggest for cooling the inside of a 10ft box inside a box truck during the PHX AZ summers? I don't wanna oversize, but I also don't wanna go too low and have it be inadequate.
The biggest problem is finding people who can work on them. It's hard enough finding people who can fix a regular ac system. Then you go and throw inverter driven technology in there with EEV's and and communication with no parts on the truck to fix them. So people are left without AC until the part comes in and its a good chance that part wasn't diagnosed properly. So now the customer is left without AC AGAIN.
They are really popular here in the Caribbean a lot of non name brands but a few good ones like daikin and Mitsubishi that are sold locally here Lennox is pretty popular as well
Too easy for homeowners to install and that threatens the HVAC companies.
Ductless mini splits... you can have 4 separate exterior units with 4 separate interior units. Then if one goes down you aren't left with ZERO cooling or heating. 3 would be running nearly continuously instead of close to 70% of the time. add a fan and the whole place is conditioned.
Mr coll is the only DYI install and they have their faults. others need to have the line sets connected and chared properly by a professional, especially if lines need to be cut and re-flared properly, the charging is very very specific and no home owner has the needed equipment.
My Mini split is undersized and I regret it.
I never would have bought it if I knew how weak it is compared to my old Central AC.
are there underfloor ducts for a raised house?
In the USA I see mini splits catching on more than ever before, however a lot of people are still against them.
They cost to much to fix. Once the warranty runs out its not worth it.
No no, the video is about why the entire country, one of the largest and most populous on the planet, HATES them! They can't be popular! Americans are so stupid and backward, they can't be buying these things hand over fist, even installing themselves to get around the outrageous costs many HVAC companies charge to install them.
Most HVAX technicians won't touch these and when they come to fix it takes over 2 to 3 weeks to get it fixed because the technicians can't get parts which costs an additional cost and extra trips.
These are so quiet. You can have 5 air handlers for one unit. They can supplement you central HVAC. Very efficient as heat pumps. Anything with moving parts needs yearly maintenance. I live in Hawaii. We heat or cool individual rooms. Ceiling mounted units are completely hidden.Mr cool you can install yourself. No leaky ducts. No ducts in the hot/cold attic. My units are 12 years old without issues. Mitsubishi are solid. These are variable speed DC vs AC that sip electricity
The mini split is a furnace/ac in one The heat part works to -4 degrees
I bought and installed my own mini split. It was about a grand, and a day or so to install.
If and When it fails, I don’t care. I’ll just buy another complete unit if needed.
I have gauges and a vacuum pump, and Ill just Buy the micron meter and return it after the install
I wanted to go with a mini split, but the price of over 24k after government rebates, was just too much.
I live in Connecticut and have no air ducts. Heating is hot water baseboard radiators.
24k for a minisplit?
@@NewHVACGuide I don't have the quote anymore, it was about a year ago. House is about 1,600 Sq ft., 3 bedroom cape. System was needed to replace old heating system, AC ability was a bonus from my point of view.
A coworker of mine who lives in Massachusetts put a system in his house that is similar to mine. Total price was about 19-20k, but after state rebates he only paid 8k and was very happy with it.
How do you like the radiator heat and what do you do about a/c?
@@nccrchurchunusual I have no problem with the radiator hot water kind. Although sometimes you have to bleed out some air. For AC we use window units in the bedrooms.
several things, some brands are way better than others in the US. Foreign countries have used these for a long time now, but long time brands, and smaller homes/apartments than the size of US homes also, many of which have had to be retrofitted over there and have a long history with them and better at installations. Here we have some cheap brands and less knowledge of installations so more failures, and how used, many not appropriate locations, size etc. These are not going to replace a ducted system for a larger US home,
What about package style units?
What about poor performance in very cold weather when you need heat the most?
#1. They are a pain in the butt to clean. You have to do it standing on a ladder and if you have multiple heads that each need to be cleaned. #2. They require multiple holes in the building envelope including multiple drains which can become clogged.
