Top 5 Mini-Split Myths

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ม.ค. 2025

ความคิดเห็น • 536

  • @mb4lunch
    @mb4lunch หลายเดือนก่อน +223

    As a mini split owner myself, I can honestly tell you after servicing two head units in my house that were really dirty from a few years of use, you should never put one up really high, especially above stairs, where it would be hard for the technician to service it or clean it out.

    • @DR-um2bv
      @DR-um2bv หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Exactly

    • @cowboy5419
      @cowboy5419 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Good advise, thanks

    • @matt45540
      @matt45540 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

      Inconvenient, yes but having service a lot of AC units that are in crawl spaces or through small hatches buried in a wall in rafters with no floor, it's fine I have a adjustable ladder that's designed for stairs. Keeping it so high up keeps it out of your visual line and that's worth it. And in Matt's case it's a party unit, so it won't get used much

    • @dlg5485
      @dlg5485 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

      It's really not a big deal. A ladder with independently adjustable legs is all you need.

    • @LuminairPrime
      @LuminairPrime หลายเดือนก่อน +10

      @@matt45540 "And in Matt's case it's a party unit, so it won't get used much" -- didn't he say he uses it a lot in his house, and didn't he show the filter looking dirty

  • @staudtj1
    @staudtj1 หลายเดือนก่อน +47

    I live in Michigan and 1.5 years ago installed a MrCool 3 ton Universal Heat pump. House is 1400 sq/ft ranch with a full walkout basement.
    House is well insulated. This system uses the original ductwork from an old gas forced air system. During last Winter it got down to 8 below
    zero Fahrenheit and the House stayed at 69 all day. Very pleased so far.

    • @knotes76
      @knotes76 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Was your wife as pleased as you?

    • @staudtj1
      @staudtj1 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @knotes76 I live alone

    • @KarmenD-ce5re
      @KarmenD-ce5re หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      TOO cold 69F not my style!, I have the same system, and I keep it at 73-74 does an EXCELLENT JOB, coldest it has been so far since install about a year ago is 15F

    • @KarmenD-ce5re
      @KarmenD-ce5re หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@knotes76 probably not, she was probably shivering ! lol

    • @staudtj1
      @staudtj1 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @KarmenD-ce5re it could go higher than that I just didn't need it to

  • @kevinfarrell2897
    @kevinfarrell2897 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Nice vid. Ive learned two things in my six months as an owner of these things: 1) You don't notice them after awhile and neither does anybody else ..... 2) Having separate zones is awesome for bedrooms because people can control their own room temps 3) so far in this rochester NY winter which has seen some 5 degree F temps, these babies seem to perform better for heating if you figure out what temp you want it at and just let them run without the ups and downs you might do when cooling. Long steady runs= happy heat pumps

  • @PaulSage
    @PaulSage หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    When I built my house we used a single compressor with three small minisplit air handlers (1.5t, .75t & .75t) and two wall-hung units plus a stand-alone ventilating dehumidifier (SD12). Love it.

  • @makingtechsense126
    @makingtechsense126 29 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    My last house had ceiling heat and no cooling. The ceiling heat was failing so we decided to put in a mini-split system. We put in a mini-split system with six zones and one, large, outdoor unit. The only thing I would do differently is to stay away from having just one outdoor unit and instead have multiple. Now that I know, I would design the house to have certain zones separated from each other so that the whole system didn't need to be running all the time and for the rare case where I wanted heat in one area and cool in another. Also, my one, large, outdoor unit died during a record heatwave one year (115 degrees) and it took the whole house offline. It was absolutely miserable. A second outdoor unit would have provided us with the ability to keep our house temps manageable until the failed unit could be fixed.

  • @wickiss
    @wickiss หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I treated my house as a bit of an experiment, and we installed two mini splits, one in the main floor and one (two heads but a single outdoor unit) in the upstairs living room and in the master bedroom. These two units do all the heating and cooling for the house (we have back up electric heating, which is required by local codes). They get us through the pretty cold winters here in southern Quebec, where we can see -20°C days regularly.

  • @DYI
    @DYI หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    I live in very mild climate. Very few houses here have AC, but occasionally we can get extreme hot temperatures. I installed a single 110v mini-split which does cool the entire house. The cost was only about $2k which was a fraction of the $40k quote for a whole house AC system. It is also good back up in the winter if my Natural Gas furnace fails.

  • @jimbeaver27
    @jimbeaver27 หลายเดือนก่อน +13

    I'm in Japan and they are everywhere here. I have 4 in my house mostly as aux heat since I have 4 kero heaters, a heated floor and two wood stoves. I love that you can heat just the areas that you want, no central heat here. They are very reliable, one of mine that came with the house is 32 years old and runs like a champ. They are very frugal on power unless you are trying to heat when it is quite cold out. Another advantage of them is they run on a remote control so no need to go to the thermostat to change the temp. The have timers so you can have it come on in the morning before you get up or turn off an hour after you go to bed.

    • @JeffCrawfordInTokyo
      @JeffCrawfordInTokyo หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      I too live in Japan and have 4 mini-splits in our house. Mini-splits have been the standard here for more than 20 years. Works great, and I like not having to heat or cool the entire house. They have also dropped in price and gained a lot in efficiency the last few years.

    • @kellymoses8566
      @kellymoses8566 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      You need so many heaters because Japan doesn't like to insulate houses for some reason.

    • @killer5846
      @killer5846 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      I live in New Mexico in the high desert so a very different climate than yours, we have very hot summers and fairly cold winters. I do agree with you about using them individually, I do have central heat which is common in the US but we tend to shut off the vents and rooms we don't want to heat in the winter which is not an idea situation. With the mini splits this year we have only cooled our heated the rooms we are going to be in therefore saving a lot of electricity and cost.

    • @jimbeaver27
      @jimbeaver27 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@JeffCrawfordInTokyo I bought a HD 20A unit for my shop and wow that sucker really puts out. Use it mostly for A/C in summer though, it gets cold up in Nagano, -7 this morning. The built in kero heaters are really the cats arse for heat in winter. Love my wood stoves but they take awhile to heat up.

    • @jimbeaver27
      @jimbeaver27 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@kellymoses8566 true, but our house is super insulated with pair glass, many older houses have single pane glass with very little or no insulation, don't know how people do it, but they are used to it. Newer houses in Japan are pretty well insulated with pair glass. I need many heaters because my house is HUGE.

  • @Irjdunn1
    @Irjdunn1 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    Love my Mr Cool Universal in northern Mn. It just works, and is cheap for winterizing the house and keeping it at 55F through the winter.

  • @lmolby001
    @lmolby001 หลายเดือนก่อน +76

    It’s always bothered me that Matt has one in the middle of his staircase even after a complete renovation.

    • @FastDave22
      @FastDave22 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

      I dont understand either- doing all that work and having a wall unit in the stairs and one on the kitchen ceiling. Cmon.

    • @D2O2
      @D2O2 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

      Yes! It didn't need to be that way and it IS hideous. Mini Split head = modern window unit

    • @MustardMade
      @MustardMade หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      I think he did it slightly on purpose to “break the stigma” of minisplits in the USA

    • @gemrough
      @gemrough หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Ducted mini split is great, ceiling mount is ok, wall mount is shit!

    • @D2O2
      @D2O2 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @MustardMade I think he might have reinforced it.

