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expired Posted by panini • Apr 1, 2024
expired Posted by panini • Apr 1, 2024

Costco Members: MrCool E Star DIY 12K BTU Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump System

& More + Free S/H

$1,250

$1,400

10% off
Costco Wholesale
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Costco Wholesale has for their Costco Members: MrCool E Star DIY Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump Complete Systems for the prices listed. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Community Member panini for finding this deal.

Note, must login to your Costco account w/ an active membership to view sale/pricing. If you don't have a Costco Warehouse Membership, you can sign-up here.

Available Option(s):Features:
  • Up to 22 SEER
  • Gold Fin Condenser: Corrosion-Resistant Coastal Living
  • 4R-410A Environmentally Friendly Refrigerant
  • Standard 7-Year Compressor/5-Year Parts Warranty
  • Register for Limited Lifetime Compressor Warranty
  • Variable-Speed DC Inverter Compressor Technology Cuts Operating Costs

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • About this store:
  • Additional note:
    • Please see original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by panini
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Costco Wholesale has for their Costco Members: MrCool E Star DIY Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump Complete Systems for the prices listed. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Community Member panini for finding this deal.

Note, must login to your Costco account w/ an active membership to view sale/pricing. If you don't have a Costco Warehouse Membership, you can sign-up here.

Available Option(s):Features:
  • Up to 22 SEER
  • Gold Fin Condenser: Corrosion-Resistant Coastal Living
  • 4R-410A Environmentally Friendly Refrigerant
  • Standard 7-Year Compressor/5-Year Parts Warranty
  • Register for Limited Lifetime Compressor Warranty
  • Variable-Speed DC Inverter Compressor Technology Cuts Operating Costs

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • About this store:
  • Additional note:
    • Please see original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

Original Post

Written by panini

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+36
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Top Comments

As someone who just installed a "non" DIY mini split at their house, I want to encourage people to give them a try. I was very nervous about the install, but ultimately it is not that hard as long as you know the procedure (which I understand is the hardest part). In short, you can buy a non-DIY mini split, vacuum pump, and gauges all for less than a single Mr. Cool DIY setup. The video that helped out with the vacuuming part was from "DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse" on YouTube. You hook everything up and then connect the low-pressure blue side of the gauge to the port on the outdoor unit and the yellow hose to the vacuum. Run the vacuum for 15 minutes and let it sit for over an hour to confirm via the gauge there are no leaks. Assuming no leaks, you release a bit of the freon from the unit into the lines and then disconnect the gauge. Once disconnected you open everything up and you're good to go!

I nearly bought the DIY unit so I wouldn't have to mess with a vacuum, but now I'm glad I went that route to save money and learn along the way. You got this!
I bought the 24k a few years ago and I absolutely LOVE IT. It runs quiet and can chill things out in a hurry. I put mine in the living room as it's a centralized location and use my heat thermostat fan to circulate the cool air through the house (single story home).

The install for this can be very involved but it will really depend on your situation layout and skill level. If you get a 120v/15' hose unit that you can plug in to a standard recepticle, mount the head on the wall, drill a hole and shove the lines outside, then mount the unit on the siding or a concrete pad outside the wall, this install will likely be pretty easy.

It also be a pain as well though once you get into the 240v units if you aren't set up for it. I'm an electrician by trade and it took me 50 hours to install mine. That involved quite a few steps:

-Coring a 3" hole through brick, running lines up and through my garage and out the side wall.

-Setting up a chain-fall to hoist the condenser into the air, plus buying wall brackets and placing backing board in the walls with lag bolts to make damn sure it was solid.

-I bought the line gutter kit to give it a really clean install, highly recommend it.

-Run 1/2" conduit from my panel to a junction box outside the house, through the garage, to a disconnect under the unit.

-Installed 30 amp breaker and pulled 2 circuits a neutral and a ground, 10awg. The condenser doesn't need the neutral but you need a service gfci recepticle within a reasonable distance of the condenser unit. Plus it's been great having a plug out there now.

Sorry for the long ass post but take a few minutes with a pen and paper and a measuring tape before starting a project like this. What length of lines are you getting, how are you going to hide them? (coiling them up neatly behind the condenser is fine) What kind of walls are you drilling through, where is the condenser mounting, what voltage system will you need?

A 3" masonry core bit, wall brackets, gutters, EMT conduit, disconnect, hose and conduit supports, wire, chainfall; that's all things I hadn't anticipated but were made possible by my sponsors Amazon next day shipping and repeated trips to Home Depot heh.

Wish I knew how to host pics because it turned out great though. Good luck and safe installs everyone 👍
Costco has an awesome price adjustment policy. No need to return or even speak to anyone. Just go to costco(dot)com(slash)PriceAdjustmentView and submit the price it is now vs. what you paid for. They will reimburse you.

