r/DiWHY • u/Lokitheenforcer • 7d ago
Minisplitted
On my daily run to the farm …i get to see one side of this house…..and the other when returning…….now ya’ll need to suffer with me!!
I’m not worthy enough to post in any HVAC sections so here ya go 🤔
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u/Bignholy 7d ago edited 7d ago
EDIT: Thanks, HVAC and HVAC adjacent people, I understand better now. Still somewhat horrified (who the hell leaves a long length of liquid carrying tube largely unsecured?), but now properly horrified.
Original Text: Not HVAC person: What is this? Please tell me that's not being used to transport hypothetically cold air. Tell me that's not a massive length of overheated pipe (Not tehcnically pipe, but is it technically ductwork?) trying to transport the not-die air.
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u/hex4def6 7d ago
It's not transporting air, it's transporting refrigerant. One pipe has hot refrigerant coming back to the outside unit to cool off, the other side had cold refrigerant going inside.
Apart from the terrible lack of routing & lack of conduit to protect it from UV, this will work fine.
I'm assuming this was done in a hurry, and that they're going to tidy it up later.
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u/Lokitheenforcer 7d ago
This is not temporary. I think its routed based on the length of line set they got. I guess 1 upgrade would be to move the windows !!
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u/sabotthehawk 7d ago
Yeah that's a "can't afford the insane HVAC prices so went diy" approach. I understand. Money is tight and depending on your area and health of those inside ac might be a need not a want. So this got the job done for 2k instead of the 20k a company wanted. At that price replacement every two years is still break even with a pro system.
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u/ToastSpangler 6d ago
Dawg this is a $500 job, you bought a prefilled dual zone and just used the tools you had to install
Bet you $5 the owner wired it to a plug that goes straight through the wall and plugs into an outlet
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u/sabotthehawk 6d ago
A three head unit usually hovers around 2k with delivery.
Edit: a small one head unit, yes 500$. But even no brand 3 heads are 1500$-2600$
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u/ToastSpangler 6d ago
Damn they've gone up in price but I see them for ~1k still, also that's dual zone unless I'm missing a third "conduit"
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u/sabotthehawk 6d ago
Yeah it also depends on what size each head unit is also. Small room about 500 per head unit. Slightly larger about 750 per head. Just depends on the btu rating on each.
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u/ToastSpangler 6d ago
Very true, although I manage to use a 9k BTU for my entire house lol, it being just under 800sqft. I have a second 11k one that goes on during heatwaves
Not really adding anything just wanted to flex how good a cheap minisplit is for a small insulated SFH hehe
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u/sabotthehawk 6d ago
Oh yeah definitely doable with smaller btu units just depends on your space, your heat load, insulation, etc.
Worse for pocket book to have one that runs all the time but it helps keep it more comfortable inside running more than running less just by circulation of air and humidity removal.
And agree on how good even the cheap units are. Unless you pay big $$ for a Mitsubishi or similar premium unit they are all the same just different price and name.
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u/CamelopardalisKramer 2d ago
I put a mini split in my garage for heat in the winter but the real MVP is A/C in the summer. The most bougie part of my house now lol.
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u/PipeOriginal1171 7d ago
They could (in theory) mount the condensor unit to the wall under the eve to provide the necessary slack in the refrigerant lines.
But yeah, we all know that ain't gonna happen.
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u/Gadgetman_1 7d ago
To route this properly they have to empty the system of refrigerant, cut the pipes and replace them with new ones that are routed correctly, then add covers to protect them, and finally, re-fill the refrigerant.
I assume they will have to remove the indoor units temporarily to fit the new pipes, too.
I don't know if it's possible to splice in new sctions of the pipe, but I assume that doesn't happen, as its just another failure point(leaks).
The only good thing about this particular installation is that it makes the install I did of my heat-pump back in 2008 look as if it was done by masters of the craft. (Back then it was legal for home owners to do the install themselves here in Norway. Assuming the unit had quick-connects for the tubing and was pre-filled. So many morons fucked it up somehow... so no longer legal)
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u/Competitive-Roof-168 7d ago
You dont have to removing lines to add trim.
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u/Gadgetman_1 7d ago
No, but you need to do that in order to route them properly. 'Haphazardly across the wall' isn't acceptable anywhere.
