Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There isn't much to install if the wiring is there, the whole point of a mini split is the lack of duct work. I'm surprised your contractor wont just do it

They need to fill the unit with refrigerant. Handling refrigerant requires an EPA license.

The units come pre-charged with refrigerant. Vacuuming it down is not rocket surgery, but I would not do it if you don't have the right tools and are not comfortable with it.

OP, as for the units themselves, don't bother with the garbage on Amazon etc... If it is going to be used with any amount of frequency, get yourself an established brand. Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, among others. Japanese or Korean. We have a Mitsubishi Ceiling cassette in an old "sleeping porch" here in Alexandria that I rigid foam insulated, and also a drop ceiling unit we rigged up as a second conditioning source feeding the second floor. Could not be happier.

Any decent unit also has a condensate pump, so the drain line can run a few vertical feet before it exits for the condensate.

Anonymous wrote:There isn't much to install if the wiring is there, the whole point of a mini split is the lack of duct work. I'm surprised your contractor wont just do it

If the OP is in DC, all HVAC work has to be done by a licensed HVAC contractor.

Anonymous wrote:We have renovated our stand-alone garage and the contractor's electrician wired it for a mini split and upgraded the panel in our home.
I just need to buy a mini-split and have it installed (the contractor does not do this). The contractor has a "guy" but he is not currently available and we'd like to get this done.

If I buy a unit on Homedepot or Amazon will an HVAC contractor install it?
Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks so much.

I haven't done it myself but I've heard positive things about Amazon's install service.

Anonymous wrote:There isn't much to install if the wiring is there, the whole point of a mini split is the lack of duct work. I'm surprised your contractor wont just do it

They need to fill the unit with refrigerant. Handling refrigerant requires an EPA license.

Anonymous wrote:There isn't much to install if the wiring is there, the whole point of a mini split is the lack of duct work. I'm surprised your contractor wont just do it

At least with ours there was still work to to run the wiring to the base unit outside and the drip line. But that was from a second floor.

When we had one installed the HVAC company did it but we had to purchase the unit through them (presumably they make more that way). Just like when we've had a hot water heater installed. It really didn't cost more to do it that way.

Anyone had any luck? Can't get my contractor to do it somehow

There isn't much to install if the wiring is there, the whole point of a mini split is the lack of duct work. I'm surprised your contractor wont just do it

Home Depot might have an installation option

Interested in this as well.

We have renovated our stand-alone garage and the contractor's electrician wired it for a mini split and upgraded the panel in our home.
I just need to buy a mini-split and have it installed (the contractor does not do this). The contractor has a "guy" but he is not currently available and we'd like to get this done.

If I buy a unit on Homedepot or Amazon will an HVAC contractor install it?
Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks so much.