I’m in central Texas and not looking forward to working in my shop this summer, with high humidity and temps. I have a 20×26 garage shop, walls and 10′ ceiling insulated, double garage door also insulated. I’ve been looking at the MrCool DIY units. They seem simple enough to install. I’m planning on adding some air filters to lower sawdust inside the evaporator.
Who has had experience with the MrCool units or others? I like the lower cost but would like to know about others’ experience with reliability, customer service, etc. Thank you.
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I went with a different brand, and not a DIY ready. It was a pretty easy install.
The physical installation is super straightforward.
The DIY ready units have a fixed length of copper coil. It comes precharged and cannot be cut. So if you have a lot of leftover, you need to leave it stuck behind the outside unit.
I didn't want to do that. Way too much extra tubing. I cut and flared the tubing to fit with the non-DIY type. It requires a simple flaring tool, and then a vacuum gauge and pump. Pump out the lines after installation, leave the gauge on to make sure it holds vacuum, then disconnect the gauge and open the lines. I thought it was very easy.
The MR. Cools are a little pricey because they get a lot of returns, being DIY. I got what I felt was a better unit, and even including the cost of the gauge and pump, it was a few hundred buck cheaper than the Mr Cool.
I've used it all winter for heating an addition, and it was vastly cheaper than electric baseboard heat. I look forward to having it as AC this summer.
Oh, you'll also need a new electric circuit and outside disconnect, if you're comfortable doing your own wiring.
I have a 20x16 shop in lower Alabama and use a 12k btu window unit through the wall. Easy and effective. I've built a box in front to hold a standard furnace filter to supplement the units internal one. It works quite well.
I’m in Texas Hill Country, 24x18 shop with 10’ ceilings. I went the same route as bilyo, bought a window unit. It was intended as a temp fix, but three years later I find no need to replace as it keeps the shop in the high seventies on the hottest days which is fine for me. Just turn it on an hour or so before I start work. Cheap and easy to replace.
Go for it you won't be sorry. I have three of those units in my house and very happy. Think about eliminating dust in the air instead of adding filters to the mini-split. Perhaps good dust collector and a hanging collector.
Thanks for the input. My garage design doesn't allow for a window unit, so I'm probably going with a mini-split.
Any advice on brand names would be appreciated. (both to look for and avoid)
I'm not questioning you. I just only understand mini-split in general terms. What is the difference? You still have to have part of the unit poking through the wall somewhere. Right?
No. Inside is the evaporator and outside is the condenser. They are connected with coolant hoses. Think Motel-6 with the AC under the window.
Ah. I thought the evap. coil half had to be mounted into the wall. But, it is totally inside. OK. Thanks.
Just a single 2-1/2 inch hole, or thereabouts, is all that's needed.
I have a Daikin mini split in my 900 sq ft (10,000 cu ft) workshop in Florida. It does a very good job cooling and dehumidifying the shop. I had to replace the evaporator coils twice in the 6 years that I've owned it. I will purchase another brand when it is time to replace it.
I have a 26x48 shop; I purchased the Mr Cool and installed it myself.. I couldn't be happier with it. I have 6" walls so I installed the extra line in the wall between the studs before I ran it outside; I fit foil backed foam in the cavity for insulation and haven't had any problem in almost 4 years. I installed radiant heat in the floor which has been great as well. I use the heating side of the Mr Cool until it's cold enough to keep the radiant on full time or in the spring until it's full summer.
A friend of mine has a Mitsubishi and swears by it.
I have a 20'x30' shop with a 18K Mr Cool and the thing will cool it down in 10 minutes. Also, very easy to install and so quiet you can't hear it when working.
I have a Mitsubishi mini-split in my 28 X 20 garage with 8 1/2 foot ceilings. I'm in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I've had it for almost 10 years. It has been great. No problems whatsoever. Recommend the brand. Good luck.
I have an electrician here tomorrow to change a panel and pull a line for a 2-zone minisplit. I will finally have a nice cool shop. The office is a side-bonus, but will also pick up the tab.
I've been looking at installing a mini split in my shop for a little while. Right now I'm looking at the Perfect Aire diy units, a bit harder to find but lower cost.
I need heat as well as ac from my unit.
Some are AC only. Just make sure yours also does heat. I was more interested in heat than AC from mine.
I'm also in Central Texas, have a 20 x 20 insulated shop with 8' 6" ceiling and casting another vote for Mitsubishi. They were one of the early innovators of the mini-split system and are well-built dependable units. The operating options on mine are cool, heat and dehumidify. As others have said, dust control is recommended.
I just install a Dyakin 2 ton mini split on my 600 sq ft shop. I had a 1.5 ton for 2 years and had to replace it. The biggest problem is dust there is no real filter in mini splits so I built a box above mine that can hold 3 16x20 ac filters. So far very pleased It also helps filter the Air in the shop
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