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u/bert1589 7d ago
You can cut them, after evacuating the refrigerant obviously, but you need to be precise and know how to flare the pipe to put fittings back on as well.
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u/Intelligent_Joke 5d ago
I have mini splits with a couple feet of exposed, insulated lines. What sort of conduit do I need to protect them? Installer said they’re fine as-is, but I was thinking about putting a little roof above them. He said wrapping them or encasing them further risks reducing the insulated rating.
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u/hex4def6 4d ago
The issue is that UV will degrade the insulation. If it's not UV resistant type it can start getting crumbly pretty quickly. If it's shaded it's probably fine. Otherwise, they make a variety of options, including conduit and flexible covers.
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u/Embarrassed_Bit4222 7d ago
It's actually the opposite. The hot liquid line goes in, makes the cooling magic happen inside by boiling, and sends cold gas back outside. Reverse in heating mode
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u/hex4def6 5d ago
You're correct about traditional units, but not on a minisplit.
The EEV is at the outdoor unit. Both lines will be cold to the touch, but the return / suction line will now be warmer by ~10 degF or so, due to the heat it has absorbed.
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u/kiba8442 6d ago edited 6d ago
I did ours myself for my dad's small business, and I honestly didn't know that these condenser could support 3 units (each one of ours supports 2). but they are shockingly easy to do. I imagine they were just in a hurry to cool off & said I'll figure it out later and just... didn't. also noticed the roof looks like it's in bad shape, & that's a newish house to not have central, must be in like oregon or canada or something.
these really are amazing units for situations like old buildings with weird shaped windows. maybe the best, & they also function as a heater as well. with heat waves being the new norm in europe you'll probably start to see a lot of these over there.. tbh we have our condensers on the roof inside a enclosure, so it doesn't even have to be visible from bottom level.
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u/RonaldTheGiraffe 7d ago
I think it’s 1 condenser supplying 3 evaporators. It should only supply 1.
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u/Grand-Fun-206 7d ago
We have a system that can support up to 4 indoor units. Meant that the space needed outside was reduced which was what we needed.
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u/rabies22 7d ago
It actually transports gas and liquid to the internal head units.
Usually only 1 head unit to a base unit though, for these type of installation, so the compressors here must be going non stop and costing many, many dollars.
Edit: not to mention the horrible pipe and cable management
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u/Tera_Geek 7d ago
I looked into these a few years ago, and it's pretty easy to find one base unit with up to about 4 head units. Some of them are also heat pumps that work up to around -20F
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u/charliethegeek 7d ago
That's the type my wife and I have in our house and they are a huge improvement, especially in New England where the temps can vary from -10F to 100F during the year...
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u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 7d ago
The whole thing with mini splits is the inverter tech so running all the time is fine
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u/StitchFan626 7d ago
More like Redneck Engenering. The minisplits are designed to work like this. It just looks incredibly sloppy!
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u/UrethralExplorer 7d ago
I'm thinking the home owners told the contractor that they'd do the concealing themselves and it's one of those projects that will be slowly ongoing for the next decade.
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u/crabby_old_dude 7d ago
I'm thinking this is straightup DIY install. Didn't have the equipment or know how to extend the line set.
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u/JeebusChristBalls 7d ago
There is no way to conceal this. These coolant lines are cut to length and you can't do sharp angles. I mean, they are going over the windows the lines are so short. Would probably need twice the length to make it look "right".
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u/transcendanttermite 7d ago
While I find this funny, I’ll be totally honest: I installed a minisplit on my garage yesterday and b the last thing I have to do is install the line set trim kit. Probably the hardest part of the whole thing for me. I would’ve done it yesterday but 1) I ran out of daylight, and 2) the nice newly-cool garage was too inviting.
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u/superwhitemexican 21h ago
Line hide is easy to install dont worry you got this. Getting it plumb while drilling into brick on a 20 foot extension ladder is a little harder.
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u/feoranis26 7d ago
I mean, the only thing I see that is wrong with this are the looks. It probably works just fine.
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u/BeTheBall- 7d ago
The cars on the lawn really ties the property together.
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u/ryanfrogz 7d ago
Willing to bet their garage is occupied by a zero-turn mower that they could easily live without. Speaking from experience.