  • @danielstover3029
    @danielstover3029 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Myth Busters Matt, Steven and Brian 👍👍👍... My buddy lives in a very basic 2 X 4 uninsulated 1950's house in Southern California. He has a 4 ton HVAC system. A few years ago we installed 2 mini splits in that house, one in the master bedroom and one in the living room to ad either additional AC or primary AC depending on the time of year. Here is the BIG BENEFIT, when his 4 ton HVAC system went out, those mini splits managed to keep the interior under 80° when it was 110° outside. Multiple mini splits offer unique value in redundancy... Myths busted... Great video, thanks for sharing, blessings and Merry Christmas wishes to all..... 🙂👍

    • @VanillaMacaron551
      @VanillaMacaron551 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Also for zoning. You don't need to cool the whole house all day. Works especially well in an old-fashioned house with separate rooms with doors and flat ceilings (as opposed to barn-style, open-plan, high-ceilinged, modern designs.)

  • @nickpedersen3032
    @nickpedersen3032 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    We just turned on our 5 zone Mitsubishi mini-split system in our new build. So far it's better than I expected. Ive only needed 2 of them to maintain the consistent temp in the house. We also have a Braun AI ERV it really is great.

    • @MichaelJ674
      @MichaelJ674 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      The ERV is key for making the whole system work in terms of IAQ. That’s the piece that a lot of people leave out. Kudos for doing it right!

    • @steelddd
      @steelddd หลายเดือนก่อน

      I'm planning on a 12 head Mitsubishi system. Any tips you can offer? Anything annoying about the system?

  • @caiolinnertel8777
    @caiolinnertel8777 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I have an old house with radiant heat. I put in mini splits and don't even see them, and they work so well, and are SO quiet! AND they are heat pumps which I didn't initially. Thanks for showing the different options.

  • @appatel1
    @appatel1 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Matt, I did a complete home renovation 2 years ago and based on your videos I went with ducted mini- splits throughout my home. I love the system, and it works exceptionally. However, the system being so efficient has created one big issue for me. During our first summer the house was comfortable even at 80 degrees inside due to the dehumidification. However, when winter hit it caused a major issue with my hardwood floors since the humidity would hoover around 23%. We came back from Christmas vacation to gaps throughout the hardwood floor. I am looking into whole home humidifiers, but they are made to be installed with large traditional air handlers not my ducted cassettes.

  • @allenburns3177
    @allenburns3177 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My first mini split install was for my best friend. This was a 1970s cape cod 2x4 construction with a single central air handler about 2000 sq ft. The HVAC never worked well. After changing out the original heat pump it still did not work satisfactorily. A friend who is the service supervisor for a large HVAC company had me measure all the duct work and give him the data on the design. He said the duct work was way undersized and there was no easy fix for the central unit. He suggested installing some mini split heat pumps. We installed three units, one in his upstairs bedroom, one in the kitchen area and one in the living room. The results were total satisfaction and a greatly reduced electric bills. He then decided to replace the central unit we had put in 18 years ago with a Mr. Cool 2 or 3 ton mini split heat pump w/central air handler. Though the central unit will not work to his needs alone. The three mini splits have been able maintain set thermostat temperatures with 100F+ temps in the summer and below zero temps in the winter. All while reducing the kilowatt hour load to less than 50% of what it was under the pre mini split days. MINI SPLITS ARE AWESOME!

  • @luckyfingers1
    @luckyfingers1 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I’m almost done self building a 1352 sqft addition. I did double 2x4 wall with zip r9, 2” exterior foam, spray foamed the first wall cavity, 2” rigid in between the two walls, putting r15 rockwool in interior wall cavity, 8” over the roof insulation. My load calculation was 18k BTU requirement. The original house my parents designed and self built, in 1982, is a double wall all rigid foam. My dad was an engineer and it’s pretty cool to see everyone doing what he came up with pre passive Haus standard. I used Mitsubishi in ceiling cassettes, the original house has forced air closed loop geo thermal.

    • @cjsutterer4804
      @cjsutterer4804 24 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I'm can't quite understand what that setup looks like with your walls

  • @karenstein8261
    @karenstein8261 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    One nice thing is that you tend to mount the indoor part up near the ceiling. I like this because cool air tends to sink, so they cool the room from the top down.
    Servicing / cleaning is a concern, so mounting one over the staircase might be a bad idea.
    For me, the big advantage is that they give you an easy way to add supplemental cooling ( sometimes heating as well) to those areas that need it. Often one room will catch the afternoon sun; why cool the whole house when only that room needs help? It can also be an easy way to control each area separately.

  • @tomschmidt381
    @tomschmidt381 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    We installed a minisplit air-to-air heatpump several years ago on our house in NH. It is timber frame with SIP panels. When we built the house our primary heat was a cord wood stove in the basement. I installed electric baseboards to keep the bank happy but we have never used them. We have two outdoor compressors with three indoor units on each side of the house. Their cold ability is amazing but obviously COP reduces as outside temperature goes down. We have been very happy with the system and as I get older at some point will no longer be able to heat with cordwood, something my wife and I never considered 40+ years ago when we built the house.

  • @Off-GridMountains
    @Off-GridMountains หลายเดือนก่อน +43

    Matt. I have a solar powered mini split that is a DC/AC combo. So during the day. Runs directly from the solar panels. And at night runs off the solar inverter which is using lithium ion phosphate batteries. So my cabin runs completely from solar with battery backup with no external power source. Everything Runs from solar… the well, clothes washer/ dryer, lights, internet, AC etc. 100% green energy!

    • @Obtuse94
      @Obtuse94 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Sounds awesome, in what general region/climate zone are you in?

    • @nathanddrews
      @nathanddrews หลายเดือนก่อน

      ... and what time of year can you do it all 100%?

    • @Off-GridMountains
      @Off-GridMountains หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@Obtuse94 western North Carolina. Looks like climate zone 4

    • @Off-GridMountains
      @Off-GridMountains หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      @@nathanddrews it works year round.

    • @RossMalagarie
      @RossMalagarie หลายเดือนก่อน

      What is the website you got the unit from?

  • @ronm6585
    @ronm6585 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Thanks guys. Merry Christmas to you. 🎄🎄

  • @tstreveable
    @tstreveable หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Great video. You got me with the Christmas stockings on the stairwell. Big smiles.

  • @aaronberg221
    @aaronberg221 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    My climate gets down to -40 degrees F in northern MN. Air heat pumps don't work the best, but ground loop heat pumps still work great. Minisplits are popular because we don't need a ton of primary cooling, but when it gets down to -40 a little extra heat output or a secondary heat source using a different energy source than the main heat source can be a life saving requirement.

    • @clivewilliams3661
      @clivewilliams3661 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Air source heat pumps are the cheap alternative and their operating parameters are getting better all the time. I'm not a fan of ground loops as they sterilize the field area as well as cooling the ground that affects growing cycles. The best system uses a borehole that extracts heat from a reliable source underground that is unaffected by the weather as well as being able to dump heat during the summer into a gigantic thermal store.

    • @aaronberg221
      @aaronberg221 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @clivewilliams3661 Apologies, I used the wrong terminology. We only have ~6" of top soil before hitting crushed diabase, gabbro, and feldspar boulders in the arrowhead of MN. That extends 200-300 feet to the water table. So boreholes is what would be used.

    • @rzh3443
      @rzh3443 27 วันที่ผ่านมา

      My Son has four units in his condo. Great at cooling, usually fine for heating (a few days a year heating is not sufficient). Humidity control is mediocre in hot weather, thus he has dehumidifier going most of the time in summer. The Mitsubishi units in his former condo were far superior to the Samsungs in his new home.

  • @urchin11
    @urchin11 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

    please do a video about the limitations of mini splits too. Single wall mounted units no matter how large cannot condition multiple rooms, unless they are ducted to each room, or there need to be in-wall transfer fans to circulate conditioned air.

