MRCOOL DIY Mini Split LONG TERM REVIEW (15 Months Later)

I'm looking for a 30 Amp outdoor box... can't find one at HD or Lowes...

I installed a 12 K unit two years ago and loved it,..
It worked flawless until today, I got a P4 trouble code on the unit, called customer service it was horrible and I’ve been reading a lot of negative things,… so now it feels like I’m stuck. gonna have to call an HVAC contractor probably to recharge it or troubleshoot it and spend more than what I actually spent on it☹️

What would you say is the monthly added cost to run the unit im looking to add one to my 600sq ft garage.

15 month is long term?

Ah yes… the almost globally standard statement of “we won’t maintain it cause we didn’t install it” (and missed on the ‘official dealer’ markup and ’1000 USD per install). Exceptions: countries like India or Russia, where you can find AC tech actually understanding thermodynamics and being OK to consider you (the owner) a competent equal… and a paying customer. 🙄 Some cases went to court in the EU over this, and the DIY-er won! Right to repair, right to maintain, right to DIY! 💪🏻

Did you just say "god bless"??? WTF

what did you wrap the outside lines with. do you have a link for the stuff

Would these work over regular heat pumps for inside the home? They have the 36k but ones for 1500sq ft. For 3300$. Seems reasonable

Thx for the video! I like that wooden gate door and fence!

Jason, I installed a 12K unit five years ago and recently installed a 24K Generation 3. I am pleased with the performance and quality of both units, but have the same problem noted by others on the Mr. Cool blog, the inability to maintain an even room temperature. The set temperature on the evaporator display is typically much higher than the actual room temperature and continual adjustment of the set temperature is necessary. I have used both the handheld remote and their wireless mini-stat with the same result. The Mr. Cool company blog states that the remote units are NOT thermostats, but merely controllers that advise the system of a set point and the system makes decisions based on indoor and outdoor factors. Most disappointing is that I have had no response from my contacts with Mr. Cool and this problem is identical to others on their own blog, and their answer was that their tech department would "reach out" to them. The blog was active in 2020 and I am unaware of a current one. The other worrisome thing is that there does not seem to be a method to register the product for warranty nor is there a procedure to make a warranty claim if needed. DIY is great, but if a problem arises, you are on your own dime.

I wonder if you could build a little cantilever roof over it to keep the vast majority of snow and ice away thus preventing the whole freeze up things w/o needing to shovel it out.

Buy Daikin instead!

My experience has not been so Steller.. missing pieces on delivery to support falling on deaf ears.. two separate requests on their support website for help with no response at all from this company _ I have done everything I can to resolve issues with this purchase. My advice is find another company to do business with. Seriously dont buy into the hype

So can someone tell me how this system is different from any othet split unit we were and still using like LG, Samsung, York and carrier?

Please tell me you guys understand that cutting the line set completely defeats the entire concept of this unit.

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE!

I just burst into laughter when he said leave it in a coil to avoid trap issues. Classic, he must be trolling.

Just wanted to say I love the video.
Everyone please stop saying how much more "efficient" gas heating is. It might be cheaper, but max it's like 95% efficient. A heat pump mini split is 100% minimum efficient, but can go upwards of 400% depending on the model and outside temp.

No surprise on the HVAC company's response. They are the biggest crooks and prima donnas in the skilled trades. IMHO

Thanks, but it made me realize that I can't use MrCool because in my 2nd story application I can't allow excess lines coiled up.

A lot of people in my area build a small sloped roof structure over top of the unit to kkepmthe snow from falling on the unit, the lines and the area behind it. This works really well and doesn’t impact the operation of the unit at all. Basically just a 2x4 frame that goes far enough above the unit so as not to interfere with the air flow, but greatly reduces the snow accumulation around and on the unit.

I have nothing but problems with my unit lots of Freon leaks on factory joints

Any idea of the per hour wattage draw in heating mode?

Great video. The production quality is top-notch and you cover everything well while still being succinct. The natural gas heater is very effective at warming up a space, but at one point you said it was more "efficient". I suppose that is a subjective topic, but in terms of both cost and COP (Coefficient of Performance), the mini-split is more efficient at heating a space. This is because it doesn't generate heat, it merely consolidates it out of the atmosphere. This is what makes them almost magical, because their efficiency is actually greater than 100%. In fact, that unit has a COP rating of 3+, which means for every unit of energy (in the form of electricity) used to run it, the mini-split puts 3 units of heat energy into your shop. As effective as the natural gas heater is, the COP is still less than 1, by comparison. Even the very best gas furnaces are only in the 90-95% efficiency range. Your mini-split is likely running at a COP of 2 even when the temperature is at or slightly below freezing outside.

Hey Jason, How is it working currently?
Thanks!

Good vid brother!!! Blessings

Isn't that lineset loop supposed to be horizontal

Did you use the app more or the the Mr cool thermostat more? Pros vs cons to eitber

Hey Jason build a small roof over hanging (like a porch) the unit and paint. This way it keeps snow off and piling up behind the unit. Then paint you hose line cover the color of house.

you should have raised the outdoor condenser up higher for the snow, etc...

tip make a little roof for the outdoor unit so you never have stuff behind the radiator

Long term 15 months ? Long term means minimum 5 years

Do these mold?

HVAC people don’t want to service DIY equipment because they see it as cutting into their bottom line.

so wait, with mr cool do you need to vacuum out your refrigerant lines before use? or since its pre-charged it's bsically plug and play?

Why are hvac techs such jerks? When was the last time an electrician refused to service an outlet they didnt install or a plumber refused to fix a drain they didnt install?

Mine is almost 3 years old and already having issues. I am truly bummed. And overheating

Can rodents chew through the lines?

Put 2 mr cool DIY units in my house this year 18,000 sq. ft. One has 18,000 btu the other has 36,000 btu. Power bill for July was less than $120.00. Wayne Little

Why can't you trim them to length, all it takes is a flaring tool?

Long term should be 10 years minimum. 15 months is nothing

Soooooo... How many people are leaving the front door open to keep it from freezing up? LOL... How many people have had the front hinge break? how many people have had the unit stop working after a few months? I purchased TWO 24K units less then a year ago.... would I do it again? well, maybe.... but maybe not.....

I installed the same unit in my house in North Central Washington in 2019. It cries, woo, woo woo, woo. My wife and I did a full cleaning, messy, but the fan was caked with stuff. I thought it might be a bearing, but it gets louder and quieter in a 30 second cycle. Anybody out there know what this is from? Perhaps I have a tiny leak and am losing cooling, or perhaps it is the TX valve. It is really annoying.

How long are the coolant lines

Sorry to be a party pooper... but that Square-D Homeline panel has a 30 amp 2-pole Siemens breaker in it which is a code violation. Simple and cheap fix to just swap that out with a Sq-D Homeline 30 amp 2-pole breaker.

HVAC People: WE WONT FIX THAT! REEEE.
ALSO HVAC PEOPLE: Let me sell you a Carrier setup for 20k, I'll happily work on that!
To those that dont understand: There are two chinese companies that make all of these. Look at carrier and look at mr cool. Looks the same inside and out, same components, SAME REMOTE, SAME THERMOSTAT lol.
Mitsubishi, some LG, and there's another that actually make their own.

Great series of videos that helped greatly in deciding to buy and install my Mrcool unit. Regarding the excess line length, the manual actually says to keep it coiled in a flat position. The lower right corner of page 26 of the installation manual states: "Keep excess refrigerant hose coiled. Wrap with protective tape and store behind the condenser in a horizontal position (flat with the ground)."