⭐Della Mini Split - amzn.to/3A4Oaf1 -----> Also note... I am not an HVAC technician or electrician... this video is just a guy installing an AC unit in his garage so take on this project at your own risk.
You did an excellent job, and I definitely like your thorough run-through. Please send me a link to your knives I can only imagine how well they are put together or built
I own a duplex and wanted mini-splits installed. I received an estimate from the local big box store for $27k. So I did like you bought everything I needed for both apartments and did it myself. Between the two systems there are two outdoor units and five indoor units. I installed it for about $7k including an electrician and HVAC guy to charge the system. Best money I've ever spent.
Great job… And a lot of people wonder why people are forced to do DIY…. with prices like that $27,000 who the hell can afford that? Not me!! good job my friend
Dude I love how you put some of the pitfalls you had. Example: you mentioned new skills you’ve gained, new tools instead of hiring out, never complaining and looking at each issue as an opportunity. I feel the same way and hope that others see that every issue is an opportunity to learn something new.
I’ve been a maintenance engineer specializing in everything from plumbing, electrical to HVAC for over 30 years, I ran across your video because I’m looking into getting one of these Della systems. Just wanted to say you did an exceptional job with your install, explanations and this video in general. Well done sir. I’ll offer 2 bonus tips for your viewers. 1) Amazon pushes the “Nylog Blue” stuff, most professional HVAC and Refrigeration system techs actually use a product called “Leak Lock” instead. It works much better and runs about half the cost. 2) No need to buy gauges and a vacuum pump, just about any auto parts store will loan you both for no charge, just pay a deposit, get all your deposit money back when you return the equipment. You may need to buy a small adapter to connect your gauges to some AC systems.
There are a number of criticisms from electricians and wanna-be-electricians about the electrical work you did. These are the same guys who go home and do plumbing with no training. We all do stuff that may not be perfect, but which works just as well. I like your video. Keep up the good work.
Will fail inspection and then void the warranty, then home insurance won't cover losses and neighbor will civil suit you and take your home . Do not listen to youtubers
Looks like a pretty good install. Though one issue, NM wire (AKA Romex) isn't supposed to be used in wet locations, even if it's in conduit. You will need to use THHN or UF.
Your attention to detail and perseverance to perfect each step before proceeding are lessons our younger generation sorely need. Thanks for setting a model for work ethic!
wow that's a very clean install. Good job. You also got some new tools, increased the value of your shop, and some learned some new skills along the way. I say that is a massive win that's for sure worth all your cost.
I loved the reasoning and quote about buying tools and adding to the arsenal. I'm a DIY guy raised by a father who refused to pay someone to do something he could... or couldn't do. It's usually cheaper to buy the tools and do it 2 times and come away with experience and knowledge, than pay someone else
Very well done. I really loved how you covered the problems you encountered, your clear logical troubleshooting, and working through the issues to delivery a nice clean install. Nice work!
Thank you for a simple, straightforward instructional video for installing air conditioning. Makes the subject not scary, approachable for regular people.
I watched the guys (HVAC pros} install my two mini split units and was glad I did. Not really a do it yourself Saturday afternoon project for me, but hats off to you guys for doing it yourself. If I did it myself there would have been a lot of parts and bad words flying around the back yard.
Looks good! If you hadn’t done the vacuum yourself, the tech would have charged you for troubleshooting and repair on the leak also. Much better to DIY if you have the ability!
Good detail. Subscribed. Engineer here. Why did I subscribe? You described WHY you did things. When the pressure hold falled you described HOW you figured out where it was and WHY you fixed it that way. Videos that show successful install of things are a dollar a dozen. Real people solving real probelms and showing how and why they did what they did... that's golden, bruv.
You want to seat the flare to the fitting and hold it thier. Then slide the nut down and tighten as far as you can, this insures 100% that the flare is on properly. Grabing it by the nut and screwing it on is a 50/50 chance you might have a leak in the future. Other than that great job.