    • @DR-um2bv
      @DR-um2bv หลายเดือนก่อน

      It will probably cool and heat them it just will be colder and hotter where unit is to allow for the delayed air that finally makes it was to other rooms
      Plus have to leave all doors open

    • @MichaelJ674
      @MichaelJ674 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Mini-splits by definition are not intended to heat and cool multiple spaces (with a few specific exceptions). That’s how they got the name mini-splits! Serving multiple rooms with one air handler is just a standard ducted heat pump HVAC system.

    • @ristekostadinov2820
      @ristekostadinov2820 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      if you want to cool/heat multiple rooms there is a thing called multi split system (at least in my country that's how the product is marketed) multiple indoor units similar to the mini split connected to 1 outdoor unit (usually maximum 5 indoor on 1 outdoor).

    • @MarkCharlton-h3x
      @MarkCharlton-h3x หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yes they can do multiple rooms, but you are right, a fan wouldn't hurt. I have a small house 2BR, 2BA, open kitchen/dr/family room, and one head in one bedroom will do the whole thing. I was surprised. We have a head in each BR and one for the main area, but only left one on that day and it did the whole house. Of course all the doors were open.

    • @emfyates
      @emfyates หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@ristekostadinov2820 Yes, I had a system like this in the US. Three upstairs head units were connected to one outdoor unit, and two downstairs units were connected to a second outdoor unit.

  • @Auspice75
    @Auspice75 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I've got a ceiling-mounted Mitsubishi mini-split to supplement my office during the summer in Georgia and it's spectacular. My only issue that's plagued me since DAY ONE is the infamous "dirty sock" odor that randomly shows up, and even with regular maintenance, it keeps coming back. My HVAC guys give it a clean bill of health every time they service it.

    • @timmeier5587
      @timmeier5587 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Add a UV light. Bacteria is the cause of the oder.

    • @clivewilliams3661
      @clivewilliams3661 หลายเดือนก่อน

      There is a poor piece of installation involved.

    • @steelddd
      @steelddd 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      How does poor piece of installation cause dirty socks?

  • @Caesar242
    @Caesar242 หลายเดือนก่อน +30

    I've been in HVAC residential service for 28 years. Mini splits if done right can work great, but once they experience some type of failure it can be difficult to locate repair parts since most of the components are proprietary and there are no universal parts. Homeowners should be aware that even though you may have a unit that is under warranty, it may take a couple of weeks for parts to arrive

    • @diemes5463
      @diemes5463 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Any brands/models you would recommend kind sir?

    • @Caesar242
      @Caesar242 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @diemes5463 it would depend on region. I would check with your local HVAC supply companies and see what they carry. You will see that most will probably carry Mitsubishi, LG, or Samsung. Daiken is exclusive to Daiken/Goodman. Any big brand like Trane, Lennox, or Carrier tend to just put their label on one of the main mini split manufacturers. It's always good to hire a licensed HVAC company to purchase the equipment from. This can ensure you receive a system that will be warrantied for your region. I've had customers buy and install their own and ended up purchasing equipment that isn't warrantied for their region and it made the warranty null and void

    • @MarkCharlton-h3x
      @MarkCharlton-h3x หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@Caesar242 You are 100% CORRECT. No one is coming out to work on your Mr. Cool, if it craps out, you buy a new one. Stick with the big brands, they are much more expensive, but your tech will come out and work on them.

    • @richfix1183
      @richfix1183 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Except that you could buy 2-3 Mr Cool units for the price of the popular brands…

    • @clivewilliams3661
      @clivewilliams3661 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      That is no different to any piece of equipment be it a computer, a fridge or a car.

  • @kenirwin9758
    @kenirwin9758 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

    My house had a Frankenstein setup of separate upstairs and downstairs forced air HVACs along with the chaotic attic duct work, it was all a mess. Pulled it all out and replaced it all with 20 mini-splits across 5 outdoor condensers. The old system was wildly uneven, problem prone, and struggled to keep up in weather extremes. The new system is wondrous, complete and absolute control of every room, I have it setup so that I can have an entire condenser die not be that concerned, and most importantly capacity, compared to the old system, isn't even in the same league. It's all networked and completely controllable through automations, and despite being about 500% more capacity, electric usage dropped by 25-30%.
    Night and day difference, it wasn't cheap to do this by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't regret doing it for a second.

    • @steelddd
      @steelddd หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Finally, encouraging words! I'm doing the same for the same reasons in a new construction house, but only a dozen heads, two outdoor units. In the framing stage. Can you offer any tips on how to do this successfully, and avoid the pitfalls? I think I have it figured out, but I could still be blind to some things. What brand did you pick? I'm planning on Mitsubishi ceiling cassettes on the recommendation of my AC guy, and Matt himself, but there's still time to change it if I have to. I have some more questions regarding known pitfalls of mini-splits in another comment on this video, if you can check it out. Talking in person would also be amazing, but no idea how to get in touch on here.

    • @MichaelJ674
      @MichaelJ674 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Neither of you mention fresh air supply which is essential for long-term success of a mini-split or VRF system for good indoor air quality. How are you addressing this?

    • @steelddd
      @steelddd หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@MichaelJ674 Zehnder for me in SoCal.

    • @kellymoses8566
      @kellymoses8566 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The way minisplits allow the temperature to be set in each room is a huge advantage.

    • @kellymoses8566
      @kellymoses8566 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@MichaelJ674 You have to install a heat-recovery ventilator.

  • @donalddouglas5988
    @donalddouglas5988 หลายเดือนก่อน +16

    Standard minis don't even have an air filter ,just a screen

    • @clivewilliams3661
      @clivewilliams3661 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      They shouldn't be expected to clean the dirty air in the room they serve. Ideally they should have ducted input air that is filtered.

  • @michaellautermilch9185
    @michaellautermilch9185 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Thanks for the video!!

  • @Mountainview-mesa
    @Mountainview-mesa 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    We've just finished our home build and the entire home is being heated by one mini split head in the great room. It helps to have a really tight house with excellent insulation, but we love it. We don't have any other source of heat.

  • @KenYamaguchi-sg5zr
    @KenYamaguchi-sg5zr หลายเดือนก่อน +26

    Ducted mini-splits, that's it! Hide the unit in a conditioned attic, crawl space or utility closet. Then you can add a fresh air ERV/HRV system such as Zehnder (or others) and I think that would be the ideal combination for fresh filtered and dehumidified air plus the most efficient heating and cooling. Thanks, Matt & Steve! PS: Please do a presentation on ducted mini-splits. Also, I have no personal experience with mini-splits, but it seems since they have a built-in fan, they'd be noisier when operating than a ducted system with an air-handler located far from the vents in the rooms. Maybe someone could comment on mini-split noise. Thanks again.

    • @moi01887
      @moi01887 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I installed a Pioneer ducted mini-split to condition a couple of rooms in my basement. I really want to like the thing, but it has one huge flaw: the temperature control is awful. Suppose it's 71 degrees in the room and you want it a little warmer, so you set the temperature (wall controller or remote, they both work the same) to 72 degrees. Nothing happens. So you set it to 73 degrees... again, nothing happens. Set it to 74 degrees and the unit comes on and starts heating. And continues, and continues... I usually get fed up and turn it off when the temp in the room hits about 80. From research on forums, I understand that that behavior is pretty typical.

    • @D2O2
      @D2O2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Does a zehnder unit provide any real dehumidication?

    • @KenYamaguchi-sg5zr
      @KenYamaguchi-sg5zr หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@D2O2 I could be wrong but I believe Matt has covered Zehnder and other fresh air ERV/HRV systems and has shown them connected to dehumidifiers, such as AprilAir and others. Of course dehumidifiers would more commonly go in-line with the heating/cooling ducting system.

