installing mini split

jayjay777

jayjay777

Well-Known Member
I'm going to be moving and expanding my grow towards the end of the year from 4-6 lights to 10-12.

obviously my new location will need an electrical upgrade and mini split,

I'm fine to do the electrical myself, and I also believed I could install the Mini Split as well. I went to school for engineering and work in quality control.

but I spoke too two different professional HVAC techs who are trying to ensure me thatthey should be installing the Mini Split, or at least preforming leak tests and securing connections.

the one gentleman went on to speak of settline torch connections are needed and nitro tank and digital pressure meter to test.

is this guy trying to sell me his service?

is all that really necessary?
 
Banana444

Banana444

Well-Known Member
You do need the right tools and such to ensure your hvac system is properly installed. That said, if you can find one of those diy books they sell for hvac that covers mini split installs, in sure you could figure it out. Maybe watch a few youtube videos. Im sure the guy is trying to sell his services, thats what they do, and when you pay them to install, they take on the liability it will be installed properly. It is very important to have those line connections done properly and test for any leaks because if there is a leak, there goes all your coolant in your system and you will have to have it refilled. My old central ac unit had a leak and now it has no coolant and the coolant is that super expensive r22? I think. Wohld be something like 800$ to refill so im biding time to buy a new system with less exspensive coolant.
 
chuck estevez

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
you CAN do it yourself, A lot of these units come with a install kit, the ends are flare fitted and just screw on, or have quick connects. You can do a poor man's purge on the lines, or go to harbor freight and buy a vacuum pump/gauges. If you don't have to add any length to the copper, you're good to go, the freon charge is already factory done for the length it comes with.
if you have to add length to the copper lineset, then you may need a hvac guy to weld them together and adjust charge for added length.
 
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patrickkawi37

Well-Known Member
jayjay777 said:
I'm going to be moving and expanding my grow towards the end of the year from 4-6 lights to 10-12.

obviously my new location will need an electrical upgrade and mini split,

I'm fine to do the electrical myself, and I also believed I could install the Mini Split as well. I went to school for engineering and work in quality control.

but I spoke too two different professional HVAC techs who are trying to ensure me thatthey should be installing the Mini Split, or at least preforming leak tests and securing connections.

the one gentleman went on to speak of settline torch connections are needed and nitro tank and digital pressure meter to test.

is this guy trying to sell me his service?

is all that really necessary?
Click to expand...
If you are not hvac certified I believe you void your warrantee setting it up yourself . The dude I got mine from said 30% of growers fuck the Ac up by doing it themselves.. I guess when they add lines there will be a flake or some shit in the line and they don't vacuum the lines.. The flake clogs the tiny Ass hole at the end of the compressor and that's a wrap on the unit . Better to hire someone to do it right the first time
 
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patrickkawi37

Well-Known Member
chuck estevez said:
funny, 2 people recommend hiring a pro, and ME, a hvac contractor for over 20 yrs, says ,do it yourself,lol
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What is a couple hundred bucks vs potentially fucking it up and having them not take it back? When I got my acs from aura I had serious issues.. When I called aura they made me send them a picture of a receipt showing the company name and signature of the people who installed it. They would not send someone out to fix it until I showed them this. So in the small percentage of change that you could fuck it up.. I suggest hiring a professional .
 
Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
Unless it is a DIY ideal air, no other company that I know of covers warranty if you install it yourself.
The diy ideal are expensive and look pretty dumb when you have 20 ft of extra line set just sitting outside.

Personally, I paid someone to install all mine. It was much cheaper
 
Merkin Donor

Merkin Donor

Well-Known Member
Patrick and Carolina are correct. HVAC is really not the place to DIY it, too many things to go wrong. The "poor man's purge" is just guaranteed to cost you a crap load of money in the long run.
 
chuck estevez

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
Ok, Guess I'll just take My HVAC contractors license and let these guys pay a unnecessary fortune because some ac guy scared them into spending money on them. Guess what, you need a new furnace to, you got a cracked heat exchanger and it could kill you,lol the guy is an engineer, not some stoner
 
Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
chuck estevez said:
Ok, Guess I'll just take My HVAC contractors license and let these guys pay a unnecessary fortune because some ac guy scared them into spending money on them. Guess what, you need a new furnace to, you got a cracked heat exchanger and it could kill you,lol the guy is an engineer, not some stoner
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Dude it has nothing about being able to do it yourself or not. Without a certified hvac technician to install you void the warranty. It's that simple. They are gonna ask for that infortmation when it fucks up, and when u say "nah I did it myself" they won't do anything for you.
 
Merkin Donor

Merkin Donor

Well-Known Member
chuck estevez said:
Ok, Guess I'll just take My HVAC contractors license and let these guys pay a unnecessary fortune because some ac guy scared them into spending money on them. Guess what, you need a new furnace to, you got a cracked heat exchanger and it could kill you,lol the guy is an engineer, not some stoner
Click to expand...
Your post makes no sense. The OP asked for advice and he got it, some good some bad. As an HVAC contractor myself I find it hard to believe you would recommend someone do a half-assed install. But then again half assed HVAC work done by "licensed HVAC contractors" keeps me busy so who am I to complain.
 
jayjay777

jayjay777

Well-Known Member
I can flare copper and do connections, it's the leak test that bothers me, but I know I'm capable. Also, I wasn't aware you had to add anything else besides line when adding extension kit.

it's not about the money, or warranty, its about keeping my grow a secret.