Outstandingly explained. Back in the Old Continent it is extremely disencouraged to DIY an air conditioning system, but I'm committed to do it as soon as my bucket list allows. Thanks for the explanation and for showing that it is indeed very doable. You got yourself a new subscriber
I put in a MRCOOL unit in my shop. No real problems with doing it and it cools my 30X24 foot shop. One thing I did was the drain line for the inside unit is a flexible line like a vacuum cleaner hose. I had seen an article about one guy who expanding foam partly pinched the drain causing water to back up inside occasionally. I ran the hose through 3X4 pvc. It looks good and real protects the drain.
Nice work; thanks! As others have said, I love how you included some of the installation hiccups and how you worked around them. My only note (in addition to the wire type already covered) is that you could have skipped the safety cutoff box on the outside. Code requires it, to be sure, but installing it directly behind the unit violates code anyway, and putting a locking nut on it makes it useless anyway. That thing only exists to let someone quickly kill the power if there's an electrical fire at the unit (so, no point in having it locked and located immediately behind the theoretical fire!). At the end of the day what you did is safe by any reasonable standards, since your interior breaker is so easily accessible. Just make sure (as I'm sure you did) that the interior breaker is clearly labeled for the next homeowner or the neighbor/firefighter who shows up to take care of any fire that might happen while you're gone. Again; nice work!
Very informative! Just a note: when torquing with a crowfoot wrench it needs to be at 90 degrees and not straight up. I am looking at installing 2 units in two different structures, so your video is very helpful. Thank you!
Either way - it’s the same. It’s a twisting force onto the crows foot wrench, and the length of the wrench doesn’t change (straight or 90 degrees), so the torque applied - which is really applied to the point where the crows foot wrench attaches to the torque wrench - doesn’t change.
Kudos to you for taking this project on on your own. I can't tell you how much I've learned watching videos lkie yours on RU-vid and it's given me the courage to do projects on my own and has saved me a lot of money. Thanks so much!!
That's gotta be nice. I know it's been rough working outside here in houston. Since all my tools are basically under the carport in the driveway, I've been sweating it out for the past few month. Let's just say, I can't wait for it to start cooling down soon.
I enjoyed watching your video. I’m 62 and have been doing construction work my whole adult life. I wish more of these so called “professional refrigeration mechanics” would slow down and do a quality job like you did. I’ve done a good bit of AC work myself. I also build knives. I was trained by a professional knife maker by the name of Dan Harrison. I’m located in East Texas near Tyler.
I really appreciate that your install didn't go as smoothly as some of the others featured here it's good to know how to solve the common problems that may come up you may be over torquing the fittings though? If I remember correctly you're supposed to use the attachment at a right angle so you're not adding leverage there for more torque
Oh brother from 90 plus in there to 78??? You are livin' LARGE!! I just bought one. Living off grid in an RV while I build my house and in June my stock RV a/c can't get it below 84. I'll be tickled to death if I can pull it to 78,!! Great install and you saved a ton of money doing it yourself!! Great video!! Stay cool!!!!
Compliments on the install, looks pretty good. The good about these install videos is it helps people thinking of tackling a project like this to think twice. There were some important steps missed, but for the most part, it was done right and your costs reflect that. However, you are dollars away from having a professional install the system. The key element is an HVAC contractor would have used a brand-name unit and warranty the installation. God help you if the system stops working. Ductless mini splits are a bear to work on, troubleshoot, and get parts. The biggest suggestion I would make for someone tackling this project is to spend a few extra dollars and get a micron gauge and buy a small tube of leak lock for the flare fittings. Lubricating flare fittings is essential to get the proper torque values in an air conditioning system.
I Agree did a great instal however I would've saved myself a lot of $$ and got a good window ac unit for a fraction of the hassle and cost. Not too mention a simple swap out if it fails 6-10 years down the road. Make a sleeve for it. 10,000 btu LG for 350$ easily cool that area.
and what Mr. @intonduck1677 do you think my 8 year warranty is on the "no name" unit I put in. That's right. 8 year parts and 8 year compressor. So why did you say people needed to get a brand name mini-split? And I'm a Christian so God will help me anyway! 🙂
Sometimes you can replace the fat single pole breakers with thin ones that take up half the space, to make room for another 240v double pole breaker in your panel
Been thinking of getting a mini-split for 2-3 years and the other RU-vid vids made it look too easy to install. What I liked about your vid is that you encountered problems and how to fix them. Great install and appreciate you sharing. Q: How did the heat pump work in the winter?
