Ductless Guide - Ductless Air Conditioners, Mini Split, Window Units - Group: Installation

Shawn Mack on Installation Position of an Indoor Mini Split Air Conditioner

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:10:43 -0700

Installation position for a ductless mini split is important buy not mandatory. Off course, height is the most important factor when considering the performance of your air conditioner. Ductless mini split air conditioners should be installed 4-10 inches from the ceiling. This lets the cool air flow outwards through the risen warm air and descend towards the floor. I have had people ask if it is alright to install the indoor evaporator air conditioner lower down the wall? Yes, you can install them anywhere, but the best performance will be obtained with a higher install. Below are a few other factors to consider when installing your ductless mini split air conditioner.

To be installed at the position where the air delivered from the unit can reach every corner of the room
To avoid being affected by the outdoor air
To avoid too much oil, smoke or steam
To avoid where acid solutions are frequently used
Not to install on top of musical instruments, TV’s, computers or valuable appliances
Not to install near fire alarming devices (the warm air from the unit could erroneously trigger alarms)

Shawn Mack on Saving Money on Mini Split Installations

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:07:19 -0700

“If you have any technical ability and some extra time, you can complete most of the installation of the mini split air conditioner yourself.”

Air conditioning installations can be expensive, but there are a few things you can do to help save money. First, I would make sure you shop around for a brand of ductless mini split air conditioner that fits your budget. When shopping always contact the seller to make sure adequate technical support is available for the product being sold. There are many different brands of mini split air conditioners. Make sure warranties are available for the air conditioner you purchase. Most warranties should be approximately five years on the compressor and one year for parts and labor. If you are purchasing a wall mounted mini split online make sure the seller uses trucking companies for delivery. Companies like UPS, FedEx and DHL are well known for their destructive habits delivering heavy and awkward sized equipment. Truck-line companies deliver everything on pallets and you must be home at arrival to inspect the equipment. If you have a residential address shipping companies will require a lift gate to lower the pallet to the ground. Lift gate service is usually an additional fee approximately $30.00. Finding a commercial address will save you that additional expense. It is always good to open the boxes at the time of delivery to make sure nothing is damaged. If products are damaged, the truck line will take responsibility for returns. If you wait three weeks to open your mini split boxes, they could have been damaged during shipment with no recourse. If you have any technical ability and some extra time, you can complete most of the installation of the mini split air conditioner yourself. Many people choose to let the professional HVAC installer handle the whole job, but most of the mini split installation cost is labor intensive. First thing I would do is to locate a place you would like to hang the indoor evaporator. The installation manual will be supplied with the equipment. Evaporators should be hung approximately 10” from the ceiling. Next, I would remove all of the equipment from its packaging and check that everything was shipped properly and nothing is missing. There is nothing worse than having the installer show up and a main component is missing for the installation. More time, more money. Follow the directions to properly mount the metal bracket that holds the indoor evaporator. You will need to drill a hole through the wall to fit the refrigerant line set, wiring and condensation tube. Usually, it will take a 3” hole, but check with the installation instructions. Make sure you are not drilling through a stud or other electrical wiring, or you may make a shocking discovery! Find a hard flat surface outside to place the condenser. Try to keep the outdoor condenser near the position where you will install the indoor evaporator. The longer the distance between the two will add refrigerant, line set and wiring costs. A concrete slab or plastic air conditioner pad is ideal for the condenser. Make sure the area is level and place the condenser on the chosen area. If you have the wiring and refrigerant line set you can run them through the wall. Fill the hole you made for the line set and wiring with some socks or insulation until final charging takes place. The outdoor condenser will need power so make sure an electrical disconnect is located next to the condenser. At this point I would call your certified HVAC installer to come vacuum the line sets and charge your mini split air conditioner to the proper pressures. When the HVAC installer finishes charging the system you can fill the 3” hole around the line set and wiring with silicone to prevent moisture within the wall. By completing these few easy steps you can save yourself hundreds of dollars in basic labor costs. I hope this article can save you money on your mini split installation. Your comments and installation stories are always welcome.

Shawn Mack on Easily Hide Your Mini Split Line Set

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:30:05 -0700

For years I have looked to find a product that can easily and cost effectively hide the refrigerant line sets of a wall mounted split system. I found a company that distributes the SlimDuct Line Set Ducting System. It seems like such an easy fix, but it has been very difficult to find products like these. With all of the wiring, condensation tube and line sets coming through the exterior of the wall, the SlimDuct Ducting System seems the best way to maintain the ascetic appeal of your home. SlimDuct products encase the unsightly items for added UV resistance, fire resistance, abnormal weather and hungry living critters. Standard colors include ivory, white and brown but I went all out and painted my line set covers the same color as my house. The basic pieces needed to finish off my mini split installation were a 78” length SlimDuct cover, a 90° wall inlet and a 90° end outlet. Not bad. SlimDuct also offers 45° fittings, couplers for joining two or more of the 78” straight lengths and a variety of other pieces to get around windows and corners of your home. There are three different dimensions of piping that can be ordered from SlimDuct. 1. SD-77: 3” x 2 ½” 2. SD-100: 4” x 2 ¾” 3. SD-140: 5 ½” x 3” When I spoke to SlimDuct they told me that the SD-77 was sufficient for a standard mini split installation that uses a 3/8” x 5/8” line set, ¾” drain hose and 14 gauge wiring. They were right. The SlimDuct components were easy to cut to size and now look great on the exterior of my home.

Shawn Mack on Another Test Article

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:11:53 -0700

test reply

Shawn Mack on Another Test Article

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:20:56 -0700

Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source. Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..", comes from a line in section 1.10.32. The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.