    • @steelddd
      @steelddd หลายเดือนก่อน

      Any erv will constantly raise humidity as it's pulling in humid air from outside and can't reject all of the moisture. So in humid climates you need a dehumidifier, or an ac system that's really good at dehum. More so than if you didn't have an erv.

    • @kentaltobelli1840
      @kentaltobelli1840 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@D2O2yes if... it's less humid outside. An ERV is like opening a window, fresh air but the air heat and humidity is in the same "direction" as the outdoors.

  • @JTDesign1
    @JTDesign1 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Steve..."inside the air barrier". Ducting that way has become a kind of holy grail approach to maintaining less heat loss and a tighter air barrier. As designers, we have to adjust our thinking for that kind of system. Great point. Love the mini-split in the conditioned attic.
    Have you ever tested your air quality? I think this will become a big issue in the future of all these air-tight homes.

  • @gimpygardner3377
    @gimpygardner3377 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I built a new home 3 years ago in Chicago. I added mini-splits as supplemental Heat/AC for the bedrooms. I love it!!! My wife likes it cold, I don't. So at night, I go in my bedroom and turn on my mini-split and life is perfect. I also don't have to heat or cool the entire house overnight. The only down side is when it gets to 5 below zero, they no longer produce heat. Maybe they will improve that in the future.

    • @dosadoodle
      @dosadoodle หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Newer units are advertised to work at -13F and can still output some heat down to about -20F.

  • @joshua3084
    @joshua3084 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    GREAT INFORMATION THANK YOU

  • @speciesofspaces
    @speciesofspaces หลายเดือนก่อน +26

    I am a broken record but maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. If you don't clean these properly they will really not perform and get nasty. I don't know how many people realize just how often they require attention. I would not go a full year forgetting about any indoor head unit etc. Much of the cleaners are intended to be used for routine maintenance. Not for something that had excessive buildup etc. I clean ours once a season so about 3 times a year. There are two in the house and one in the shop. Obviously the one in the shop is trickier.

    • @steelddd
      @steelddd หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I'm probably gonna hate life with my 12 units 😂 I'll probably have to have someone on retainer to clean them a couple times a year. I hope the comfort will make up for it.

    • @branchandfoundry560
      @branchandfoundry560 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      So true, especially in a workshop! I killed my Trane air handler after just 2yrs in the metal shop, and I used to only grind at a 4,000cfm downdraft table that's across the shop. Expensive lesson! I installed a mini split last summer. Before anything else, I built a box for (3) 16x25x1 pleated filters for the air handler inlets. Now all abrasives are used outside--with rare exception--and I still have to change the filters every 2-4 weeks; weekly in the woodshop where I still sand indoors with a HEPA vacuum attached.
      This lead me to buy an air quality meter. It's shocking how dirty workshop air is, and remains dirty for HOURS after sanding even with (2) 2,000cfm air scrubbers running! Wearing a respirator all day sucks, but I suppose it's better than lung disease & early death.
      My next shop will have isolated sanding & grinding rooms with fresh air inlets up high & exhaust fans down low. I anticipate 1-2yr exhaust fan replacement schedule.

    • @speciesofspaces
      @speciesofspaces หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@branchandfoundry560 That indeed sounds rough. Our shop isn't huge and pretty low volume. So it definitely gets noticeably dirty but the coils all look pretty clean after the micro coil cleaning solution is used. We also have HEPA filters on the machines we use. One weird footnote, on that shop head unit it had a rattle sound for awhile. These units are notorious for little creaking sounds from all the plastic used and fasteners. But this one was something else. It turned out behind the blower wheel near the corner of the unit a portion of the rear of the unit broke off and was loose. The unit is fixed obviously and nothing is moving there on that portion of the housing. All I can think is a slight vibration over and over caused it to weaken almost like something geological! I removed the plastic shard and it's quiet now but with a piece missing in that corner against the wall. Very weird. Nothing like this has happened to the others in the building. In our next build I am going with a ducted heat pump.

    • @speciesofspaces
      @speciesofspaces หลายเดือนก่อน

      I should note though, the fact these are ductless is still great if one doesn't want traditional ducts in say a workshop space. That ducted setup definitely feels like it would just transfer fine particulates all over the place. Where with these ductless head units you can at least control it better. Despite the risks with not cleaning or excessive dust. Which really means one should have that HEPA level dust collection and scrubbing going at all times. My particulate sensor will only go Red if I am not using the HEPA dust extractors and usually within about 20 min the scrubber can get the Red down to Green and Blue.

    • @trampusschuck1019
      @trampusschuck1019 หลายเดือนก่อน

      II have three head units, and they cost around $300+ for a regular cleaning, with an additional $300+ for a deep cleaning. The only way to keep your home safe from mold and poor air quality is to have them cleaned and deep cleaned regularly. I would never have these in my home again. But if you’ve fallen for this video or already have them, please keep this in mind, plan for this expense, and make sure they are cleaned and deep cleaned regularly.

  • @tonyschwaller
    @tonyschwaller หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The lack of air filtration and purification often makes mini-splits our last option for the primary HVAC source. Here in the upper Midwest, mechanical air exchange, filtration and purification are a must. That said, we use them all the time when it is appropriate to do so.

  • @jgl2117
    @jgl2117 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks Matt. Please make a video comparing Mini Split ac vs Window Unit ac pro and cons.

  • @robertgregory2618
    @robertgregory2618 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    #1 Super expensive period. #2 I have a Mitsubishi i have had for 14 years. Dead now but did love it. I always changed the filters but was shocked in year four of only using for air conditioning. The blower wheel was not putting any air out or very little . I took it apart (nightmare) and was astonished at how much mold and gunk was on the blower, made me ill looking at it..I am replacing it because it worked great, but now know to clean the blower wheel more often.

  • @compactc9
    @compactc9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    They installed these HUGE VRF systems in these houses I worked on up in the mountains, 100% ducted mini splits and only electric backup heat. And down here in Denver I see plenty with all heat pump and no backup heat.

  • @jasonbroom7147
    @jasonbroom7147 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I have always been a "form follows function" kind of person. If something works very well, I don't really care what it looks like...and mini-splits work VERY well, in many applications. We built a 3-season barndominium last summer and a single mini-split (with two heads) is heating/cooling the ~650sf of space. We didn't have to worry about ducting or having a furnace installed, since the unit we went with will work below zero degrees Farenheit.

  • @SuperS05
    @SuperS05 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    2:36 that is called a ceiling cassette.

  • @kimalexschwartz
    @kimalexschwartz หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    It is true that mini-split or air-to-air systems can provide heating. However, as the temperature drops, the efficiency of the outdoor unit decreases because it needs to defrost more frequently. During the defrost cycle, no heat is delivered, and in my experience, this can take up to 15 minutes per hour in very low temperatures.
    Additionally, it is crucial to choose a unit that is most efficient within the typical temperature range of your outdoor environment. Different manufacturers optimize their systems for different temperature ranges. Efficiency is measured in COP (Coefficient of Performance) or SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance), which indicates how much heat the unit can produce per kWh of electricity. Ideally, you should aim for a heating ratio of at least 4.

    • @DrMonkPhD
      @DrMonkPhD หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      you explanation of COP and SCOP is incomplete, failing to clarify that SCOP, which measures efficiency over an entire heating season (is generally a better metric for real-world performance)

    • @pauldavisthefirst
      @pauldavisthefirst หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Units designed for very low temperatures do not have a defrost cycle. They instead divert a part of the heat that would otherwise move into the interior into a continuous heating process to avoid the refrigerant from getting slushy. Mitsubishi HyperHeat units do this, anyway. So, yes, less heat to the interior, but not a gap of 15 mins while it defrosts.