I installed a Mr. Cool DIY last year, and recommend it. It's more expensive than others, but it comes with a warranty for self-installs, which is why I went that route (a non-Mr Cool unit gets extremely expensive if it fails since there's no warranty). It's pretty straightforward to install.
First mini split DIY video i've seen where you had to troubleshoot it not holding a vacuum. Thank you for that! Getting ready to install one of these and want to know what to do if it doesn't go as perfectly as it does on RU-vid. Because we all know it never goes as smoothly as it we'd like.
Awesome job, and great video style - straight to the point. I just installed an 18k mr Cool system w/ ceiling cassette and couldn’t be happier. I ordered a 16’ foot line set in addition to the 25’ line set that came with the kit, because like you - I wanted a cleaner looking install without all the extra line set looped behind the condenser. One small point, and not a criticism.. by code, NM (brand name romex) should not be inside conduit. THNN inside conduit to your disconnect is required. Also, impressed with your tenacity to chase down the leak and your job flaring the lines. Well done.
Thanks for the tip on the electrical; I tried my best to do it "right" but fell a little short from what I understand. Seems to all be working well, so I don't plan on taking it apart. I had an electrician come and look it over a few weeks after this and he seemed to think everything was fine. Cheers sir; glad your install went well!
Back in 2000 I needed one of these for my bi=level home. AC companies never heard of these meanwhile they are everywhere in Mexico. Good stuff! Thanks for the video.
Excellent tutorial! There were a number of helpful techniques demonstrated. Performance seems reasonable to me; it's tough to cool a garage down when it's in the 90s outside. I hope your insulation, including above the ceiling, is in good shape.
Your allergies to the traditional air conditioning unit is likely the dust and dirt that collect inside the ductwork and on the inside coil and filter. That same dust and dirt can collect in the mini-split but not as much as in the traditional long-run ductwork. Proper cleaning can usually take care of any allergy issues and both system types.
Switched to mini-split last year and love it. Only problem was routing hoses. Our installer described installation for the quote, but then routed completely different. Had to have them re-do one section outside (which they'd inexplicably wrapped AROUND our electric utility meter!!??). The line they ran UNDER the deck - which is now inaccessible - was supposed to go into the foundation and route through the basement, where it could have been easily serviced if there's ever a problem. Finally, had to have them DETACH the unit from the outside wall and mount it on a stand off the ground, as it vibrated the living sh!t out of the back of our house. Operation and power savings are both excellent. Just keep an eye on your installer, if you decide to go that route.
Nice job. I would always put white electrical tape around a red wire that was actually neutral at the connections, and green tape on a non green wire that was ground. Also, it's not negative 30 psi; it's 30 inches w.c., and using compound gages to measure vacuum is kind of like doing surgery with a butter knife. You're much better off with a micron gage on the other port.. 410a hates moisture, so only a micron gage tells you the depth of your vacuum. (I'd also have painted that plywood but I'm anal that way.)
For those curious, 28 inches is one PSI; so 30 (its not 30, it just looks like that) is about 1 psi. That's about 20,000 microns. (29 inches w.c.) That's not too hard. 410 wants 500 microns, so you need a finer measurement. To go from 29 in wc, to 29.9 in wc, is going from 20,000 to 150. That's doable but harder. But you need a finer measuring tool to see that depth: a micron gage.
@@redbeardengineered Here is something that I noticed at the outset, and should have mentioned: HVAC tech or not, that installation is as good as any HVAC guy; as good as I would do easily. I might have a more critical eye around the edges as an HVAC guy, but that work is absolutely top shelf work; work you should be proud of. From even an HVAC guy.
