Air Conditioning - Small capacity mini-splits?
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scorrpio
12-05-06, 02:05 PM
I am tired of window units and decided to get a mini-split system - condenser outside, and freon pipes going directly to small indoor coil/fan units mounted either on or in ceiling. House is fairly old, and retrofitting with ducts running from either attic or basement is going to be a major pain - and I do not want to do it anyway. The heat in the house is hydronic (baseboards).
Problem is, house is not large - two ~260 sq ft bedrooms upstairs, and two more or less separate downstairs areas: 300sq ft kitchen/dinette and 400 sq ft living/office. Ideally, I would need four indoor units. But the house is not large, and I calculated that I'll need maximum 6kBTU for each bedroom and kitchen/dinette area and at most 9kBTU for the living/office. Ideally all hooked up to one condenser. Based on usage patterns, a single 2-ton (24k) unit is more than enough to cool entire house.
Now, the catch: after looking a a LOT of mini-splits, I cannot find ANY small capacity ones. Smallest size indoor unit is 9k. Condensers for 3 units start at 27k, and I was able to locate only one condenser that would support 4 (LG) but it is 30k, and it does not seem to be available in the US. I suppose I could go with two separate condensers each supporting 2 indoor units. But again, all 2-zone units I've seen are way too large. So anyone know if something like that is available? Thanks.
Problem is, house is not large - two ~260 sq ft bedrooms upstairs, and two more or less separate downstairs areas: 300sq ft kitchen/dinette and 400 sq ft living/office. Ideally, I would need four indoor units. But the house is not large, and I calculated that I'll need maximum 6kBTU for each bedroom and kitchen/dinette area and at most 9kBTU for the living/office. Ideally all hooked up to one condenser. Based on usage patterns, a single 2-ton (24k) unit is more than enough to cool entire house.
Now, the catch: after looking a a LOT of mini-splits, I cannot find ANY small capacity ones. Smallest size indoor unit is 9k. Condensers for 3 units start at 27k, and I was able to locate only one condenser that would support 4 (LG) but it is 30k, and it does not seem to be available in the US. I suppose I could go with two separate condensers each supporting 2 indoor units. But again, all 2-zone units I've seen are way too large. So anyone know if something like that is available? Thanks.
Jay11J
12-06-06, 08:02 AM
You don't need these min unit in every room. Just put in like the hallways for the bedrooms, and one in the living area.
scorrpio
12-07-06, 08:16 AM
Well, what good is an air handler in a hallway if bedroom doors are usually closed when the bedrooms are in fact used (that is, when people sleep in them). I considered making a sort of a short duct connecting two bedrooms and putting a 12k unit there, but don't like the option much as one bedroom gets a lot more sunlight than the other...
GregH
12-07-06, 04:14 PM
I agree with Jay's suggestion.
Mini splits are not really made to do what you are talking about.
Even though they are very flexible you are expecting central air performance in what is still a wall mount unit.
As you have found out they are not made in sizes that would allow you cool these small rooms.
Jay's suggestion takes this into account.
As good as these things are you must use them more like a wall unit than a central system.
Even with baseboard heat maybe a small air handler and ductwork would work for you.
Mini splits are not really made to do what you are talking about.
Even though they are very flexible you are expecting central air performance in what is still a wall mount unit.
As you have found out they are not made in sizes that would allow you cool these small rooms.
Jay's suggestion takes this into account.
As good as these things are you must use them more like a wall unit than a central system.
Even with baseboard heat maybe a small air handler and ductwork would work for you.
Jay11J
12-07-06, 05:47 PM
I agree with Greg.
My aunt and uncle has these mini-split system in their home, and been very pleased with it.. At first they were unsure about cooling the bedrooms, but it done a very well. They just learned to keep the doors open at night, and the cool air did go into the bedrooms.
They can turn it at a higher speed and get a good throw down the hallway, and have another unit in the family room.
My aunt and uncle has these mini-split system in their home, and been very pleased with it.. At first they were unsure about cooling the bedrooms, but it done a very well. They just learned to keep the doors open at night, and the cool air did go into the bedrooms.
They can turn it at a higher speed and get a good throw down the hallway, and have another unit in the family room.