    • @sprockkets
      @sprockkets หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@DrMonkPhD SCOP is a joke. And it's also basically irrelevant since COP is going to be the best any unit can get, but SCOP somehow pretends to be higher.

    • @sprockkets
      @sprockkets หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@pauldavisthefirst "Units designed for very low temperatures do not have a defrost cycle" This is false.
      "They instead divert a part of the heat that would otherwise move into the interior into a continuous heating process to avoid the refrigerant from getting slushy."
      You realize you've made no sense here.
      "Mitsubishi HyperHeat units do this, anyway"
      This is NOT what hyperheat nor how any mini split that has hot gas reclamation does. Gas that makes it to the outside unit is salvaged and then repumped right back inside. It isn't in any way capable of helping with frost issues on the outside in normal operation. Think about this: why would you send that to the outside in any way? That would dump the heat outside, period, and wouldn't even help with frost either.

    • @DrMonkPhD
      @DrMonkPhD หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@sprockkets SCOP is typically lower than COP because it includes suboptimal operating scenarios, not higher.

  • @DR-um2bv
    @DR-um2bv หลายเดือนก่อน +54

    Never install where they look good. Install where you can service and wash it out and clean filter

    • @MichaelJ674
      @MichaelJ674 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      That’s a false choice; good design will accomplish both or you’ve failed to meet your minimum design requirements.

    • @rmwright70
      @rmwright70 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Best install I ever saw, had a filter 'Box' above the head to keep the unit clean. Worked.

    • @DavidinTexas
      @DavidinTexas หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Find out how easy it is to remove, or access the blower wheel (FAN) before you buy, install.

    • @LuminairPrime
      @LuminairPrime หลายเดือนก่อน

      WISE COMMENT LOL

    • @RossMalagarie
      @RossMalagarie หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      The easier it is to clean the more likely you are to clean it

  • @jetbootshoes1004
    @jetbootshoes1004 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    You can also build a 4 inch pleated filter box to accept Aprilaire filters.

  • @Kevin_Rhodes
    @Kevin_Rhodes หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My new house is being built with a combination of ducted and ductless mini-splits. Ducted (and VERY short ducts for the great room, ductless in the bedrooms and garage where I don't care about having the heads visible. Steel SIP construction house in SW Florida. 230mph wind design, LEED-certified for energy efficiency. 1300sq/ft house, 1000sq/ft garage, BOTH air-conditioned.

  • @Marker-er3ro
    @Marker-er3ro หลายเดือนก่อน

    We’re using one in the foothills of Colorado for supplemental heat in the basement. Works well, but only down to 5*F, after that we switch to space heaters.

  • @KalleKilponen
    @KalleKilponen หลายเดือนก่อน +18

    On myth #3: The -20°C minimum temperature isn't even particularly low. Most manufacturers have models specifically designed for cold climates that can go much lower. My Toshiba mini-split (RAS-25) for example has a minimum temperature of -35°C (-31°F).

    • @christopherbenjamin9273
      @christopherbenjamin9273 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      True to a point. But the COP when the unit is operating in that cold of an environment is 1.2-1.6. Barely more efficient than just electric resistance. If your area gets that cold it would be worth it to invest in a wood boiler and radiant floors. Then just use the heat pump for chilly days.

    • @atoz09093
      @atoz09093 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      I have two ductless mini-splits rated down to -22F. Their heat output drops as it gets colder, though. I sized them to provide enough heat at the coldest outdoor temps I see in my area. A basic Manual J calc and a glance at the units' spec sheets made it an easy decision. I have a 12k and a 24kBtu/hr unit, so 36kBtu/hr. At 25F I expect 31 kBtu/hr from them.
      The variable compressor speed and variable fan speed technology is great, too. I was able to oversize my units (to meet my coldest day and hottest day needs) without causing short-cycling on normal days.

    • @dylandavis9406
      @dylandavis9406 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I switch to the boiler @25f. Older house though, little to no wall insulation.

    • @SuperS05
      @SuperS05 หลายเดือนก่อน

      25°f....balmy. Sweater weather.

    • @SuperS05
      @SuperS05 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Toshiba rates their units decently. Same with Panasonic and Mitsubishi. Their cold weather performance is still decent at cold weather. Both capacity and efficiency. Do note that if you have natural gas available, it's likely cheaper to heat with below somewhere around freezing +/-5°c depending on utility rates and model.

  • @tommcclure8727
    @tommcclure8727 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I replaced a 5 ton central ducted system with 2 minis totaling 3 tons and get better cooling, heating and lower bills.

  • @hillsandstreams8152
    @hillsandstreams8152 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Michigan, Upper LP near Cadillac. Installed a Senville AURA wall unit, 9000BTU which is a little higher efficiency than the more common model as I was to use it mostly for heating. Replaces a 6000BTU window AC and the baseboard electric heater for this office room in a 1300sq ft home. I also have a wood stove but only used a quarter of the wood I would normally use so I relied on the mini-split mostly to see how it would go. I used about the same amount of electricity as the previous year but burnt a quarter of the wood and kept my office at 70 all winter where with the baseboard I only heated to 62 and kept a small space heater by my feet. I did get heat from the mini-split even in sub zero weather though the defrost cycle can be a little annoying in those extremes. Enough heat spreads to the other rooms to keep the baseboards from coming on. The place is easy to cool in the summer because I invested in an aluminum shingled roof, even the window unit had been adequate. This winter I'm burning my normal ration of wood but not burning when it's above 30.

  • @michaelmerritt5589
    @michaelmerritt5589 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I have a three-head Daikin system installed in 2019 in northern New Hampshire. Works great from -18 degrees Fahrenheit and up! But the review fails to mention a common installation problem...run as air conditioners, these generate a LOT of condensation. They need a steep vertical drain system or a pump assist. Ours had a long horizontal run in the basement that clogged year 1. I diverted it to on a steep gradiant to a pump already serving the HRV system, no problems since.

  • @adubbelde1
    @adubbelde1 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We're at 5600 Ft. Summers here are relatively mild most of the time, but we do have a few days each summer in the low 90's with very low humidity. For the first 9 years since I built the house we didn''t have any AC. Last summer I installed a Mini-Split in the great room, 800 SF. it's an 18,000 BTU unit. It was more than adequate for cooling the great room and even kept the temperature in the sleeping quarters of our 1500 SF main floor house comfortable. Additionally we average night time temperatures in the mid 50's, again with low humidity. So at night we open up and turn on a whole house fan. The Mini-Split will provide adequate heat down to around freezing. After that it slowly falls behind. Each day in the winter I start the morning with a fire in the fireplace. As outdoor temperature rises to above freezing I wlll then turn on the Mini-Split for the rest of the day.

    • @dosadoodle
      @dosadoodle หลายเดือนก่อน

      It sounds like it's not a cold-climate unit. Modern units can go down to -15F while still providing ~80% capacity. Still nice to have, but if it's a recent install (last ~3y), it's weird the installer didn't recommend a different unit.
      We're in MN and are installing mini-splits in a renovation of a very old home for all* our heating / cooling.
      *We will keep space heaters around for the once-every-few-years cold events that dip below -20F, at which point the heat pumps can't draw almost any heat out of the air.

    • @adubbelde1
      @adubbelde1 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@dosadoodle 18,000 BTU was more than adequate for cooling when you only have a Delta T of 15 degrees. But when the Delta T is 45-50 degrees or more, no that's not adequate. I didn't size if for heating, just cooling. But we take advantage of the heating when we can. The room has 180 sf of glass. So heat loss is relatively high. But it was a sacrifice for the FABULOUS views we have. in the rest of the house we don't have as much glass and it's quite easy to heat and cool.
      I lived in MN for Decades. Glad to be back in SD. our forecast for Christmas is near 50 degrees. just 2 weeks ago we had temps in the 60's.

