Minisplit install

[jayjay777]

I just ordered 4 ton kilmaire minisplits. They come precharged, prevacuumed and preflared. They have heat pumps, crank case heaters and another feature that I forgot that helps to operate in winter.

The question i have is in regards to snow in the winter season. These units are meant to be operational until 5° or 5° below 0. Not sure which but most winter's are fairly light here but on occasion well get storms and get a half a foot of snow, sometimes more. Now I am currently building a 12x12 fenced in area. This area receives lowest amount of snow and drifts. I did consider an awning but decided it was a bad idea.

I'll stop I'm rambling.

Point being. Do these things really need to go on "snow legs"?

There the double stacked model. 12x36x48 inches tall.

Do you guys recommend snow legs?

If so I assume I can just use two cinder blocks for each unit.

Anyone ever have this issue? In Michigan or Washington?

Anyone like or dislike these units?

All inputs appreciated...



Peace, Love & Respect

Jay

 

[nevergoodenuf]

Have you thought about setting up for sealed and fan cooled? If you can pull in very cold air with only 75 watts ( 8" hyperfan) and run AC when they fans can't do it, you will save a lot on electricity. I am set up to run CO2 sealed and/or air cooled. I will usually set the fans to kick on when humidity spikes so I don't have to run my dehumidifier. I am now adding my 3rd hyperfan as a scrubber. It is a 6" fan attached to a small carbon filter using the wall ( between the studs and drywall) as ducting to pull air from the ground, past a UV-C (air purifier meant for home air ducting) light and up to the ceiling.

 

[NinjaShamen]

My mini split is on a wall bracket. But with how lightweight they are I'd be weary of snow legs losing balance. You definitely need to get it off the ground if you're gonna depend on it in the winter. Build a stand out of treated lumber. And you might want to think of about an ice shield of some sort... plastic fan blades don't like ice

 

[jayjay777]

There's an auto defrost feature for the outside unit. The thermostat will turn on the crank case heater to my understanding.

I'm thinking I'm going to just put them up on cinder blocks.

A radiant heated floor/foundation is another idea also.

Live n learn....

 

[NinjaShamen]

All heat pumps have a defrost... ice happens. All the crank case heater protects is the compressor. But hey I'm sure you're right, you're wasting time even posting here. You already have all of the answers. By the way good luck with that off brand shit you bought

 

[jayjay777]

Doing foundation ATM. Putting unit 12" above grade....

Btw the off brand shit was only $2400 for everything. I know two people with them and they love them. They've lasted 3-4 years already for a friend of mine.... So maybe I'm just an off brand type of dude, but I produce boutique grade smoke with good #s...

Maybe I should of bought a Mitsubishi huh..?

Take care guys,

Peace, Love & Respect

Jay

 

[Budley Doright]

There all off brand shit for the most part lol. MITS does make a nice unit though. The big issue here is a driving freezing rain that builds up ice in the bottom tray and the water from the defrost cycle, this will stop the fan. With some of the DC motors this will take out the board as well. A few have optional heated trays, Daiken for one. My unit has never had an issue but have fixed a few lol. And don't block any drain holes with what ever you use, 90% of my installs are on stands, never had one fall over lol

 

[Budley Doright]

Oh and so it's flare fittings right? You'll need to vacuum the lines before dumping the charge or you'll be in a world of hurt .

 

[jayjay777]

Lucky it's pre vaccuumed, precharged and preflared. Now i did consider a mounting bracket kit and just putting it 10' up in the air or so. But what benefits does that have?

 

[Budley Doright]

Lucky it's pre vaccuumed, precharged and preflared. Now i did consider a mounting bracket kit and just putting it 10' up in the air or so. But what benefits does that have?

Not sure how you preflare and precharge a line set, I'll have to check that out. 10 feet up will just make it harder to service, my stands are 18-20" off ground but it is snow dependant really.

 

[Budley Doright]

Lucky it's pre vaccuumed, precharged and preflared. Now i did consider a mounting bracket kit and just putting it 10' up in the air or so. But what benefits does that have?

Nope not precharged lines . The unit is precharge but you still need to pressure test and evacuate the lines down to 500 microns .

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

There's an auto defrost feature for the outside unit. The thermostat will turn on the crank case heater to my understanding.

I'm thinking I'm going to just put them up on cinder blocks.

A radiant heated floor/foundation is another idea also.

Live n learn....

Double cinderblock. Done.

 

[nevergoodenuf]

The ones I have installed had purging directions for the installation. I have never used a vacuum pump and my mini split has been working perfectly for years. Checking the line set for leaks with soapy water after install and before you dump all the Freon into the unit is the only thing I recommend. Mine is a IdealAir 12,000 btu AC with heatpump, 120v. Love the thing. So much better than the roll around 14,0000 btu I just bought for my bedroom.

 

[Carolina Dream'n]

The ones I have installed had purging directions for the installation. I have never used a vacuum pump and my mini split has been working perfectly for years. Checking the line set for leaks with soapy water after install and before you dump all the Freon into the unit is the only thing I recommend. Mine is a IdealAir 12,000 btu AC with heatpump, 120v. Love the thing. So much better than the roll around 14,0000 btu I just bought for my bedroom.

That's because IdealAirs are true DIY. The OP's is not.

 

[jayjay777]

The evap comes prevaccummed and the outdoor unit comes precharged or vice versa and the lineset comes preflared....

I was just gonna give my buddy a big nug to leak test it just to be safe. Also he's going to give me a receipt from his business so my warranty won't be void.

Can't wait

 

[Big smo]

The ones I have installed had purging directions for the installation. I have never used a vacuum pump and my mini split has been working perfectly for years. Checking the line set for leaks with soapy water after install and before you dump all the Freon into the unit is the only thing I recommend. Mine is a IdealAir 12,000 btu AC with heatpump, 120v. Love the thing. So much better than the roll around 14,0000 btu I just bought for my bedroom.

Just had a licensed installer hook up my ideal air. The only problem was he never checked the voltage before he ran a 220 line to it. Luckily another grower just sold him a Mitsubishi 12k for 800 that I got as a replacement. First one leaked, second one nearly caught fire, he won't be installing any more for me.

 

[Budley Doright]

Just had a licensed installer hook up my ideal air. The only problem was he never checked the voltage before he ran a 220 line to it. Luckily another grower just sold him a Mitsubishi 12k for 800 that I got as a replacement. First one leaked, second one nearly caught fire, he won't be installing any more for me.

Did you ask to see his license lol.

 

[Budley Doright]

The evap comes prevaccummed and the outdoor unit comes precharged or vice versa and the lineset comes preflared....

I was just gonna give my buddy a big nug to leak test it just to be safe. Also he's going to give me a receipt from his business so my warranty won't be void.

Can't wait

It's the condenser that comes precharged and evap is no longer in a vacuum when you take off the caps ..... just an FYI

 

[Budley Doright]

The ones I have installed had purging directions for the installation. I have never used a vacuum pump and my mini split has been working perfectly for years. Checking the line set for leaks with soapy water after install and before you dump all the Freon into the unit is the only thing I recommend. Mine is a IdealAir 12,000 btu AC with heatpump, 120v. Love the thing. So much better than the roll around 14,0000 btu I just bought for my bedroom.

Purge with what? It's illegal to purge with freon FYI. I get the DIY thing but I also believe in DIY the right way . Here's my last DIY project

 

[Jaybodankly]

Hey Budley give me a heads up on your DIY.