119 Comments

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Apr 1, 2024
2,557 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
Apr 1, 2024
likeaw
Apr 1, 2024
2,557 Posts
Looks like these are Energy Star certified which should give you a 30% tax deduction. These are using R410A which is the last year it can be used.
1
Apr 2, 2024
1,011 Posts
Joined Apr 2014
Apr 2, 2024
rypajo
Apr 2, 2024
1,011 Posts
Quote from likeaw :
Looks like these are Energy Star certified which should give you a 30% tax deduction. These are using R410A which is the last year it can be used.
Any idea when they will switch over to whatever is next?
Apr 2, 2024
2,410 Posts
Joined Jul 2006
Apr 2, 2024
abstraxion
Apr 2, 2024
2,410 Posts
I had an undersized mini split installed in my home a few years ago (Mitsubishi unit). There's no chance I can reuse the same hose set I currently have and install new MRCOOL stuff on both ends, right?
Apr 2, 2024
27 Posts
Joined May 2013
Apr 2, 2024
fatbird3
Apr 2, 2024
27 Posts
Quote from abstraxion :
I had an undersized mini split installed in my home a few years ago (Mitsubishi unit). There's no chance I can reuse the same hose set I currently have and install new MRCOOL stuff on both ends, right?
No, the line sets (hoses) are permanently attached to the head unit. There wouldn't be much benefit anyway, if you install these MRCOOL units you could pretty easily run the line set through the same channel that the Mitsubishi line set is currently in.
1
Apr 2, 2024
26 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
Apr 2, 2024
KingMongo
Apr 2, 2024
26 Posts
Quote from rypajo :
Any idea when they will switch over to whatever is next?
Might be worth waiting for the IRA rebates. I know it is for me, tax deductions don't do squat for me, but a straight up rebate would be great. Also, just buy a cylinder of 410A to keep on hand for when you inevitably have a problem that isn't covered.
Apr 2, 2024
26 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
Apr 2, 2024
KingMongo
Apr 2, 2024
26 Posts
Quote from fatbird3 :
No, the line sets (hoses) are permanently attached to the head unit. There wouldn't be much benefit anyway, if you install these MRCOOL units you could pretty easily run the line set through the same channel that the Mitsubishi line set is currently in.
That can't be true. Even if it were, you could easily cut the connections and replace end points--it's copper, after all.

Anyway, the mrcool stuff is basically the opposite of "pro" installs because the charge is stored in the line sets. To use only mrcool condenser and air handlers, you'd need to evacuate the charge from your mitsubishi, then replace all the mitsubishi eqpt with mrcool, then recharge the system. Kind of a major job for diy.

Last, if you have mitsubishi it was almost certainly installed by a licensed pro and has a ton of warranty service left on it, since you get no warranty from mitsubishi unless you're one of their certified installers, so nobody in their right mind would self-install their equipment. It's a big step to dump their equipment after you've paid for their warranty. Maybe there's something else about your setup that could be improved rather than junking the whole system?
Apr 2, 2024
2,557 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
Apr 2, 2024
likeaw
Apr 2, 2024
2,557 Posts
Quote from rypajo :
Any idea when they will switch over to whatever is next?
From what I have read, Jan of 2025 is the last year they can sell 410A equipment. So if you still want a mini-split, they may have some really good sales at the end of this year. Looks like the new refrigerant will be R32 or a derivative of this. R32 has been used in other countries for several years. It is also more efficient than R410A. I just installed my 3rd Pioneer mini-split. It is a inverter ++ model and only draws about 3 amps when running. My other 2 units are not nearly this efficient. Totally impressed with this unit.

I also want some of the IRA money, but just make enough to not get my central air unit replaced free, but 50% off will help a great amount.

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Apr 2, 2024
1,011 Posts
Joined Apr 2014
Apr 2, 2024
rypajo
Apr 2, 2024
1,011 Posts
Quote from likeaw :
From what I have read, Jan of 2025 is the last year they can sell 410A equipment. So if you still want a mini-split, they may have some really good sales at the end of this year. Looks like the new refrigerant will be R32 or a derivative of this. R32 has been used in other countries for several years. It is also more efficient than R410A. I just installed my 3rd Pioneer mini-split. It is a inverter ++ model and only draws about 3 amps when running. My other 2 units are not nearly this efficient. Totally impressed with this unit.