  • @timmmahhhh
    @timmmahhhh หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Thank you for the great video, I know a little bit about these but not as much as I would like to. The other great thing with these videos is the feedback in the comments section.

  • @RALPHD57
    @RALPHD57 29 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Great info here, Thanks!

  • @sctexan5392
    @sctexan5392 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    To me, cleaning is the #1 issues, but what I seem to be hearing is that you do not want them in individual bedrooms...they are to big for such a small space. That's where I really want them so that guests can control their own rooms to their requirements

    • @emfyates
      @emfyates หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Fifteen years ago we had some units installed in small bedrooms (about 9' x 12' each) in an old house. They were surely oversized, but the installer insisted they were the smallest available. Frustrating since we had moved from Asia where all sorts of sizes were available. Anyway, they may have been overkill, but they certainly worked to keep the rooms comfortable.

    • @kevin9c1
      @kevin9c1 27 วันที่ผ่านมา

      9k unit is just fine in most bedrooms.

  • @staceyj5835
    @staceyj5835 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This is a very well built house, but the portion about filtration is kind of confusing. Why the need for separate mini filtration units per room when you have a whole house zender unit? I might be missing something but was curious tho. Does the zender not meet what was originally thought or did you all need extra filtration based on the current occupants? Again wonderful house, been following this channel for years and have learned a lot

  • @KarenS-f2w
    @KarenS-f2w หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Hello Matt and Steve, what make and model is the ceiling mounted unit you showed in your kitchen?

    • @urchin11
      @urchin11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      these days pretty much everyone makes a single direction ceiling cassette like that it typ fits between joists in the ceiling. there are bigger 4 way ones too

  • @BigGuy8059
    @BigGuy8059 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My wife and I are perfectly comfortable with two window AC units and two small electric space heaters. We've had central ducted units in prior houses, but now we just heat or cool the room we are in. Heat pumps would be more efficient, but our 5KW solar array generates more power than we use. The payback period for switching would be infinity.

  • @robertsteich7362
    @robertsteich7362 หลายเดือนก่อน

    7:15 Respectfully, I would most definitely put white weather stripping between the back of the unit and the wall. Just to hide that darken gap. I assume caulk would be a bad idea considering you'll have to remove that cover for servicing.

  • @CCB249
    @CCB249 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Our entire town in Maryland has heating pump units for houses-2000 sq ft to 3500 square ft. 600 houses. We only have 100 houses that have gas stoves, everything else in our town has electricity. We have lived here for 30 years. No problems with heat pumps. We have had lots of days with -5 degrees and over 100 degrees over those years.

  • @smallmj2886
    @smallmj2886 หลายเดือนก่อน

    We plan to have 2 mini splits in our new house, one for the main floor and one for the basement. Code requires that we have a supplementary heating system, so we'll also have electric baseboards but we won't use those unless there are exceptional circumstances.

    • @deckmonkey1459
      @deckmonkey1459 25 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Besides electric baseboards being nearly 100% efficient, what is the energy usage per BTU difference between them and the mini-split? It's all electric heat, just which one is cheaper to run?

  • @functionalvanconversion4284
    @functionalvanconversion4284 หลายเดือนก่อน

    From owning a few of these in different units for about 10 years they are great except for:
    1.) Cleaning coils inside (hard to take units apart).
    2.) Must vaccum condesate line at least once a year unless you want water running down the wall (especially if the tenant has dusty environment from pets).
    3.) Don't seem to work well in really cold climate 32 degree or lower.

  • @MagaRickn
    @MagaRickn หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I put a mini split in my new well insulated work shop. It's 10' off the floor, with a 17' center beam. I had to buy a new step ladder to be able to clean the filter, which I wish was designed better. I can either shop vac the filter, or wash it. But I do wish they made a "kit" to improve the filter aspect, especially since my shop gets a lot of dust, welding smoke, etc.

    • @AlexeiTetenov
      @AlexeiTetenov หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      The FarmCraft 101 channel had a great video where he built a filter box around his mini split in his shop.

    • @Obtuse94
      @Obtuse94 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It is painful that heat pump manufacturers don't make them easier to maintain.

    • @MagaRickn
      @MagaRickn หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@AlexeiTetenov So, do I just Google The FarmCraft 101?

    • @dreamervanroom
      @dreamervanroom หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      What is a kit - In this context?

    • @AlexeiTetenov
      @AlexeiTetenov หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@MagaRickn Yes, it's a TH-cam channel, FarmCraft 101. I suspect that if I put a direct link, TH-cam will hide my comment, designating it as a spam comment.

  • @erikrichardson3715
    @erikrichardson3715 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Matt - who installed your kitchen ceiling - looks great and would like to have similar work done - thank you for all the great videos and advice

  • @chaseweeks2708
    @chaseweeks2708 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    I think whole house filtration is the one thing that's making me rethink my options for our eventual retirement home. Mini-splits are great for multizone heating and cooling, but I don't want a bunch of filter boxes littered around the house. I may still use some form of mini-split, preferably with a ground-source heat pump but I still want whole house filtration. If for no other reason than being able to use bigger, cheaper, and easier to maintain air filters.

    • @jl9678
      @jl9678 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      You can use a ducted mini split and put a huge merv 13 filter ahead of it if you want

    • @chaseweeks2708
      @chaseweeks2708 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@jl9678 I can, but for 3 bedrooms, a main living area and a crafts area/home office, that's a lot of boxes to fit in the design, a bunch of places around the house to go every time the filters need changed, and a bunch of filters that won't need changing at the same rate. I think I'd rather get a single V- or W-box in the mechanical room and just route a bunch of hoses through the second floor trusses. I probably would do a box like that for the ERV though. Those filters are expensive, tiny, and stupid.

    • @MichaelJ674
      @MichaelJ674 หลายเดือนก่อน

      That strategy filters the air only after it has already entered the house; it’s just a strategy for keeping your mini-split clean, not your lungs, furniture, finishes, etc. A whole house ERV system will provide great indoor air quality for your entire house.

    • @chaseweeks2708
      @chaseweeks2708 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@MichaelJ674 As I said above, an ERV would probably (extremely likely) also be in the mix

  • @Willi-g9o
    @Willi-g9o 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Can you please tell me what the beautiful wood look material is on you kitchen and garage ceilings??

  • @paulmattson5604
    @paulmattson5604 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Steve reminds me of my Dad especially the hair, both great guys.

  • @deslocc124
    @deslocc124 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I like these info shows... they give a person effective and cost saving idea's.. and know how

    • @MichaelJ674
      @MichaelJ674 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Ish…

  • @rodlappin6147
    @rodlappin6147 28 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I have a home on wheels that was retrofitted with Mini Split units. One IDU is a low flow hooked into a full length ceiling vent and one wall mounted in the living/bed room area. I added a conventional "Furnace" filter housing to filter the air going into the vented unit and clean the wall mounted unit every few weeks. How does that portable air filter work and how noisy is it?

  • @SuperS05
    @SuperS05 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Concealed ducted is not a mini split anymore. It might be VRF, but it's not mini.
    That octopus mess at 5:59 is most definitely falling into the central air category.

    • @MichaelJ674
      @MichaelJ674 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Actually it is considered a mini-split and is marketed as such by several manufacturers because it serves a limited area and is smaller than even the smallest whole house heat pump system. Also, VRF is not synonymous with mini-split and the vast majority of mini-splits are not installed as components of a VRF system.

