Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] It's hot and I want AC

From: Scott Hall via Shop-talk <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2019 12:04:39 -0500

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I'm curious to hear about the DIY part.  No experience myself.
On Tue, Jul 2, 2019, 11:11 AM Benjamin Zwissler via Shop-talk <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> Anyone installed a mini-split AC system in their shop?  It looks like its
> effective and can save a bunch of money if you do it yourself.  My problem
> is sizing it.  I've got about 1000 sq ft (35 x 28) with 17' ceilings.  Two
> insulated overhead doors (12x14 and 10x10).  The shop is reasonably well
> insulated (mostly) and I'm in southern Indiana (often low-mid 90's and
> humid).  I'd probably put it midway up the wall and have it blow out into
> the bays.
>
> I'm considering buying an initial 2 or 3 ton unit and then I can add one
> if its not enough.  I'm also wondering whether those of you who have AC run
> it all the time or only when you're in the shop?
>

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<div dir=3D"auto">I&#39;m curious to hear about the DIY part.=C2=A0 No expe=
rience myself.=C2=A0=C2=A0<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote" dir=3D"auto"><div =
dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Tue, Jul 2, 2019, 11:11 AM Benjamin Zwi=
ssler via Shop-talk &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">shop-ta=
[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote"=
 style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><d=
iv dir=3D"ltr">Anyone installed a mini-split AC system in their shop?=C2=A0=
 It looks like its effective and can save a bunch of money if you do it you=
rself.=C2=A0 My problem is sizing it.=C2=A0 I&#39;ve got about 1000 sq ft (=
35 x 28) with 17&#39; ceilings.=C2=A0 Two insulated overhead doors (12x14 a=
nd 10x10).=C2=A0 The shop is reasonably well insulated (mostly) and I&#39;m=
 in southern Indiana (often low-mid 90&#39;s and humid).=C2=A0 I&#39;d prob=
ably put it midway up the wall and have it blow out into the bays.<div><br>=
</div><div>I&#39;m considering buying an initial 2 or 3 ton unit and then I=
 can add one if its not enough.=C2=A0 I&#39;m also wondering whether those =
of you who have AC run it all the time or only when you&#39;re in the shop?=
</div></div>
</blockquote></div></div>

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Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/archive

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From: Ronnie Day via Shop-talk <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2019 12:09:56 -0500

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>From what I understand most companies won't honor warranty claims if these
units aren't installed by a licensed/approved installer. You might want to
check that out.

RD

On Tue, Jul 2, 2019 at 12:05 PM Scott Hall via Shop-talk <
[email-masked]> wrote:

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<div dir=3D"ltr">From what I understand most companies won&#39;t honor warr=
anty claims if these units aren&#39;t installed by a licensed/approved inst=
aller. You might want to check that out.<br><br>RD</div><br><div class=3D"g=
mail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Tue, Jul 2, 2019 at 12=
:05 PM Scott Hall via Shop-talk &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked].=
net">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"=
gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(20=
4,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto">I&#39;m curious to hear abou=
t the DIY part.=C2=A0 No experience myself.=C2=A0=C2=A0<br><div class=3D"gm=
ail_quote" dir=3D"auto"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Tue, Jul 2=
, 2019, 11:11 AM Benjamin Zwissler via Shop-talk &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:shop=
[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wr=
ote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px=
 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D=
"ltr">Anyone installed a mini-split AC system in their shop?=C2=A0 It looks=
 like its effective and can save a bunch of money if you do it yourself.=C2=
=A0 My problem is sizing it.=C2=A0 I&#39;ve got about 1000 sq ft (35 x 28) =
with 17&#39; ceilings.=C2=A0 Two insulated overhead doors (12x14 and 10x10)=
.=C2=A0 The shop is reasonably well insulated (mostly) and I&#39;m in south=
ern Indiana (often low-mid 90&#39;s and humid).=C2=A0 I&#39;d probably put =
it midway up the wall and have it blow out into the bays.<div><br></div><di=
v>I&#39;m considering buying an initial 2 or 3 ton unit and then I can add =
one if its not enough.=C2=A0 I&#39;m also wondering whether those of you wh=
o have AC run it all the time or only when you&#39;re in the shop?</div></d=
iv>
</blockquote></div></div>
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<br>
</blockquote></div>

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From: Eric Russell via Shop-talk <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2019 13:37:56 -0400

I installed a couple of ductless mini-splits a few years ago (one for 
the garage, the other for the bonus room above the garage). At the time 
the local HVAC companies didn't seem to know very much about them and 
wanted what seemed to me an exorbitant fee to install them. When we 
built the garage I had the electrician put a pair of disconnects where I 
planned to place the outside units. So I decided to DIY. The 
installation is quite simple. The outdoor units are bolted down to a 
concrete pad (alternatively they can be mounted on wall brackets), the 
inside units are hung on a metal plate screwed to the wall. There are 
copper pipes connecting the two units (for refrigerant), a drain line 
(for condensate) and some low voltage wires. They come pre-filed with 
refrigerant but once installed I did pay an HVAC technician to vacuum 
the lines and check the refrigerant charge.

