Mini Split Heat Pump for Garage

[Not_A_Llama]

Has anyone installed one themselves or had one installed? Have you been happy?

I'm looking to take the edge off in my insulated attached two-car garage/workshop (~600 sqft), and have seen some attractive prices on the units themselves. Trying to keep it above 50 in winter, and below 80 in summer. It currently gets to maybe 35 in winter and 95 in summer.

I would rate myself as "pretty handy" (have swapped electrical outlets, installed lights, done some soldering, a little drywall), but I'm a little intimidated by the electrical and the coolant aspect.

Is this something where I could do most of the work, and have someone do the tough stuff?

Any recommendations for brands, sizing, contractors, or any gotcha factors?

[Irving]

Kazoo won't shut up about his. He seems to like enough that I've recommended them to other friends with shops.

[buffalobo]

You could handle it. 80% planning, 20% execution. I have not installed one yet but plan to install 2 unit system this fall.

[buffalobo]

I think Oneguy67 may have installed his own system down in Texas as well.

[2XS]

Heat pumps don't really work well in our dry climate. Mini sits are awesome for cooling but I'm personally doing a gas fired heater separately from my split to heat with.

[Great-Kazoo]

Has anyone installed one themselves or had one installed? Have you been happy?

I'm looking to take the edge off in my insulated attached two-car garage/workshop (~600 sqft), and have seen some attractive prices on the units themselves. Trying to keep it above 50 in winter, and below 80 in summer. It currently gets to maybe 35 in winter and 95 in summer.

I would rate myself as "pretty handy" (have swapped electrical outlets, installed lights, done some soldering, a little drywall), but I'm a little intimidated by the electrical and the coolant aspect.

Is this something where I could do most of the work, and have someone do the tough stuff?

Any recommendations for brands, sizing, contractors, or any gotcha factors?

are you comfortable wiring from the panel to the unit? if not hire someone. There's a bit of a difference between buying 1, installing it yourself and paying a hvac person to do the job. You install it means who knows how much time spent with tech support, plus what ever fees one is charging to come look at the unit, if it stops.


Paying a hvac person, means the entire job is warrantied . So 6 of 1, 1/2 doz of the other.

I pay the hvac for their time & knowledge. There's an issue. Ok, you can be here by end of day tomorrow, great

Compared to. Your call is important to us. Your current wait time is 10 minutes.

[Not_A_Llama]

Heat pumps don't really work well in our dry climate. Mini sits are awesome for cooling but I'm personally doing a gas fired heater separately from my split to heat with.
How does humidity impact a heat pump?

[2XS]

Yes it impacts the ability of the unit to transfer heat. Also electricity is more expensive then natural gas or even propane.
Interesting read
https://www.trane.com/residential/en/resources/hvac-basics/is-a-heat-pump-right-for-my-home/

[Gman]

Biggest problem I've seen in these parts is that when it's really cold and snowing, it's below freezing and the coils ice up and become ineffective. You end up running primarily on the electric Aux heater. If you had underground coils, they may work better for heating in the winter.

In areas with less extreme winter conditions, heat pumps can be more effective.

[Not_A_Llama]

Got high on Youtube courage here and just pulled the trigger on a highseer.com Pioneer unit. 12k BTU, 21.5 SEER rating. Something like $1100. It's maybe a little undersized, but I'm only trying to take the edge off - I try to feel seasonal variation in my house, too.

I also got annoyed with the local HVAC dudes, and went ahead and got myself EPA Section 608 tested/certified to buy refrigerant. About half an hour all-in, pretty much on high school physics and educated guessing.

We'll see what I really know in a week or two here.

Also, I *might* be able to talk Xcel into giving me a $300 credit here. They seem pretty contractor-focused.

[Not_A_Llama]

Followup: this ended up being about 2 hours of honest work, after probably 6 hours of fretting and research.

All in, $1100 for the stuff, of which probably $100 was unnecessary: https://www.pioneerminisplit.com/collections/wys/products/pioneer-12-000-btu-21-5-seer-230v-ductless-mini-split-air-conditioner-heat-pump-system-full-set?variant=33169173264

I did end up getting a proper vacuum pump and manifold gauge set, instead of using the compressed purge chemical I bought from them. $130ish. I’ll help a couple friends install their mini-splits, then it’ll go into my composites work.

EPA certification ended up unnecessary, since I had no refrigerant leaks.

Filed for Xcel to give back $300, and will file for another $300 of federal tax credits.

It has been fantastic having a heated and cooled space. Haven't been through winter yet, but freezing evenings have been fine, and power draw has not exceeded 1kw yet, in cool or heat mode.

https://i.imgur.com/ZBz59EJ.jpg