I was thinking I could just mount unit inside, run wire outside and he could finish it up out there, But I'm sure that would be very suspicious as well.

I'd rather do it myself, its going from basement wall to ground level, no extension kit required. And with all my engineering credits n 10 years QC I'm very comfortable.

So my question is only the leak test.

I flare my connections, use some nylog, then when I evacuate the system, won't the pressure gages that come with installation allow me to test for leak?

(Dont see why I must cycle gas through it)

Leave it around say, -30 for 24 hours, check to make sure pressures consistent next day, if so, I'm done right?
 
chuck estevez

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
Merkin Donor said:
Your post makes no sense. The OP asked for advice and he got it, some good some bad. As an HVAC contractor myself I find it hard to believe you would recommend someone do a half-assed install. But then again half assed HVAC work done by "licensed HVAC contractors" keeps me busy so who am I to complain.
Click to expand...
we are talking about a grow room, not his office, He may not want a QUALIFIED HVAC guy, he may not give a fuck about a warranty, GET IT?
 
chuck estevez

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
jayjay777 said:
I can flare copper and do connections, it's the leak test that bothers me, but I know I'm capable. Also, I wasn't aware you had to add anything else besides line when adding extension kit.

it's not about the money, or warranty, its about keeping my grow a secret.

I was thinking I could just mount unit inside, run wire outside and he could finish it up out there, But I'm sure that would be very suspicious as well.

I'd rather do it myself, its going from basement wall to ground level, no extension kit required. And with all my engineering credits n 10 years QC I'm very comfortable.

So my question is only the leak test.

I flare my connections, use some nylog, then when I evacuate the system, won't the pressure gages that come with installation allow me to test for leak?

(Dont see why I must cycle gas through it)

Leave it around say, -30 for 24 hours, check to make sure pressures consistent next day, if so, I'm done right?
Click to expand...
you will need to go and buy some gauges and a vacuum pump, harbor freight sells them both, no tape on threads of flare, the copper should come with flares done already, just screw them on tight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=vacuum pump
 
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Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
jayjay777 said:
I can flare copper and do connections, it's the leak test that bothers me, but I know I'm capable. Also, I wasn't aware you had to add anything else besides line when adding extension kit.

it's not about the money, or warranty, its about keeping my grow a secret.

I was thinking I could just mount unit inside, run wire outside and he could finish it up out there, But I'm sure that would be very suspicious as well.

I'd rather do it myself, its going from basement wall to ground level, no extension kit required. And with all my engineering credits n 10 years QC I'm very comfortable.

So my question is only the leak test.

I flare my connections, use some nylog, then when I evacuate the system, won't the pressure gages that come with installation allow me to test for leak?

(Dont see why I must cycle gas through it)

Leave it around say, -30 for 24 hours, check to make sure pressures consistent next day, if so, I'm done right?
Click to expand...
If you insist doing it your self look into ideal air. It is the ONLY company that has a diy unit that keeps its warranty. You need 2 wrenches to connect lineset. They are precharged with 25 feet of lineset. You cannot trim the lineset down though. Any excess just must b dealt with.
 
Carolina Dream'n

Carolina Dream'n

Well-Known Member
chuck estevez said:
we are talking about a grow room, not his office, He may not want a QUALIFIED HVAC guy, he may not give a fuck about a warranty, GET IT?
Click to expand...
The grow room is the only place I do worry about warranties. What you gonna do when that thing breaks down? If you don't void warranty, the company will help you. If you do void the warranty, your SOL... Having an ac go down mid cycle with no cash to fix and no warranty to cover...great advice.
 
chuck estevez

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
Carolina Dream'n said:
The grow room is the only place I do worry about warranties. What you gonna do when that thing breaks down? If you don't void warranty, the company will help you. If you do void the warranty, your SOL... Having an ac go down mid cycle with no cash to fix and no warranty to cover.
Click to expand...
as you can see, He is trying to stay discreet, you can't always do things by the book when it comes to a grow.
 
chuck estevez

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
Merkin Donor said:
Your post makes no sense. The OP asked for advice and he got it, some good some bad. As an HVAC contractor myself I find it hard to believe you would recommend someone do a half-assed install. But then again half assed HVAC work done by "licensed HVAC contractors" keeps me busy so who am I to complain.
Click to expand...
looks like my post makes the MOST sense in this situation. So get back to work fixing shit for someone else buddy.
 
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patrickkawi37

Well-Known Member
If you don't have an Ac guy in your circle.. It's time to get one.. Like Carolina said.. what if your mini split shits out half way through the run, and you need it fixed. Might as well just buy a new one because they aren't going to replace it..
If your going to be a grower.. Your going to need people's help, trimmers , contractors whatever it may be.
 
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