DREAM SHOP Gets a Serious Upgrade! (How Hard can HVAC be??) 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! Take $10 off in stock Hoodies at the mech store now with the code "DCHOODIE"

Be sure to clean the filters regularly, if you don't the dust will actually clog the blades up to the point where the fan will get clogged and the units rather loud.

I think what people overlook with these units is that they not only function as an AC and heat pump but as a dehumidifier as well. This makes a world of difference on the internal climate and moisture on tools and wood. You will love these units!

Just a few words of wisdom from a guy that has been there, done that. The 7 year warranty turns to "0" if you do not have a certified installer turn the system and submit the warranty card. I installed my first one myself and in less than a year the "mother board" went out and the cost to replace it was more than I paid for the entire unit. READ THE FINE PRINT!

One suggestion put a bit of steel wool in the lineset hole in the wall and seal it with some caulking. I’ve seen mice climb the lineset and make a nest inside the indoor unit. I know this because I had to replace the customers unit as they chewed up wires and destroyed the unit. 36+ years in the hvac trade you did a clean install. Happy thanksgiving.

Why install such an "untidy" slab. Use some more Unistrut and hang the condenser unit up and out of the way on the wall. Yes it's heavy so run the Unistrut over 3 or 4 fixing points to spread the load.

Almost every home has one of these here in Norway. Here is an advice: You need to mount the outdoor unit minimum 50cm above ground. In the winter the outdoor unit produces condensation that will build up as ice all around your unit. It WILL be damaged.

Just knocking 5° and 10-20% humidity off in the summer makes a huge difference. Its really important if you want to keep old machining tools, projects, and even your building last longer

It's a bonus episode !! Thanks Matt, just make sure where the new unit is outside you don't clatter it with one of the machines !! better still put some metal protective guards around it for protection. AS ALWAYS great viewing and look forward to this weekends episode...

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Thank you Matt for this awesome surprise!

Another advantage to your uni-strut excess being above the head unit is you can use that area to fabricate a cover/ shield about 8-10 inches above the top of it to help keep dust, exhaust soot and anything else from collecting on the top of the surface. This won’t prevent the filters from needing to be cleaned now n then, but helps considerably. Did it in my shop after I saw how much sawdust got up there.

You should make a return plenum box on top of the units that will allow you to insert a standard size HVAC paper filter to help keep the internals clean. The filter provided with the unit isn't really rated for the dusty environment of a shop. Thanks for taking us along on your journeys!

Hey Matt, I have these in my shop. Make sure you keep the filters clean. I clean them often and that keeps them working awesome.

Good choice on the mini splits. I installed a 3 head unit in my house with the purpose of heating and cooling. After 2 years I am very impressed with the results but the biggest lesson I had to learn is to install a surge protector to protect the computer boards. The board that controls the fans and communication modules was very sensitive in my units and burned out during a summer brownout. Good luck with the units.

Hopefully we get an update on the power company debacle! I'd be interested in hearing their cost after you provided the trench and conduit

Heat pumps are awesome. I just had three 3.5-ton Mitsubishi units installed at my house (three outdoor heat pumps + three air exchangers; using existing duct system). Here in California, it cost me a small fortune, but they are so nice -- heating, cooling, no issues. On top of that, they're incredibly power efficient.

Nice to hear that you're finally on grid power. I hope everything worked out well in that regard. So can we expect to see your video on the wood boiler install any time in the near future?

That sticky stuff is called butyl. It’s used in the auto and marine industry as a noise dampener, insulator and fire suppression. Great stuff! I used it all the time

I laughed so hard at your Discovery commentary! SO TRUE! Next they'd interview the main character and he'd say, "If I dont get this battery replaced with a fresh one we're not gonna get this A/C installed in time for the winter which means we'll lose everything. (next interview after the commercial break) My great grandad built this shop with his own two hands and I just really dont want to let him down now. We really gotta get this battery replaced or we'll homeless by the end of the week.

5:30 - That look of terror while pulling the first box off the pallet... Also, one suggestion would be to add a fan to move the warmer air above the unit down sooner rather than later... I learned this in my garage with a different heating unit. As the heat rises it will tell the unit the temp has been reached but the lower half is still cool. I put a fan in the garage to move the air and it makes a WORLD of difference.

After you determine what the heat loss character of your building is you may want to have a staging control thermostat, that basically will use the heat pumps first and then transition to the floor heat. Look for units that have 2-3 sensor inputs to cover "zones" of your building. Additionally, everything connects to internet in these days (believe it or not) so you could monitor the building temps from your phone.