Good points!
didn't know they had a "bad reputation", All I ever hear is positive.
ua-cam.com/video/9SmTIm23Mg0/v-deo.html
If it's a video about something in America, it's going to portray America and Americans as ignorant, backward, and inferior because other countries are allegedly doing something different, better, and in a way that is superior.
I'm in Australia ... I have a split system in every room ...we don't call em mini splits .. I have 10kw reverse cycle one in the main living area that's 34000 BTU's there are cheap to run and come with a 5 year warranty cost about $1000-$3000 plus install $800 Australia dollars.. what's going on in the USA ... these things are brilliant
Can you explain short cycling @ 2:55 mark. Is turning on for 5 mins to get to setpoint every hour "short cycling"? How about on every 30 mins .... I have never found a HVAC "expert" who can explain the "perfect no short cycling" scenario
that is because there is no perfect no short cycling scenario, in the spring you will not need as much cooling than in summer and again in fall when cooling loads are lower. I feel that the only way to go is with a 2 stage a/c unit, when you need all of the cooling (say 3 tons) then both stages would come on, first 1 stage (1.5 ton) then 2nd stage (3 ton). problem is nobody makes a unit like this.
@@robertcounts5300there are plenty of systems like that. Rheem’s standard heat pump systems are 2 stage cooling. A lot of old school HVAC guys are stuck on single stage systems and old ways. There’s 2 stage, 3 stage, variable speed equipment where they ramp up and down based on load conditions
@@robertcounts5300Commercial systems are like this, with 3 separate compressors and 3 sets of condensor coils. Residential systems have one variable speed compressor to support multiple stages.
hello love your videos can you explain how the heat bank works im in North Carolina in a all new home area and a 2 year old house burnt down from the heatpump
Our HVAC pirates can’t charge 20 grand. The DIY aspect makes the industry crazy…. It’s what happened to plumbers when shark bites came on the scene. Lol
Funny thing is the people creating that stuff are ripping homeowners off just as much. HVAC contractors pay less for equipment then homeowners buying from Lowe’s or something like that. The contractors price is higher because there’s labor and overhead expenses and obviously profit that needs to be made, you’re not in business to make nothing. Granted there’s a ton of crappy contractors who way overcharge, but there are some honest ones out there. Finding them isn’t always easy though
My coworker told me a plumber slapped a sharkbite fitting on his leaking pipe.
I had tentatively considered a mini split fir a large family room. Thanks. You showed me it isn't for me.
I'd like a good explanation about oversizing. How is it so easy to oversize I it's variable system. It should just ramp down to what is needed
Ductless splits have their place in a homes HVAC system if there are limitations (actual or self imposed). They're great as an auxiliary/addition to one's existing system (ya got that one room that isn't quite warm/cool enough. If you're building a home to Passive Home Standards, this is all that (they say) you need. Personally If I were designing a homes HVAC system I'd use a heat pump system, but install ducts for better air flow & better air filtration.
It made more sense to add a window AC to my small home. It was only $400. A mini would have run me around 5k to have installed, which made no financial sense to me. The 12,000 BTU window AC cools my 450 sq feet house just fine.
planning on getting a mini split in our 600 sq ft mobile home any thoughts?
I am not an hvac technician but even I know it is just stupid to buy ac without heat pump
How so? It depends on where you live. In moderate climates you are correct. I live in the northeast where it gets cold and natural gas is cheap compared to electricity. It doesn’t make sense for anyone in this area to buy a heat pump. They only put out moderately warm air in comparison to a natural gas system. That is really only true if you only have electricity available.
My heat strip broke years ago and I never had it fixed. Don't need it. I live in Fl. Why would I bother spending money on a heat pump unless I want to heat my pool. 🤣😂
@mikee2923 the most of USA requires heating, even in Florida, there are cold nights in the winter. In warmer climates it doesn't make any economical sense to have natural gas hooked up. Using gas for $10 a month and paying $40 fee just to keep an account with the gas supplier active
Like you said... You are not an HVAC technician.