    • @SuperS05
      @SuperS05 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @MichaelJ674 look up their documentation. I only have been installing them and servicing them for over 2 decades. The mini part has always meant no ductwork even before VRF. Yes there's still some fixed capacity ductless set-ups still in operation out there. All of the manufacturers shy away from calling anything in their lineup minisplit. In fact if they say ductless or mini split at all, they usually strictly mean the wall wart style. They have come out with every type of head unit you can think of, including floor terminal units, toe kick units, wall mirrors, etc. Some have been abandoned.
      VRF/VRV is strictly modulation, not the indoor unit design, ducted or ductless, or if it even heats air at all.

  • @killer5846
    @killer5846 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Like one of the other commenters on here I too have a solar powered mini split system although I don't use batteries for night time, I use conventional grid power And we have three units for the house. We have a small house in the middle of New Mexico (1400 ft²) And this is the first year that we've used the heat pumps for heating as well as air conditioning. Almost everything you said is correct about the mini splits, in the summertime they do a fantastic job of cooling in our hot climate during the summer our average temperatures can be in the mid-90s. But much to my surprise was the heat side of the equation, I was skeptical that these units would heat as effectively as they cooled but our weather lately has been anywhere from 14° to 25° in the morning And these units do not skip a beat keeping The house nice and comfortable. The thing that blew me away in the summertime was the fact that during August which turned out to be one of our hottest months on record we topped 104° and the units had absolutely no problem keeping the house at 68° while using 100% solar power! I went from a bill in 2023 during a slightly cooler summer of $280 in August to this year having a bill of $92! I was like a little kid opening a Christmas present when I got our electric bill! As far as the filtration, it's pretty clear that they're just there to keep dust and dirt out of the units. One thing I think you missed mentioning, although it's probably not a myth, is that they will need yearly service on the outdoor unit to keep them clean and debris free. We have a conventional forced air unit in our home which we have for backup but so far we have not had to touch it at all. I'm going to get my first electric bill in a few days for using mostly heat for the past month and I'm curious to see how it will compare to our gas bill.

  • @dymone4894
    @dymone4894 หลายเดือนก่อน

    We have a mini split with two head units in our home and I never use them for cooling the house, only for heating in the winter.

  • @oldbuddyben
    @oldbuddyben 26 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I have a hard time getting any HVAC people to talk to me about one. I have an upstairs with, quite frankly, a challenging layout that needs supplemental conditioning. Two different places want to gut the upstairs and upsize the whole house unit to the tune of $8-9K. For that much, I'll just pay the higher bill for having single room floor standing units. I was prepared for a $3-4, maybe $5k mini split install, but no such luck. At this point, I just want a newer, PROPERLY BUILT/ENGINEERED home to live out may days. But, I do still need to condition my shop space... Thanks for the vid!

  • @olemissjim
    @olemissjim หลายเดือนก่อน

    MiniSplits are SO insanely efficient, that’s understandable but less understood is how the low inrush current makes them critical for successful home generators and/or home battery backup power. I ran 4.5 days on my Tesla x3 powerwalls. Had I only used my 5 ton central cooling we wouldn’t last 12 hours.

  • @matthewmorrison1431
    @matthewmorrison1431 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Any thoughts about the new refrigerant code and fire safety requirements and its impact on mini split systems?

  • @christopherbenjamin9273
    @christopherbenjamin9273 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    Myth #6, mini splits are more efficient than central ducted systems. This was true several years ago when mini spits were marketing seer 30+ and conventional systems were seer 14-16. Now, the much more realistic seer2 knocked the top tier seer 38 mini splits to seer2 27. Only the very small 3/4 or 1/2 ton get that high, but most 1 ton and above are only seer2 16-20. Meanwhile the central systems have improved vastly and reaching seer2 20 and up to 23. There's no longer a good reason to use mini splits.

    • @stuartkorte1642
      @stuartkorte1642 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I can think of one or two. Since the industry has figured out outlawing Freon X ever 10-15 yrs so owners have to get new systems before it’s worn out. The other is in areas with power outages, you can run one unit for a room versus the whole house.

    • @andreycham4797
      @andreycham4797 หลายเดือนก่อน

      What are you trying to say, you save more money with seer 16 than with seer 27?

    • @christopherbenjamin9273
      @christopherbenjamin9273 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@andreycham4797 I don't think you read that carefully. I said the new central ducted heat pumps are seer2 20+ now. So they have reached and surpassed the efficiency of many mini splits. For example the Bosch BOVA 2.0 is seer2 20, 2 tons of cooling, and only $5,700.

    • @christopherbenjamin9273
      @christopherbenjamin9273 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@stuartkorte1642 That doesn't add up. Even mini splits have to use the new refrigerant, they aren't exempt. Also, when Jan 1st rolls around, it's not like every AC in the country has to be tossed and replaced with a new one. Also, a modern 20 seer2 2 ton whole house AC uses only 1,500-2000w. If there's a power outage you have zero electricity, so you couldn't run a mini split either. If you have a generator then you have enough to run a modern high seer central heat pump. A microwave uses more electricity than these new units.

    • @stuartkorte1642
      @stuartkorte1642 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@christopherbenjamin9273 Good to know. Being in Florida, and having lived through several weeklong outages, having a backup is nice. Our portable room AC was easy to run and made sleeping like normal.

  • @VanillaMacaron551
    @VanillaMacaron551 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Didn't see a link for either of those guys you recommend watching.

  • @MrTravisAl
    @MrTravisAl 28 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Interior design is important, but if I’m going mini split: my top priorities are going to be efficiency and maintenance. ..If it ends up costing more to heat or cool because it’s in an inefficient location - or if it breaks down from neglect, due to it being a pain to maintain - then i’ve defeated the purpose of going mini-split; which is to be economical. Central air is out of the way. And I find old radiators to be quite beautiful. Mini split is an economical decision first.

  • @bruceatkinson7078
    @bruceatkinson7078 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The blower wheels/fans are usually very difficult to remove for cleaning. That’s a huge drawback, so much so that it’s hard to find a servicing company that will remove and clean the blowers. Most will just spray a bit of Lysol on the blower and call it good.

  • @Geoff9001
    @Geoff9001 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great video Matt!

  • @GRTRanchadventures
    @GRTRanchadventures หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hmm currently building a barndo type house that I am planning on using mini splits for but the one thing I had not thought of was the air filter, don't really care what it looks like for the space and would provide plenty of heat and AC but I'm on a dirt road with lots of dust, so you may have actually talked me out of them for my application... Food for thought. Thanks for the thought.

    • @Colindstuart
      @Colindstuart หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      I added a separate air filter system. It runs 24/7, whether heating cooling or nothing. Merv 16 carbon filter 20x25x5. With a dust/hair filter in front of it to keep the nice one cleaner.

    • @MichaelJ674
      @MichaelJ674 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Yeah, you should have a dedicated ERV system with mini-splits in a new build or you’re not going to have good indoor air quality. An older house may or may not be leaky enough to have adequate fresh air, but it’s not going to be filtered and pressure balanced regardless.

  • @dus10dnd
    @dus10dnd หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I am surprised with everything that you did in the garage that you don't have an insulated garage door!

  • @killer5846
    @killer5846 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    To all the HVAC techs on here who are commenting about mini splits being terrible, I understand as a technician that many of you do not like mini splits because they are a direct threat to your industry. When we were getting ready to upgrade our central heat and separate AC unit which is common in our part of the country, the HVAC people straight up bald-faced lied to our faces about mini splits. They did everything they could to talk us out of getting mini splits. We heard such BS as they won't be able to keep up in the summer time, you can't use them for heat, they are a nightmare for maintenance, and the biggest lie we heard is that they would use a ton of energy. I have no idea where these people get their training to shovel such crap but it must be at the same place where the used car people get theirs. We went with a basic standard forced air heating unit and three mini splits. The total cost was less than what they were trying to sell us for an oversized heating unit. I'm not surprised many of the HVAC people on here are trying to push their narrative because they will make less money in the end. We've had the system for over a year and our bills are lower, maintenance has not been a problem, the mini splits have already easily paid for themselves and we've only fired up the central heat one time when we wanted to warm up the entire house before a family get together.