Nothing like being comfortable while you work! Good for you Matt

Installed a Tosot 12k unit in my wife's 16 X 10 greenhouse, primary use is the heat function as they have a 'freeze pipe' mode, where it switches to a 46 degree program for keeping the greenhouse (and the citrus trees and plants) above freezing when it falls to 0-10 degrees here in North Texas. The Cool function works fine even though I have about 72 square feet of roof greenhouse windows and it is 102 deg outside. The Tosot unit is half the price of the Mr. Cool. The refrigerant is already pre-charged, but you have to vacuum the lines. The good part about that is you can cut and flare the supplied tubing to length and eliminate any oil pooling in the lines, vacuum it, open the unit valves and start enjoying. I'm looking at installing the same unit in my workshop, they are still about $1K, so saving my pennies. Thanks Matt.

I am a retired HVAC pro, I only saw 2 things not quite right. 1) no disconnect switches at the outdoor units to turn off power for servicing. 2) you should mount the outdoor units on blocks above the pads. When in heating mode, the outdoor unit will freeze and do regular defrost cycles. That water will collect and re-freeze in the bottom of your units, eventually stopping them from working . In your climate and because you should not have any snow load in your lean to, 8 to 10 inch blocks should do fine for drainage, more if snow depth is a factor. DON"T try to undo those refrigerant lines, those fittings are a one time seals. They have self piercing metal seals that are destroyed on installation, so undoing them will require an HVAC technician to pump down the system, re-evacuate the lines before re-using the system. YES, get some ceiling fans for heating season, it will save a lot on heating, both for the heat pumps and your boiler use. Will be 85 to 90 in the rafters... P.S. WHY didn't you use your scissor lift!!!! would have been much easier to place the indoor units 😜

I'm always amazed at how you manage to do these projects by yourself.

Good to hear that you are on the grid. Hopefully you got a better install fee than $52k. I'm impressed with those HVAC units especially that they are DIY. Pretty slick, and more impressed that they areso quiet and able to warn up such a large shop. A nice back up for sure, now you need to get a huge auxillary generator ( one of those military units?) hooked up on a standby circuit in case of a power outage.

Excellent choice with mini splits. You need to run a heated condensate drain or lift the outdoor units' up from the pad. Otherwise in winter the pad turns into a solid block of ice which eventually will be thick enough to stop the fan and possibly crack the coil.

putting the camera in the cement mixer drum looking out back at you rotating around was Priceless! LOL!

YAY! What a treat to have Matt live in the comments with us today on this video premier!

I really like when you bring upgrades like this to your shop! Like you, I never thought A/C in a shop that big would be affordable, and the bright lights you installed for your shop are awesome also.

I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS. It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.

I love your comment about the drama of "Reality" tv. Made-up timelines, potential catastrophic failure, what... there are wires in this wall we want to tear down...OH NO! This channel is so refreshing to watch. Problems may arise but Matt just solves them. No insulting built-in drama needed. Keep 'em coming Matt!

Mini splits are honestly amazing. They work extremely well for their price

Happy thanksgiving Matt. HVAC always makes for a good challenge. I must say those Mr Cool units look like the easiest install I've ever seen. Very cool.

Great video as always Matt they are great units glad your shop has some MrCool's I was impressed how quiet they were when i got them as well 36:15 @Diesel Creek

Those are Awesome units Matt my Buddy heats and cools his whole house with those units and he loves them too.

I'm up in Canada, one of the local 8 bay diesel shops here has started using heat pumps. I can't believe how well and cheap they work, even during the -40 days, the shop is still tolerable. Plus they're not burning $7,000 in heating oil each month

Next will be a office inside with a bed inside and a microwave 😂 Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Extremely efficient for change of season heating needs. When the outside temp is not yet terribly cold.

My mom had a Mr Cool system in her small house and it worked great. Amazing how well it worked.

Very long career HVAC tech here: Minisplits are great. Quiet, super efficient, cheap. The biggest downside is they don't last as long as package or central splits. After warranty, they usually aren't worth fixing.

Your timing is perfect! My husband and I want to install a couple of these in our home and watching how you installed them gave us more confidence that we can do it! Shop looks great! Wouldn't mind having something like that myself!

Nice install Matt. You can be proud of your success and yes we've gotten used to the comforts of life. So we are spoiled!!!!!

Build up the Wood fired Boiler for the shop, and the ground heater for backup.

Glad to see mini split heat pumps becoming more popular in the US. They will happily produce heat down to almost 0F and are extremely efficient around and above freezing so you only really need to supplement them in the deepest winter. Pretty much the cheapest heat source here in Europe.