I like them very much. I don't run them every day. When I plan to work 
in the garage I press a button, eat breakfast and then the garage is 
cooled (or heated - mini-splits work both ways). They are very efficient 
- our electric bill increased less than $20/month. The heating system 
does lose efficiency when the outside temps are below ~ 30F. Some units 
have a back up electric heating element but that may be an expensive 
heating method.

Eric Russell
Mebane, NC

On 7/2/2019 12:11 PM, Benjamin Zwissler via Shop-talk wrote:
> Anyone installed a mini-split AC system in their shop?  It looks like 
> its effective and can save a bunch of money if you do it yourself.

[email-masked]

Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]

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From: Benjamin Zwissler via Shop-talk <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2019 14:33:34 -0400

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Thanks for the responses.  To the comment about warranty and professional
installation, there are some units specifically marketed as "DIY" and from
what I can tell they come precharged and the hoses pierce a seal on one of
the units when they're connected.  Not sure if this permitted in all
states, but if they're marketed as DIY that should ensure the warranty is
valid.

Ben....

On Tue, Jul 2, 2019 at 1:38 PM Eric Russell via Shop-talk <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]
>
>

-- 
Ben Zwissler
[email-masked]
Columbus, IN

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<div dir=3D"ltr">Thanks for the responses.=C2=A0 To the comment about warra=
nty and professional installation, there are some units specifically market=
ed as &quot;DIY&quot; and from what I can tell they come precharged and the=
 hoses pierce a seal on one of the units when they&#39;re connected.=C2=A0 =
Not sure if this permitted in all states, but if they&#39;re marketed as DI=
Y that should ensure the warranty is valid.<div><br></div><div>Ben....</div=
></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr"=
>On Tue, Jul 2, 2019 at 1:38 PM Eric Russell via Shop-talk &lt;<a href=3D"m=
ailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br>=
</div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;b=
order-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">I installed a coupl=
e of ductless mini-splits a few years ago (one for <br>
the garage, the other for the bonus room above the garage). At the time <br=
the local HVAC companies didn&#39;t seem to know very much about them and <=
br>
wanted what seemed to me an exorbitant fee to install them. When we <br>
built the garage I had the electrician put a pair of disconnects where I <b=
r>
planned to place the outside units. So I decided to DIY. The <br>
installation is quite simple. The outdoor units are bolted down to a <br>
concrete pad (alternatively they can be mounted on wall brackets), the <br>
inside units are hung on a metal plate screwed to the wall. There are <br>
copper pipes connecting the two units (for refrigerant), a drain line <br>
(for condensate) and some low voltage wires. They come pre-filed with <br>
refrigerant but once installed I did pay an HVAC technician to vacuum <br>
the lines and check the refrigerant charge.<br>
<br>
I like them very much. I don&#39;t run them every day. When I plan to work =
<br>
in the garage I press a button, eat breakfast and then the garage is <br>
cooled (or heated - mini-splits work both ways). They are very efficient <b=
r>
- our electric bill increased less than $20/month. The heating system <br>
does lose efficiency when the outside temps are below ~ 30F. Some units <br=
have a back up electric heating element but that may be an expensive <br>
heating method.<br>
<br>
Eric Russell<br>
Mebane, NC<br>
<br>
On 7/2/2019 12:11 PM, Benjamin Zwissler via Shop-talk wrote:<br>
&gt; Anyone installed a mini-split AC system in their shop?=C2=A0 It looks =
like <br>
&gt; its effective and can save a bunch of money if you do it yourself.<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">Shop-talk@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
et=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk" rel=3D"norefer=
rer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk</a> <a href=
=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">htt=
p://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
alk/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox=
.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></div><br clear=3D"all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir=3D"ltr"=
 class=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div>Ben Zwissler<br></div=
><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">bjzwissler@gmail=
.com</a><br></div>Columbus, IN<br></div></div>

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