@@raindogs451you might want to double-check your terminology. Vacuum is not measured in PSI. It is measured in inches of mercury (HG" or inHG). Water column (wc) can be used but the reference on the low pressure gauge of the manifold set is 29.92 HG" (inches of Mercury) and just rounded to 30. The equivalent water column would be approximately 33 feet.
Yours is the best tutorial I've seen yet. I've purchased my unit already as well as the vac pump and gauges so perfect timing. I'm a bit hesitant but your including the inevitable backsteps in any project boosts my confidence. I'm pretty good at diy and enjoy it too so here goes. You did a nice job there, video as well. Thanks, subbed :)
As a retired HVAC/R mechanic (35+years), I think you did an outstanding job. Good eye on the cracked flare nut! 12,000 btu's may not be enough for the garage, especially if you have a high ceiling. However, that depends on YOUR comfort level! 👍👍
Thank you greatly sir! Means a lot coming from a pro! I will say that I probably should have upsized the unit, but it's very livable for me working in the shop.
@@Stevenowskican someone correct me if I am wrong here? This unit has an inverter driven pump, meaning it can speed up and slow down to meet load. Though there usually is a minimum speed.
Thanks for you doing this video. I have done AC work before but with a friend of mine who died a few years ago. Having his input on things is greatly missed in my life but your video was like him explaining to me what to do. You have a great teaching style and I wish you the best on your channel. I am an old broken bodied mechanic who can do just about anything mentally but physically...not so much! I hope that my son in law and I can do as great a job as you did. I will be mounting the outside unit on the ground to minimize noise in the garage. Thanks again!
Here in Armenia a 12,000 btu a/c which also works as a heater in the winter costs about $400 installed. We had 2 Electrolux units installed recently. One in our bedroom and the other in the kitchen.
HVAC pros are shaking in their boots. Keep it up. I suggest a nitrogen rental from a welding supply, super cheap. Pressure test to it's working pressure or something close then vacuum test. Also recommend a micron gauge as the units usually spec that.
Electrical not done correctly. Romex cannot be run outside in conduit as it is a damp/wet location and romex is rated for dry location. The flexible conduit does not have the correct fittings... the disconnect cannot be mounted above the unit... must maintain front and side clearances. The code also requires a GFCI service receptacle within 25ft of the disconnect.
Very good installation and explanations, it turned out very well for what you needed. Can I add something?: I am picky about noise and vibrations, so I would put a base of rubber/rubber strips between the wall and the universal bracket of the external compressor unit, so that at some point they would be generated, there would be no discomfort from vibrations being transmitted inwards. Otherwise everything looks great!
Great video. Personally, I melt and my brain shuts down if I have to work in a shop over 70F. To fulfill a contract requirement, I spent a month in Dallas in August one year. The temp at 5am was 97F. Forget that crap. I couldn't handle it. Good for you for having a cooler shop to work in.
Best video for an install on this unit out there. Thank you for taking the time to do this. Going to install mine after the drywall is completed in the shed I turned into a photo studio for my wife. It’s 200sq ft and r-19 insulation throughout so this should work perfect
Its almost 100 here in S Oregon. Got the mini split turned way down and its almost too cold in my little house. It is a replacement for the 12000 watt electric furnace that was previously used. I have 2 air handlers to cool the entire house. Best money I ever spent.
I don't mean to brag and I don't mean to boast. But I have installed hundreds more of these than you. Respectfully And I have. Only one thing to say. Will you custom build me a knife? Because of your craftsmanship. For the first time, project is as good as this. Then I can't imagine what your knives look like. Trust me, I would lie and say this is one of my installs, LOL. Nice job
Lol, thank you! Here is an example of a knife I've made! I'm not currently taking custom orders though - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-g19hDroWuDY.html
I'm glad to see you didn't put the sealant on the threads - only on the face of your connections. You would have had to adjust torque settings down about 25% to account for the lessened friction if you had. You do need to have that crowfoot at a 90-degree angle to the torque wrench so the distance from the socket to the handle doesn't change. You did over torque those a bit with the adapter in line with the wrench, but it doesn't seem to have caused an issue. Nice job!