@@pfitz4881 but I had B in first grade math class. So they quoted me a system for $14 000 and I bought everything I needed for installation for $1957. It has been up and running for 6 years now, when it breaks and free customer service will not help I just install a newer more advanced system. I pay 28 cents per kilowatt and have no intention to make lazy technicians life easier at my expense
I would like to buy one but I hear lots of comments about reliability and parts availability. They sound like French cars. You buy one to use and a 2nd for parts...
I think most hvac people
Hate working on them from my experience the last 8 years being around other techs and installers
Since formal education of techs in their trades is not the norm in the US, most want to keep working on what they started with for their full careers.
"I want to save money and save the environment!" -- "OK, we've got the perfect solution for you." -- "No, it has to be PRETTY!" SMH, roll eyes, walk away, because you can't fight people who emphasize aesthetics and ignorance over cost-effective performance. We have 4 different heat pumps, with two of them being mini-splits. These units are one of the ways the rich get richer...resistance to them is one way the poor stay poor.
Oh get over yourself. Mini-splits are very popular in the U.S., their popularity is growing, and the primary barrier to adoption is the cost the average person is quoted for installation by HVAC companies, and tales of HVAC companies refusing to service them.
@@Objectified - What are you talking about? I know they're becoming more popular. I mentioned having 4 different heat pumps on my two properties. SOME people are resistant to installing them because of appearance, as the video stated. Yeah, others don't like the installation cost or the challenge with servicing them, but even that is changing with DIY options and a better understanding of how they work. Are you upset that I mentioned how the ignorance around the value of these products is contributing to wealth inequality?
Mini units are great for open concept floorplans, a perfect match for concrete buildings
I have a 4kw halcyon that’s been running for five years now issues. I clean it a few times a year
Thats not true it just doesn't make a lot of sense to put 5 or 6 in vs 1 big system in a lot of cases
You can get 2 triple head units. Easy.
@billweir1745 ya but most houses already have ducted and it doesn't make sense even if it fails to go with mini splits
In almost every case, a mini-split is what you install when you can't do the job right. It adds extra points of failure, more complexity, ugliness, poorer conditioned air distribution (no AC in the bathroom!!), crappy filtration, etc. Yes, it is probably cheaper... cuz its not as good. That's why so many other countries use them. Look at how they construct their apartments in many of those countries... Some don't even have the water and waste pipes inside the walls... you can be sure they won't be putting in proper ductwork... no, they will hang a mini-split and call it good. If you have an old house and live in a moderate climate and just want a bit of cool air when it's 88 outside, sure the mini-split will get you by for the couple rooms you're in most of the time till it cools off and you can open a window. Kinda like if my kitchen had no room for a real refrigerator I might put a little cube refrigerators on the kitchen counter and in a couple other rooms.
Thanks for your video. I thought one mini split would cover the whole house.
I wish I had mini splits insted of one zone ducted. I usually only use 30% of my home so its a waste of energy
It's crazy how often I see them installed incorrectly. Indoor unit way too close to the ceiling, outdoor unit way too close to the wall (and not even lifted), etc. It's not rocket science, you know.
The only real problem with using ducts on a mini split system is a loss of some of that super efficiency that the mini split offers. Your video provides some really good and useful information👍👍
I do like how ignorance is basically most of these. It is new to people in this region. There are always going to be growing pains. I would love to get rid of my 6 AC for my house. High price point for me right now to get this.
The video is a bit late. Heat pumps are now officially outselling furnaces in the US.