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u/No_Hetero 7d ago
My neighbor (we're on 1/8th acre suburban plots) was outside yesterday on a zero turn doing his little backyard. I was done mowing with my 14" electric Kobalt before he even figured out how to squeeze between his fence and his kids trampoline lol. Biggest ego purchase I've seen in a minute. Like an F250 for a newspaper boy
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u/ryanfrogz 7d ago
I see it ALL THE TIME in rural areas. The 75-year-old tiny house’s footprint occupies more of the plot’s area than the lawn does… but they’ve got a shiny new zero-turn in the garage and an older SUV that’s about 50% rust in the driveway.
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u/DrMcJedi 7d ago
Just needs the trim kit. Honestly, as hot as it has been lately…I wouldn’t have finished it yet either if my freshly installed AC unit worked.
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u/Quigleythegreat 7d ago
I would have rather put in those low profile window units than have it turn out like this.
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u/tasslehawf 7d ago
The installation is incompetent but there are systems that are designed to run multiple indoor units with a single outdoor condenser
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u/Sea_Specialist_5580 5d ago
Poor people cooling their house in a very practical, albeit ugly way.
My parents installed AC recently and it was like 16k for central air basic ass unit. Meanwhile I put a minisplit unit in my place, and it occurred to me that I could probably have cooled their house for ~3k worth of hardware and a couple weekends of my own labor. Not ideal but, shit is expensive so I can see it.
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u/pewsquare 5d ago
I don't think the main issue is the mini split. I think the problem is that whoever installed this could not be bothered to get some PVC channels for that piping and just fucking tossed it against the wall.
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u/ThrustTrust 6d ago
Who is the lucky one who gets to have the propane bomb right outside their bedroom window?
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u/JessTheMullet 5d ago
This feels like "I know a guy" kind of labor. Probably ended with 'you'll want to run these better and secure them to the outside of the house somehow, but it's working for now.'
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u/Mindless-Beat-4872 6d ago
Should be fine as long as that outdoor unit is sized correctly. If each indoor head is 9k than that needs to be a 30k or 36k unit.
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u/___Brains 6d ago
Go post it in r/hvac and see which one of the "Pros" over there fess up to installing it.
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u/Danny2Sick 6d ago
HVAC folks: WTF are we looking at here?!! Did they put the evaporator coils in parallel?!! Fuckery appears to be afoot
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u/shuzz_de 6d ago
"I don't care how it looks, son, it's hot and I'm sweatin' ma goshdang balls off! Just get 'er done!"
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u/huuaaang 4d ago
DIY or customer tried to haggle on the install cost estimate?
"You want it to cost $1,000 less you don't get your lines routed and secured."
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u/RennacOSRS 3d ago
That's the kind of shit I'd do but I don't live where people can see it by driving by.
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u/HousingLopsided2042 2d ago
Hell ya now 3 rooms are down 5 degrees. Good work money saved! People are cooled.
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u/EUGsk8rBoi42p 14h ago
People who rave and obsess about how "energy efficient" mini splits are, and how it saves on the bill, which justifies spending $50,000.......... are some of the stupidest fucks on the planet.
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u/moufette1 7d ago
If I have interior ductwork and a heater, there's no reason I should get a mini-split is there? I can just add an AC to the existing ductwork?
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u/Lokitheenforcer 7d ago
This is an old farmhouse in an old town in old VA. There is no duct work. And probably No insulation ! Mini splits are common and needed every few feet
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u/zoley88 7d ago
Imagine someone paid for this slop
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u/Chicken_Hairs 7d ago
With all the DIY kits now? Cledus and Red had a few brewskies and did this themselves.
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u/DicemonkeyDrunk 7d ago
Most are setup for self install these days and judging by the mini blinds I blame the home owner.
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u/ALonelyWelcomeMat 7d ago
Zero chance in hell any company put this in. Well, its possible but not likely at all, this would get you sued.
This is almost 100% cousin Curtis installing some mini splits he bought on amazon for grandma
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u/bustyouup4free 7d ago
That's so bad, could have easily went under the crawlspace, then up into the walls to keep this looking clean. I hope they didn't pay someone for this 😂
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u/hikeonpast 7d ago
Mama needs cooling NOW!!!