MRCOOL Advantage 9,000 BTU 3/4 Ton Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner & Heat Pump Expired

I'm struggling finding someone help me install mini split in my shop, I don't know why HVAC companies charge very high, I called a company and they said $7k to install. Actually mini split is very easy to install, I used to live in Asia and they install these for few hundred bucks only and took less than 2 hours. I don't complain if they charge their labor $300 per hour but $7k for few hours... it's a rob for me

I also quoted on the installation charge, I live in bay area btw. First of, many of HVAC guy don't install customer purchased units (they want to make profit from the unit). Few of them willing to take the job quoted me ~2k for a 3 hour job. I think I should quit my tech job https://static.slickdealscdn.com/ima...lies/frown.gif

Welcome to the strange and frustrating world of American HVAC contractors. They can apparently make a comfortable living doing occasional work at an exorbitant price instead of doing steady work for a fair price. I'm convinced they only work occasionally at those labor rates because those guys would all be millionaires if they raked in $7K (or even $2K) in labor on a daily basis.

I guess I can't blame them. If I had the choice of making the same amount of money doing occasional work or steady work, I guess I would choose the former too. Why competition among contractors doesn't bring prices down, I can't explain. Like I say, It's weird.

I guess you have to pay up, become good friends with an HVAC contractor, stick with window air conditioners, or do the work yourself. At least you have some options.

It's ridiculous what they charge! I know a HVAC person who retired at age 25 to be a stay at home mom, then bought an apartment building to rent out. She and her wife both don't work anymore. Must be nice.

LG also makes a dual-inverter AC in the traditional box shape.

https://www.lg.com/us/air-conditi...LW1019IVSM

It is very quiet in sleep mode, and in non-sleep mode it's mostly fan noise, you can barely hear the compressor.

I'm struggling finding someone help me install mini split in my shop, I don't know why HVAC companies charge very high, I called a company and they said $7k to install. Actually mini split is very easy to install, I used to live in Asia and they install these for few hundred bucks only and took less than 2 hours. I don't complain if they charge their labor $300 per hour but $7k for few hours... it's a rob for me

The DIY version comes with precharged line set. This unit like most of other HVAC systems needs to vacuum the line sets after they are connected before releasing the refrigerant. Most people don't have the tools (vacuum pump, gauge, etc. ) and experience to do it.

It's ridiculous what they charge! I know a HVAC person who retired at age 25 to be a stay at home mom, then bought an apartment building to rent out. She and her wife both don't work anymore. Must be nice.

I've installed two of these exact units, and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

The main issue that I have with them is that their temperature control/regulation is messed up and the company won't do anything about it in terms of warranty support. If I set one to heat mode and set the temperature setting to a given temp like 72 degrees, the heat starts blasting, and continues heating up until the room is well over 100; it NEVER stops when it's on heating mode-- whether it's set to a temperature the standard way, or with the "follow me" mode on the remote.

When it's in A/C mode or Auto (which uses either A/C or heat as needed) the temperature regulation is extremely poor, when set to 72, the room will vary between 60 and 80.

There are also various more minor issues: the manual contains multiple errors, such as the hole cutout template is wrong for this model etc etc, the wiring diagram was wrong in the manual, and the wiring terminal label sticker was missing from both of my outdoor condensor units. All of these things just point to poor english language technical support from the company.

They don't stand by offering any meaningful warranty support to licensed contractors, and they openly state that homeowners/handyman installers won't get warranty support at all.
After a couple phone calls or emails, they promise to have their tech guys get back in touch, but you never hear from them again.

In the interest of fairness, there are several pros for these models though:
-These units are pretty easy to install (other than relatively minor issues with the manual and wiring diagrams) Also if you're not experience with cutting and brazing the refrigerant lines, then you'll likely wind up with an unsightly coil of extra line somewhere.
-They are QUIET. I don't have a decibel meter, but they are drastically quieter than any window unit or household central A/C that I have heard
- They are quite efficient compared to central A/C units or window/portable units

I hoped that these units could be an economical alternative to higher end brands, but while their mechanical performance is apparently quite good; they are quiet, powerful, and efficient-- the numerous electronic issues make this models a poor choice IME

Don't find a company.....find an HVAC guy looking to make some money on the side, ask for free estimate from different places, when they come out to your place speak to the guy on the low and ask, if they say no its no but id be betting there's a few that would install it on the side, most of those guys even advertise on offerup and give install warranty.

This is actually a standard Chinese unit (most likely made by Midea) that many US companies use by putting on a different brand name sticker. Look closely at the design of the indoor/outdoor units and even the remote control unit, then compare it with brands like Pioneer Mini Split, C&H, Senville...etc. They're all the same!

The only possible differences is the quality of the install. Pioneer Mini Split markets their products as DIY systems (without precharged lines) so they will give you support if you run into trouble and will also warranty the units. Mr. Cool however makes big money on their precharged lines, so they won't warranty DIY installs. However, if you're already familiar with installs or know someone who is, you have nothing to worry about because the hardware is exactly the same. Lots of install videos on YouTube too.

I'm struggling finding someone help me install mini split in my shop, I don't know why HVAC companies charge very high, I called a company and they said $7k to install. Actually mini split is very easy to install, I used to live in Asia and they install these for few hundred bucks only and took less than 2 hours. I don't complain if they charge their labor $300 per hour but $7k for few hours... it's a rob for me

Definitely something is wrong. I have a 1 ton (this same exact MS but in 12000 btu) unit in a 196 sq ft room and it's working fine in Tucson, AZ. We hit 100F almost everyday in the summer (and most of the time we go above that). Like others have stated, you must have a leak of freon, must be low, the room must have a lot of air leaks, your insulation is horrible, or something else is going on with your unit. I would look at all this factors first before spending money in another MS. Just my 2 cents.