I have owned both a mini-split system, and did so for over 10 years. Also I have had window AC with in wall heaters, and then full HVAC ducted systems in various homes. Of all those, their use depends upon the climate conditions where the home is located. I will eliminate the widow AC with heater, as frankly that is the least economical, no matter where you live, but it did work pretty well in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.. I moved to a ductless mini-split in that home. 2 story, with 2000 sq ft. The system performed very well, but it only had 2 heads. Airflow worked great downstairs, as there were basically 2 areas, and the head was located at the end of the area where we mostly were living within. (Kitchen and family room.) The other area downstairs contained a formal living and formal dining. Heating and cooling worked quite well. Upstairs though, because there were multiple bedrooms, the airflow to keep the area both cool and warm was an issue. That could have been solved with a second mini-split with a head in the hall, and one in the main bedroom. But, the days that was a problem were very, very few. Quite efficient and low cost. Maintenance was simple. I have also had standard ducted HVAC. It of course ducts air to every room. The home is the same square footage as the 2 story we had before, but is one story. Maintenance is much more complicated. The system has to have it's ducts cleaned at least every other year. It has to be serviced 2 times per year, has failed (by a very bad QC by Goodman in it's outside unit where they had pipes rubbing against each other in the initial build.) The efficiency is poor compared to the ductless system because both heat and cooling generated has to travel through the ducts where heat is gained to the cool air in the Summer, and heat is lost in the Winter. (Yes the ducts are insulated as is the attic to modern standards. Also, there is put one thermostat controlling the HVAC, and rooms at the ends of the ducts that have closed doors at night, do not maintain temp range, thus get cold or hot. When this current system fails, I will replace it with ductless units. (probably 3 units, at a much lower cost than replacing the ducted system.)
We are coming around to them, I can tell you that much. With the price for whole house systems going up and up into the stratosphere and mini-splits being a lower price alternative, people are moving to them quickly. When I do rehabs on smaller houses I am putting in Senville Arctic Series heat pumps and the tenants love them. Lower install cost for me and lower power bills for them.
The floor units look the best.
These work very well in most of the world, yet have so many problems in USA specifically.
Having lived in Thailand and Japan you will only ever find mini split systems in domestic homes. The problem you have with short cycling has almost stoped with the rise of inverter units, where you can oversize by 50% and still have humidity control. Now the percentage of inverter units is probably over 90%. Living In Thailand the humidity is often over 80% in the rainy season and the inverters will control that quite easily. The huge disadvantage with ducted systems is the large volume of your house that they take up, unless you like to box in the ducts they will have to run over the ceiling or under the floor so then you loose the hight of the ducts + the insulation + the clear for the hangers. With a mini split you save about 90% of that volume.
I was quoted an intense price for a minisplit. I could buy a new Nissan Versa for as much as he quoted me.
You can DIY them.. super easy to install, no overpaid tech to price gouge you...
The only maintenance you need to do is wash your filter every year....
And, hey, could Americans stop making content that 1) purports to describe and/or speak for the U.S., a country of nearly 350 million people spread across one of the largest and most geographically and culturally diverse nations on the planet; and 2) portraying all of that in some negative light, often being "Dur hur Americans are stupid and backward and other countries are smart and superior." You don't have to cater to that fing ignorant anti-American bigotry. You don't have to affirm that ignorant bigotry. You don't have to propagate that ignorant bigotry. You don't have to do any of that to discuss any topic that does that.
You forgot refrigerant leaks and expensive electricity.
@captainwho1 Yes! Refrigerant leaks (and hunting down the leak and then getting it repaired - $$$), definitely! Electricity prices vary from region to region. Some folks have dirt cheap electric, and if you have expensive electric, you can get solar panels which can fully mitigate high electric costs.
@@MrWoodward42 Yeah and the damage to the environment when people opt to just keep refilling it with refrigerant because it is cheaper than fixing it. Also, in many locations solar isn't practical because of trees shading the house and government subsidies aren't the answer for offsetting the cost of solar because nothing is free and there is no such thing as a money tree.
@@captainwho1If it weren’t for the EPA (big business) changing refrigerant requirements and energy efficiency standards, they’re doing more harm than good to the environment. You have landfills filling up with perfectly good and usable equipment only because it has a refrigerant leak, most of which are easily and permanently fixed, simply because the refrigerant, which actually cost pennies per ton to manufacture, is costing between $100-200 per pound. The only thing that is recycled in an HVAC system is copper. The rest, including the oil from the system goes to the landfill. Freon being bad for the environment is BS funded by big business. Nothing more. I’ve worked in this industry for over 30 years.
@@mikee2923, so what's your solution?