I also want some of the IRA money, but just make enough to not get my central air unit replaced free, but 50% off will help a great amount.
Everywhere I've looked the rules and qualifications seem fuzzy still for the IRA money. Do you have a source that you are relying on?
Apr 2, 2024
26 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
Apr 2, 2024
KingMongo
Apr 2, 2024
26 Posts
Quote from rypajo :
Everywhere I've looked the rules and qualifications seem fuzzy still for the IRA money. Do you have a source that you are relying on?
The IRA money is definite at this point, but that's on the federal side. The money is now with the states and how they implement the rebate program is dependent on your state government. Here in Oregon, it's in the hands of the Oregon department of energy and they are just saying "later this year," so check with your own state energy people. Good luck!
Apr 2, 2024
39,052 Posts
Joined Nov 2005
Apr 2, 2024
Dr. J
Apr 2, 2024
39,052 Posts
These DIY units intrigue me. A portion of our upper floor does not have AC, that's 4 bedrooms. I'd like to put in a minisplit or ducted system but a quote I got last year was on the order of $15k. It's a lot of grunt work that I don't necessarily need to pay someone to do, but I also don't want a ghetto install on my residence - not that I do crappy work, but the "precanned" systems like these mean you might be forced into line routing or suboptimal placement of the units either from a cooling perspective, or from an exterior aesthetics one.

I also question future repairability. The average Joe isn't going to have the tools or knowhow to be debugging a leak - given the DIY nature of this product, does anyone find HVAC techs basically refuse to work on them or make it painful ($$$)? I already own a Cooper Hunter minisplit that I inherited from the previous owner, apparently he bought it online and had a moonlighting commercial HVAC guy install it. Long story short I've had to have a HVAC tech over here 3 times in the past 2 years to debug a leak, and HVAC tech time is not cheap (considering that they spend a LOT of time just hanging out pulling a vacuum, for example). I get the feeling he looks down on these types of systems, and honestly I don't quite blame him, at least my scapegoat is that the previous guy did it, not me!
Last edited by Dr. J April 2, 2024 at 11:51 AM.
1
Apr 2, 2024
2,557 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
Apr 2, 2024
likeaw
Apr 2, 2024
2,557 Posts
Quote from rypajo :
Everywhere I've looked the rules and qualifications seem fuzzy still for the IRA money. Do you have a source that you are relying on?
You can also talk with your hvac contractor. They probably get the facts from the state.
Apr 2, 2024
2,557 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
Apr 2, 2024
likeaw
Apr 2, 2024
2,557 Posts
Quote from Dr. J :
These DIY units intrigue me. A portion of our upper floor does not have AC, that's 4 bedrooms. I'd like to put in a minisplit or ducted system but a quote I got last year was on the order of $15k. It's a lot of grunt work that I don't necessarily need to pay someone to do, but I also don't want a ghetto install on my residence - not that I do crappy work, but the "precanned" systems like these mean you might be forced into line routing or suboptimal placement of the units either from a cooling perspective, or from an exterior aesthetics one.

I also question future repairability. The average Joe isn't going to have the tools or knowhow to be debugging a leak - given the DIY nature of this product, does anyone find HVAC techs basically refuse to work on them or make it painful ($$$)? I already own a Cooper Hunter minisplit that I inherited from the previous owner, apparently he bought it online and had a moonlighting commercial HVAC guy install it. Long story short I've had to have a HVAC tech over here 3 times in the past 2 years to debug a leak, and HVAC tech time is not cheap (considering that they spend a LOT of time just hanging out pulling a vacuum, for example). I get the feeling he looks down on these types of systems, and honestly I don't quite blame him, at least my scapegoat is that the previous guy did it, not me!
If you buy the unit from Home Depot, they are supposed to have a list of installers that either contact you, or you can call. $15K quote is a "I don't want to do it, or if I do I'm going to make a bunch of money".
Apr 2, 2024
39,052 Posts
Joined Nov 2005
Apr 2, 2024
Dr. J
Apr 2, 2024
39,052 Posts
Quote from likeaw :
If you buy the unit from Home Depot, they are supposed to have a list of installers that either contact you, or you can call. $15K quote is a "I don't want to do it, or if I do I'm going to make a bunch of money".
Well to be fair it was a Mitsubishi setup with 4 internal units. Not exactly the same as Mr Cool.

My point was, you install this DIY then next year something goes wrong and needs a tech to service. Is it tough to find a tech willing to work on customer DIY equipment?
Apr 2, 2024
1,011 Posts
Joined Apr 2014
Apr 2, 2024
rypajo
Apr 2, 2024
1,011 Posts
Quote from likeaw :
You can also talk with your hvac contractor. They probably get the facts from the state.
Nobody here wants to touch heat pumps so the techs that have come out from multiple companies don't know anything.

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Apr 2, 2024
579 Posts
Joined May 2015
Apr 2, 2024
TL88
Apr 2, 2024
579 Posts
Quote from abstraxion :
I had an undersized mini split installed in my home a few years ago (Mitsubishi unit). There's no chance I can reuse the same hose set I currently have and install new MRCOOL stuff on both ends, right?
No but this should be a fairly easy replacement.

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