MiniSplit Blog
| Pros of Using DIY Units | Cons of Using DIY Units |
| NO HVAC Contractor Needed | Higher Cost Compared to Regular Units |
| Easy to Install, as long as you read & follow directions | Many problems, if you dont follow directions |
| Best for people with technical experience | NOT for people with no technical experience |
| Includes the components you need for a basic install | Doesnt include everything you need for a full install |
| DIY troubleshoot if something goes wrong, they dont just replace a unit if you have a problem. | |
| Have to DIY replacement parts (IE:PCB, Motors, etc) | |
| Limit on copper line length, have to use the kits provided | |
| Limited on indoor sizes, and only wall mount indoor units | |
| No way to know if there are leaks in the coils | |
| If there is a leak, you have to hire a HVAC tech to re-fill | |
| Most people do not have the all the tools needed | |
| Building Departments will not issue permits for DIY |
Multizone options include a 2 zone 27,000 BTU combination, a 3 zone 27,000 BTU combination, and a 4 zone 36,000 BTU combination.
How do I determine what size unit I need?
As one of the most important questions a would be homeowner-installer can ask, there are a couple things to take into consideration when determining the BTU needs for a given project. To start, you can go by the following general guidelines:
Size of area to heat and cool BTU Needs
Under 400 sq. feet 9,000
400-600 sq. feet 12,000
600-800 sq. feet 18,000
800-1200 sq. feet 24,000
1200-1500 sq. feet 30,000
1500-1800 sq. feet 36,000
1800-2000 sq. feet 48,000
more than 2000 60,000 or higher
Please bear in mind however that these are just general guidelines. Any number of things unique to your location may alter the heating and cooling needs including, but not limited to: Lots of doors or windows that leech conditioned air, higher ceiling heights or vaulted ceilings, and/or poor insulation. These are just a few things to take into consideration and it's best to get a licensed HVAC technician to come by and do a load calculation. Even if they are not going to end up doing the job, for a couple hundred bucks you can have the piece of mind that you wont be under or overpowering your system and wasting funds and environmental resources.
Does the DIY system include everything I need to get the unit installed and running?
No. While it does include almost everything you will need, there are a couple additional items, and some optional items to consider before placing the order. The first would be something to sit the outdoor compressor on. This is referred to as a 'pad' and is the most common choice. The outdoor compressor can also be mounted to an outside wall using a wall bracket. Pads come in two general flavors - a plastic mounting pad, and a hurricane rated concrete pad for those areas that experience turbulent weather patterns.
An optional Wifi adapter and controller. While the PerfectAire DIY brand does come with a Ceilo wifi adapter, the Mr. Cool does not. Wifi capability adds the ability to set schedules and control your unit from anywhere in the world with internet access.
Lineset cover (hide) kit. This is an attractive archetectural covering for the linesets that run between the indoor and outdoor units and conceals the miscellanous wiring and drain line as well as the copper. There are a number of options to choose from, and some come in a plain white which can be painted over to match the house color, while other come in a variety of colors. To see what options may best suite your needs, you can take a look at the selections here: Accessories
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