Wow, very thorough video! I have a 5 zone mitsu minisplit system and I've found its most efficient when I set it and forget it. Big temp swings take the system hours to equalize and deifnitely consume more energy.
Amazing vid. Very descriptive. Only suggestion is to have crows foot at a 90 degree vs straight on to get an accurate torque reading. Straight on makes the whole wrench a little longer which messes with settings unless you do the math.
This is an articulate video. You speak without oh or ahh's. As for the install steps, very well done - good attention to detail. I would refer to your video if I were installing a split-system. Suggestion - some mention of a remote thermostat placement. A small fan near the evaporator will help distribute cooled air around your shop.
I'd also recommend a separate stand alone air filter to help mitigate that head from dusting up. It will no matter what but keep it clean. Don't use soap. Use coil cleaner.
i learn that, rather than level flat the bracket, make bracket a little bit slightly lean to the direction of condensation drain, this trick will save you from sludges.
i think i am gonna go with mr cool 12k btu 1300.00 + tax .. but has a self evacuating system .. and easy to install .. designed for DIY. thanks for the video.. it convinced me that the mr cool system was better suited for me.
5:18 I would dare say to put the unit to the very end for more distance from the wall for better air circulation, now if the unit will not level properly you might have to put some 4 self tapers in the bracket while lifting
I’m about to install a 12k BTU unit for a 240 sq ft space in East Texas. After studying these things for several months it’s clear that the size of BTU is totally subjective to sun exposure, insulation, etc. I’m almost positive that 12k BTU will cool my space at least 20 degrees when it’s 95-105 outside without short cycling…but I will soon see. It’s supposed to be 95 here in a couple days on May 25th. Hot summer ahead.
I have over 20 years of HVAC experience. 90% of contractors and customers underestimate the importance of attic insulation and ventilation. I’m here in East Texas with you. Heat and humidity suck 😂
@@jmccOutdoors There’s a video of a guy in Las Vegas putting in a mini split and complaining they have 35% humidity during their rainy month! lol! I put mine in yesterday and it was 95 degrees and 100% humidity! I changed clothes two times because I was soaked. Anyway the install went fine and it was blowing ice cold air by 5pm. Heaven came to East Texas.
I wish i would have saw this video before installing my mini split. It would have saved me a bunch of frustration. thank you for sharing this. I need to add the flaring kit to my collection,
Just for future reference when you are going into vacuum its called inch pounds. The lowest you can go is 29 inch pounds vacuum. There is a more sensitive tool that measures microns but that is not necessary for this kind of work. I will tell you about leaks faster but again not necessary.
(1:30) "It took me a while to find the appropriate hole height ..." You could have used a long 3/16 inch diameter aircraft drill bit to drill a small reference hole all the way through the wall, then measured vertically and horizontally from there to cut the bigger hole for the electrical conduit/cable. Plugging and repainting a 3/16 inch hole would have been cinch.
I liked your show, you must be a relative I am Scott/Irish. I had a great head of red hair. I got to find this AC System. I can use firewood in the winter and stay warm.
When you get solar they will install a very large breaker box. My breaker box has room for 40 circuit breakers. I have 9 unused circuit breaker slots and yes, I do have a swimming pool.
Hi… great video very well done. Just a heads up, The unit draws a max of about 12 amps and recommends a max 15 amp circuit breaker. you risk overheating with a 20 amp breaker
Have not installed one of these Della units but hope you checked the equipment's minimum line set length before cutting off the 'excess'. A lot come with the proper amount of refrigerant for that line length and cutting it short can cause issues. I couldn't tell how much you actually removed, maybe not enough to matter but I would verify just in case.
Very Nice Video I love how you showed all the good and the bad parts to help one solve the issues you had. (Like things to look at preventing others from making similar mistakes.) Thanks again!
I have a hard time hanging a picture lol but nevertheless that was a badass video. Unbelievable how detailed you are and how professional the entire project is. New subscriber here