@@mikee2923💯 truth, the poison is in the flourine, and c8 is a small part... flourinated polyethylene is a big non addressed threat....shh that lil f in pfas is the same as the f in cfc hcfc hfc....ect. 😮
They aren't liked because they are cheap and cheesy. If you are going to to use ducts do yourself a favor and get a real HVAC system. I would only use a mini split as a last resort. And yeah, I have experience. As for the "bonus advice" it applies applies to all HVAC systems. If anything this presentation confirms this should be a last choice.
That's dumb.
If they don’t maintain a mini split then they are not maintaining other systems. This is not valid reason.
Derp.
HVAC shouldn't be your filter! Build your own home filtration, separate from your HVAC. UA-cam: how to make Airfilter diy
BAd trait: Having to view the line-set hanging off the wall, both interior & exterior. A window AC is almost better looking.
Yep and when everyone starts going to mini splits it will no longer be a cheap alternative……
You can have the best of both worlds with a ducted mini split.
a package unit AC?
@@micorp01 Inverter outdoor unit and a traditional indoor unit. Gree Flexx is a good example of that kind of system.
Reddit is chock full of people who got shit professional installs. I see a great business opportunity for someone to audit people’s energy bills and straighten out their mess and save them some serious money.
And something more important, Poor Insulation...
I have a love hate with them. They are handy for small rooms and weird loads.
But you will always have condensate pump issues.
Cleaning them is an absolute mess.
And interior walls installs make things fun.
They are fine for a garage or shop. They are an eye sore inside and outside. I have a nice house I don’t want the outside unit on the wall second story up, or heavy gauge copper tube wrapped in insulation running up the wall outside my house. That’s my biggest problem. Trust me thought about it
Great information, I agree 100%! I think another huge factor is that the large and relatively inefficient design of American houses in general makes getting a comfortable house under all conditions with ductless systems very difficult and prohibitively expensive. Think of an average 2500 sq ft suburban McMansion built to the code minimum with at best mediocre insulation and air sealing and many bedrooms, closets, bathrooms, etc vs an average ~600 sq ft house (or apartment/condo) in the UK with a much more open design, way fewer rooms, etc and you start to see how that could be an issue here, especially when cheap utilities (compared to much of the world) doesn't create much of a demand for efficiency.
The difficulty of getting a mini split installed or serviced for a reasonable price just because of the low demand doesn't help either. From my understanding, in regions where mini splits are common, installation is much cheaper and parts and service are way more readily available simply due to the economies of scale that we are currently lacking here.
The U.S. also has, by far, the largest number of climate zones and subzones on the planet to contend with, and in many areas of the country homes and environmental systems need to deal with fairly extreme swings of hot and cold, wet and dry.
It's because they are too efficient and big oil is not happy .
Yes there is generic parts fir mini splits boards are $200 not 1k ive been doing hvac for 45 years mini splits are for spit cooling of one room they should be banned for residential and only for commercial in IT rooms
100% correct.
no we don't like government banning anything that era is gone
❓FRESH AIR PLEASE… Air Quality is a concern. There is no exchange of outside to inside air. In another video a family had ripped out all the duct work in their crawl space and went with zoned mini-splits. The problem was there was no air circulation between rooms and the air stayed stale. The solution was pressurizing bedrooms and adding circulation ducts. Fresh air is also very important and most people don’t do their homework on this. ASIRI has a channel that covers indoor air quality.
My mini-a-lit thermostat suck. Once ON, it newer shuts off the system. 75 F Setpoint, and still cooling at 70 F. You will not save money if it ne shuts OFF.
That isn't what's happening. The indoor fan is just always blowing, but the unit outdoors is not always running.
The US hates mini splits? What?
It's social media. Every video about the U.S. has to portray it and Americans as ignorant, backward, inferior, dumb, behind the times, and every other country as smart, informed, superior, ahead of the curve, blah blah blah. No one ever goes broke peddling ignorant anti-America bigotry to audiences, even to American audiences.
It has everything to do with aesthetics. They are ugly.
Vs traditional, they are over priced, harder to repair, cost more to fix and do not have the track record of traditional units.
Great idea for a garage or some out of the way area, but for all others.... your still better off with a traditional unit and opening/closing vets to "zone it".