Replies

1. 
   GW52 | May 11, 2020 04:33pm | #1

   I have hot and cold running air in the shop of summer and winter woodworking and it is a mini split. There is no way that I have found other than washing the filters in water to keep them clean. I have been thinking of putting a piece of wood maybe 4 or 5 inches wide above the unit with a 1 or 2 inch clearance to catch the dust from the shop, I don't think it would impede the air flow going to the unit.

2. 
   rusty_tools | May 11, 2020 07:34pm | #2

   Thanks GE52
   Are seeing any amount of saw dust residue on the AC coils when you pull the filter to wash it? What brand mini split did you go with? I talked to the local Carrier Dealer but went with a through-the -wall because I didn't want to put that much money out and have it plugged with dust. The Dealer said the OEM filter would be find but I didn't think so.
   Rusty

3. 
   forrestb | May 17, 2020 05:43pm | #3

   I have installed a mini split in my shop and agree with GW52 that frequent washing of the filter works.

   If you have a decent dust collector my experience has been moving it out of the shop has significantly reduced my dust load. It came with a standard filter but those allow a lot of fine dust back into the shop.

   Also be sure you have large enough hoses. I had 2 ½ inch hoses from my Shopsmith DC 3300 days but when I upgraded to a 3 hp unit I had to change to 4 inch hoses to clear my machines.

4. 
   GW52 | May 18, 2020 12:19pm | #4

   I talked with a HVAC guy about that and he said to blow compressed air over the coils when it is not running. Be sure to turn the pressure down to more more that 20 PSI.

5. 
   GW52 | May 19, 2020 10:31am | #5

   Mine is a Mitsubishi, install was real easy only 2 holes in the wall one for power 220V and the other for the plumbing to the outside unit.

6. 
   forrestb | May 19, 2020 12:11pm | #6

   And mine is also a Mitsubishi.

   I first thought Trane, but got sold on it.

7. 
   flyfisher111 | May 24, 2020 11:53pm | #7

   I tape pieces of polyester batting across the intake of my air cleaner and the return AC duct. This keeps the majority of airborne dust from reaching the filters. Get it at a sewing store. The thin stuff is about 3/16 thick, and does not restrict air flow, which is important on the AC. When it begins to show dust, just run the vacuum across it. A square yard is about $2.

8. 
   rob_ss | May 25, 2020 04:19am | #8

   I'm with @GW52 here - I clean my HVAC with compressed air once per year in the home.
   Just clean them often.
   be careful as overly aggressive compressed air will potentially bend the vanes and rip the filters.

9. 
   Koopasand | May 25, 2020 04:38am | #9

   Have you all thought about a slim duct? Suspends in the attic and can run duct work to rooms you want to cool. That way you have a much more concealed cooling or heating source than something wall mounted. Still requires an outdoor unit similar to what's used with a regular minisplit.

1. 
   Xgemone | May 05, 2021 11:25am | #10

   This is a good idea.
   Do not condemn a person that he is bored at work, and he climbs into distant topics of the forum

10. 
    bilyo | May 05, 2021 06:04pm | #11

    I have a similar 12k btu window unit through the wall. I have made a box in front of the air intake and sized it to hold a standard furnace filter to supplement the internal AC filter. It works OK. Good thing they are cheap as they plug up quickly.

11. 
    compo | May 05, 2021 11:30pm | #12

    I have a Mr Cool mini-split that sits about 12 feet off the floor. I was cleaning the filter that's in the unit but got to be a real pain to clear out the floor in front and climb a ladder to get to it. So I made a filter box to fit tight to the top and use two 20x20x5 MERV 11 filters; seems to be working fine for past year. It's on my short list to check the filters and see if there is any fine dust on the coils.

1. 
   rob_ss | May 06, 2021 04:26am | #13

   Just be careful cleaning them - I saw an old post that said compressed air - that works really well, but is quite strong enough to bend the delicate aluminium vanes.
   If using compressed to clean my splits, I start a good ways away then move in until the veins start to wiggle - that's close enough!

12. 
    user-621324 | May 06, 2021 08:44am | #14

    I also have a Mitsubishi mini split. I also have a Jet air filter. The Jet takes a 12X24X1 filter. I buy multi packs of the filters for the Jet and lay two of them across the top of the mini split. The filters overhang a bit but they don't interfere with anything. The AC guy who services my house annually says they are helping.

13. 
    _mj_ | May 26, 2021 05:23pm | #15

    I just bit the bullet and now have A/C in the shop and in the office. (I had to do the office so my biz could pay for the whole shebang.) Fujitsu 2-zone mini-split with a wall unit in the office and a ceiling cassette in the shop. I didn't have to throw away a single useless jig. Heaven!!