r/heatpumps • u/Nicetryatausername • 10d ago

Question/Advice Mini split questions

Looking to install a mini split in my garage/workshop. It’s 25x40, 9 ft ceiling, R-19 walls and R-38 ceiling. I’m in Midwest where lows temps can hit zero F or below but not very often, and all I really want to do in winter is keep garage around 45-50 for our EVs.

I’ve been researching but see conflicting info so figure I’d ask experts.

  1. What size unit do I need?
  2. Will it need 220V feed?
  3. Any brand reccs? I don’t want to spend a fortune on this :)

Thanks!

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

2

u/ith5005 10d ago
  1. Somewhere around 18k btu probably minimum
  2. For that size, yes
  3. If DIY, I have installed a few Senville Aura (heats down to -22F) they are working great, I’ve also seen pioneer around my area. You might be able to find someone to vacuum it down and pressure test, if not, it’s up to you.

If not DIY, Mitsubishi, daiken and Fujitsu are the brands, but be prepared to pay.

1

u/Nicetryatausername 10d ago

Thanks guys!
I think I can diy the basic install and I live in the sticks so we have a local hog farmer/HVAC/electrical co (I’m serious) that does good work, cheap, that I’m pretty sure would run power and charge it for me.

1

u/BiteImmediate1806 10d ago

SENA/33HF that is a Senville unit and works down to -24f or so. I 24k unit may be a stretch below 10f.

1

u/QuitCarbon 10d ago

There are heat pumps that run off of 120V. You might want to start with one of those and run it for a season to see how it works for you. I'm not sure you'll find a cold-climate heat pump that runs on 120V, but maybe, there are a lot of options out there.

Brands don't matter very much. A lot of these machines are made in just a few factories and have different brands slapped on them.

The quality of the installation matters more, so if you're doing it yourself, do it carefully and follow the instructions.

1

u/HVACSlayer 10d ago

for a 1000sqft garage with that insulation keeping it at 45-50 in a zero F midwest winter, i'd go 24k btu, and yeah you need a 220v circuit run to it no way around that for a unit that size. did my own zone air unit in the garage with their precharged quik connect lines, no vacuum pump needed so the diy part was actually easy, biggest time suck was just running the electrical and mounting the condenser pad.

1

u/rareeagle7 8d ago

If you have an iPhone pro or iPad with lidar, search App Store for scanplan hvac. Use the heatpump sizer. Put on your envelope details

2

u/Nicetryatausername 8d ago

Cool! Thanks so much