Awesome job getting your upgrades installed and super stoked to hear you're finally on the grid...lots of hard work on your part to get to this point but extremely happy for you... especially since old man winter has arrived there... Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 and as always appreciate you sharing your adventures with us 😎🇺🇸🚜🛠️🛻😇

That Doppler effect in the intro was AWESOME

You need a service disconnect at each unit so you can shut off power for service.

Matt, whatever you’re doing I enjoy watching you. You have a great sense of humor and I enjoy that.

I've been using these in my shops here in Montana for years. They work very well, even when it gets to be 40+ below here in Cut Bank some winters. Happy Thanksgiving to you Matt, Eva and the pooches!

Both MrCool Units looks Great Matt Your going to love them 30:10 @Diesel Creek

That stuff that seals the lines is effectively peel and stick roof patch I use it to seal my trucks from vibration and noise works great

Excellent video Matt. Your dream shop is coming together nicely. Glad to hear that you are finally hooked up to grid power. It was a long time coming. Keep up the great work and I enjoy all your video content no matter what it is. 👍🇨🇦

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving. Thanks, Matt, for a Turkey Day episode!

Matt, I'm a retired Episcopal Priest and not an HVAC guy. However I have worked with HVAC guys a on heating and cooling church buildings. I think if you do not put in ceiling fans your cooking will cost much less. Why... The cool air will fall, the warm air will rise and create a thermocline. You will only have to cool the lower half of the building. With a ceiling fan on you will blend the warm and cool air and end up having to cool the whole air mass of the building. In the winter the fans will push the warm are down which is good.

Awesome job. I have been in the HVAC industry and these are some great units. The manufacturer came up with a great idea making these precharged units affordable for Harry home owner to install. Can’t wait to see your wood boiler in action to keep you toasty warm this winter. All you will need is to install your indoor crane and you should be ready to tackle any project in the comfort of your own shop.

Very nice install! Glad to see you're finally on grid power!

Way to go Matt, congrats on the shop upgrade, next step is your outdoor wood boiler, great job Sir!

This was the best thing I ever did for my shop.

as an HVAC contractor I often shy away from any DIY kit and seldom make repairs to them when they break down. That being said its good to know that these are simple and any average DIYer can do it without certified contractors. 6tons should be enough as well insulated you made your dream shop. Or at least make it comfortable. I am really looking forward to the videos of your floor heat.

Nice work, Matt! The shop is really coming together! Hope you're having a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

Thanks Matt! I've been going back and forth trying to decide if I wanted to put one of these in my garage, so I can use it year round. You made this look simple enough, that I'm going to get one. Have a great holiday and be safe!

If you put a big fan in the middle of your shop it will help keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Best part of Mr Cool you can add units if required.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Have to say this channel is one of the things I'm thankful for.

The Mr Cool units are very nice. I love the pre charged lines. Great engineering. I saw one installed on another channel. Very easy with the DYI kit.

Congratulations! That's awesome! Good that you solve your issues with the electric company.

You could use the extra Space on that Start to make Small Shelves up top to store some Not so needed but Important bits or just some Display unit

Happy Thanksgiving Matt! It's good the hear you are finally hooked up and you'll have a comfortable place to work.

I love to see your excitement on the improvements you make. And its no difference if its some old piece of equipment you get running or something new that you put it. Can't wait to hear the end of the ordeal with the power company.

Great video Matt. It's great to see you finally have heat and ac in your shop!! Thank you for sharing 😀

You should have mounted the outside units on the wall as high as you could using unistrut

I would have mounted the outside condenser up high so it doesnt encroach on your work/storage space. Gives you more room to work and protects it from my clumsy operation of heavy equipment! 😂

I was grinning ear to ear for you Matt ... great video, and a great workshop set-up you've fashioned for yourself!

When I built my 24x30 shop I put a 18k btu Mr. Cool heat pump. Easy install and it works great.

Matt -,Regarding the Utility 1 - 52,000 is a lot of money for a connection. Ask for a detailed list of charges, you are entitled to that document. Point out any perceived over-charges. 2 - If you have a problem, contact your utility consumer advocate or the State advocate. They really do help. 3 - Who is your utility company?

Happy thanksgiving to all the turkey lovers out there. Another great job Matt keep up the great work and stay safe out there.

You did a fine job on the installs of the Mini splits. I am impressed with your mechanical abilities/can do spirit! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

I installed ductless minisplits in my house 5 years ago. Best thing i ever did. Super efficient, whisper quiet, and no more heavy and loud annoying window units. HUGE IMPROVEMENT to the house. Matt, good news is you can add more if they don’t keep up in the heat of the summer. Good luck on your power issues!

HVAC tech and electrician both. Great job!