  • @owenashcroft8167
    @owenashcroft8167 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I love ours, getting some more, worth spending a little more and getting nicer looking units, although you quickly stop seeing them and they become part of the furniture

  • @G.I.JeffsWorkbench
    @G.I.JeffsWorkbench หลายเดือนก่อน

    Amen on “myth” #5: don’t expect your HVAC unit to purify the air. HVAC units are designed for heating & cooling. Get a high quality air purifier unit. Right on Matt for pointing this out.

  • @Starship007
    @Starship007 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Mini splits are common in Hawaii. Nice to have individual control in each room. Not a good filter though like central HVAC’s

    • @Starship007
      @Starship007 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Mini splits really put out the heat

    • @Starship007
      @Starship007 หลายเดือนก่อน

      One of my mini splits offers 3 air handlers for 3 different rooms. It’s 27,000 BTU’s for approve 9000 btu’s for each room. I also have have a 36,000 btu’s unit and a 12,000 btu unit

    • @Starship007
      @Starship007 หลายเดือนก่อน

      A few videos dealing with a improved filter for mini splits

  • @RussellHank-t3t
    @RussellHank-t3t 29 วันที่ผ่านมา

    If anything can be said about ductless mini splits and small spaces, it's that the smallest space that is potentially safe for a 6000 BTU unit is 150 sq ft. My space is just over 100 sq ft so I expect some short cycling due to proper insulation. Since there are cheap and extremely quiet units compared to decades ago, I won't be stressing about this. It would be nice if I could get something around 4000 BTU with similar efficiency but you can't even find a properly sized window AC for a child's room unless you think that big houses are the way to accomplish the American dream.

  • @samfeldman1508
    @samfeldman1508 26 วันที่ผ่านมา

    What is the price and availability of parts compared to traditional ducted CAC in the lower 48 states?

  • @kperkins1982
    @kperkins1982 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Room size air purifiers are great for a bedroom, but once you add up the cost of the machines, the electricity and especially the filters it is more economical to have a whole home air filtration solution installed in the hvac and then a room sized purifier in the bedroom of anybody with issues such as asthma for that additional boost. I personally like the reme halo led system coupled with an electronic air cleaner and a filter box large enough to provide high merv without too much pressure drop for the health of the system.

    • @animedbz20
      @animedbz20 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Hearing Matt say that he has standalone room air purifiers shocked me considering he put in a $20-30k Zhender ERV with MERV13 air filtration to his whole house and I guess this system apparently isn't good enough that he also needs more air purifiers in each room. Doesn't make sense since that system should already be cleaning the air all the time.

    • @kperkins1982
      @kperkins1982 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@animedbz20 its even worse than that, because in a previous video he said he was replacing the zhender filters more often than he thought he would and they are expensive, so he installed a thick filter media unit further up the line.

  • @ashtoncrawford6280
    @ashtoncrawford6280 26 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Calling something hideous isn’t a “Myth” - it’s a subjective determination. So there’s no debunking it.

  • @porthos9502
    @porthos9502 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Off the subject: What wood did you use on your kitchen ceiling.

    • @DR-um2bv
      @DR-um2bv หลายเดือนก่อน

      Exactly. I had to pause it several times

  • @wjthehomebuilder
    @wjthehomebuilder หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    We did one house over 4000 sq ft on one ducted 18k BTU mini split. (Design called for 12,500 BTU.) So yeah, it can be done in a whole house situation! 👍

  • @howardcrane1220
    @howardcrane1220 หลายเดือนก่อน

    We have no AC and don’t need it. Put a split in my garage so I can work in the winter. Bonus is the dehumidifier aspect which is great for storing tone woods for guitar building.

  • @vervi1jw1
    @vervi1jw1 หลายเดือนก่อน

    If you have a new build, why would you go minisplit vs central ducted system? Are they more affordable?

  • @markturner5207
    @markturner5207 26 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I’ve had 4 mini splits, never had one that wasn’t a maintenance nightmare.

  • @jetsetjoey
    @jetsetjoey หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    *Matt, those monsters in your stairwell & on your kitchen ceiling are HIDEOUS...*

    • @trinitytoo
      @trinitytoo หลายเดือนก่อน

      His house and he doesn't think they are.

    • @MichaelJ674
      @MichaelJ674 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      He’s wrong, then 😂😂😂

    • @vickiwittmeyer4438
      @vickiwittmeyer4438 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It Would Not Bother Me
      AT ALL!!!!!
      ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  • @SD-cu1ir
    @SD-cu1ir หลายเดือนก่อน

    I think the biggest myth is one that they didn't address explicitly and that they kept falling into themselves: Not all mini splits are ductless. We have three ducted heads on our multi split (mini-split, but multiple heads connected to a single outdoor unit). There are so many air handler options for mini splits, that assuming that mini split means ductless is probably the biggest myth about them there is.

  • @mailemarriott
    @mailemarriott 29 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Please Matt, please tell me what the wood panelling product on your ceiling is? I think I've seen it on your master bedroom in another video, then it looks like it was in your garage/workshop too?

  • @charleswatson8881
    @charleswatson8881 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    How do you clean a ducted mini split? Generally they are put in tight spaces and have to be removed to do what should be a simple thing like washing the coils and blower wheel. Wall mount units are more efficient and easier to service.

  • @LuminairPrime
    @LuminairPrime หลายเดือนก่อน

    As Matt says here, he uses his mini splits in ways he didn't predict. Sometimes the mini split is his MAIN source of heating/cooling, and sometimes it's not used. So my suggestion is to design a central air system (like Matt did), and then add mini splits later as necessary when you find uses for them. For example, when your duct plans fail and leave one bedroom cold, add a mini split to it, rather than starting with a mini split in every room.

    • @deckmonkey1459
      @deckmonkey1459 25 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Why not just build it right? Forced air heat is garbage, but can still be designed properly to work. If you build a new house that has heating or cooling issues, you're a loser who shouldn't be building.

  • @jameshancock
    @jameshancock หลายเดือนก่อน

    First company that uses the Tesla Octovalve and gives us per room control with a central distribution system and an outside unit (or a geothermal unit) while sharing heat so that heat taken from one room, can heat another wins. No ducting, in ceiling, and way more efficient by sharing the heat.
    Bonus to have a head for hot water off the same unit so that A/C heats your hot water, and the hot water can be used to defrost the outdoor unit over night.
    Bonus offer integration for Fridges and Dryers so that the heat pump is shared with the rest of the house and vastly more efficient because of the octovalve being able to move heat and cool between devices and rooms while dumping outside instead of dumping into rooms that then have to be heated or cooled more because of hot water heaters etc.
    Oh, and by doing this, fridges, dryers and hot water heaters become way smaller, and vastly more reliable while every room gets it's own custom temperature, can be heated and cooled only when in use, and no ducts everywhere giving more floor space between floors.
    Not sure why someone hasn't done this yet. The tech is proven and in every Tesla which does exactly this.

  • @CitEnthusiast
    @CitEnthusiast หลายเดือนก่อน

    Not sure why filtration is a question. The mini-split is pulling in air from inside the house, so any filtration is to protect the unit. In Matt's house the air is filtered by the ducted system, so the mini-split really doesn't have any filtering to do other than dust generated by the contents of the house (pets, humans, books, etc.)