You know you've hit the big time when you refer to your shop as a "facility"! 😁

Man, that shop is really coming together! Can't wait til you finally get the giant crane installed. Any chance we can get an update on that? Last I recall hearing was last winter or spring, that it wasn't supposed to get moving until summer, which has pretty clearly come and gone by this point.

You did a great job, thanks for having us along!

Hope you put a couple of expansion joints in that outdoor electrical conduit run. 🤔

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your Family Matt. Good to see another video. Love your place, your channel and videos. Thanks and please keep up the good work you do. Congrats on the A/C - can’t beat heat and a/c. 👍👍

Climate controlled shop! Happy to hear you got the power figured out. Happy Thanksgiving 👍😁

Unistrut! I used to work for them selling that stuff, now working at a place sellin Diesel powered Gensets & Lighting towers. All Perkins powered stuff. I swear watching Diesel Creek has come in handy work-wise 😎

I live in the desert and my shop is about 1/3 the size of yours but getting that swamp cooler and insulation to get my internal temperature from 110 to 80 was probably the greatest upgrade i ever did

From the makers of Please Don't Wizz On The Electric Fence comes Don't Drop This. Hours of fun for the whole family. Happy Thanksgiving Matt and Diesel Creek Nation.

Matt, I am SO happy for you!! Now you can work in heated or airconditioned comfort!! Never in my wildest dreams did I think of a/c for your shop. Ceiling fans are definitely needed. I hope you find a great deal on them. Happy Thanksgiving!! Looking forward to your next video!!

Matt,i would like to give you a tip,dig a moat in your patio,so you can easily do maintenance at your heavy machines.

I just installed a Mr Cool on my log cabin this summer and it will freeze you out. I live in Northern New Hampshire and am running the heat now for about the last month works great. I put the 2400 unit in.

Happy Thanksgiving Matt, Eva, Roscoe, Meatball & Penne. Thank You for the content & keep it coming.

Happy Thanksgiving and glad to hear you’re finally on grid power

A very nice installation Matt. We have many similar units for some offices we have on our farms. We put a steel tube framework or a hit and miss fence around the outside units to protect them from accidental damage as they are quite fragile, and its easy to ding them!

It was clever the way that you managed to switch forklifts as you came through the door🙂

I hope Mr Cool sponsored this for you as they have other RU-vidrs I’ve watched. You deserve it. And to the manufacturer Mr Cool: I’m looking at these for my home and shop due to these sponsorships. Perfect for my slab on grade buildings with no attic space or ability to retrofit ducting I honestly would not have had as much brand awareness or known a DIY system was possible without seeing them on channels like this-so your marketing IS working! A viewer from the middle of nowhere Wisconsin.

You need expansion fittings on that pvc conduit. Otherwise they are going to fail from expansion/contraction.

ive got a 50x60x15 shop built in either the late 70s to early 80s thats so so insulated and i put in 3 LG 36k but mini splits for about $3000 a unit since i got them wholesale through a family member that works at a commercial AC company.. DIY installed them all so no real install cost. im an owner op truck driver and me and my dad park our trucks in the shop and work on them so for most park friday-sunday is when the shop is used rest of week sits idle. ACing the shop my power use per day was around 20-30kw/h monday-thursday and 40-70kw/h friday-sunday so far this last summer highest power bill i had for the shop was $180 to keep the shop 65ish...usually fogged up the windows when you drove a vehicle from inside outside being extremely comfortable while working on things is priceless. right now start of winter they are using 60-80kw/h to keep the shop 62. i also have 2 propane ceiling tube heaters and a clean burn 180k btu oil burner so when home we use oil during the week is minisplits and propane. our power company offers a special rate for mini splits of 6.5c per kw/h so that helps. location - south dakota for those that wonder the climate zone.

My then brother in law had the same problem with power that you did back in the 70s. He built in the North woods in Wisconsin and it was very expensive to run the electrical power in. The power company didn't like to run power because most people were just building vacation homes that wouldn't use enough power in 20 years to pay the installation cost. There was another guy who built in the same area so they shared the cost. The way the power company did it was they had to pay the installation cost up front then the power company applied that payment as a credit to their account so they didn't have to pay for power until that credit was used up or a certain number of years passed. I think he said 5 years. They figured out how much electricity they would use in the time they had to use the credit. They had planned to use wood burning boilers with hot water coils in propane furnaces so they had backup heat when they weren't home to feed the boilers. and propane cooking stoves but they bought electric stoves. They put electric heating coils in their gas furnaces and electric heaters in their garages. He said it worked out well because they got time to get their wood boilers set up and installed. He didn't worry about the cost of cooling his house in the summer. Did your power company credit you for the installation cost? If they did, it might be worthwhile to install electric water heaters to heat your floor for a while.