DIY: Ductless Mini Split
Any time you add an addition onto the house, you have to take heating and cooling into account. An additional room means more air for your household heating and cooling unit to treat. If the unit is already at its highest capacity, an addition may require a new and larger unit. But a ductless mini-split heats and cools one room at a time. It is a simple way to heat or cool an addition without adding to the main unit's load. Because the unit has no ducts, it is easier to install than larger HVAC units. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Concrete or stone pad
- Mini spilt condenser
- Condenser cable
- Electrical cable
- Drill with a 2-inch hole-cutting blade
- Nail
- PVC tubing
- 6-inches of wire
- Drywall
- Vent mount
- Vent
- Screwdriver bit
- Caulk gun with caulk
Instructions
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1
Place the pad on the outside of the new room as close to the vent as possible. Trim any bushes or trees around the pad. The condenser needs 12 inches of fresh air around it to function properly. A good time to install the mini split is after the exterior is complete, but before the drywall is complete.
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2
Attach the cold valve of the condenser cable to the corresponding valve on the condenser. Attach the hot valve of the condenser cable to the hot valve of the condenser unit. Plug in the electrical cable.
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3
Pound a nail into the inside of the stud as close to the spot where the vest will go as possible. The vest should be at least 6 feet off the ground since the cool air drops to the ground as the warm air rises.
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4
Cut a 2-inch hole in the exterior wall with the drill.
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5
Thread the condenser cable and the electrical cable through the hole and pull the cord and cable up to the nail. Line up the PVC tubing with the electrical and condenser cords. Loosely wrap the cords and tubing with the wire and hook the wire on the nail. Push the end of the PVC tubing outside through the hole.
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6
Install the drywall in the room, cutting a hole for the condenser and electrical cords and the PVC in the drywall where the vent will be installed. Pull the cords and tube through the hole.
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7
Attach the screwdriver bit to the drill. Screw the vent mount to the wall. Place the top of the vent on the mount. Attach the cold and warm condenser cables to the vent. Plug the electrical cord into the vent. Attach the PVC tubing to the drain on the vent.
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8
Pull the tubing out and down so that any condensed fluid from the vent drains outside the house.
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9
Caulk the hole around the cables and tubing to seal the breach and keep insects out of the house.
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Tips & Warnings
Building codes usually require that a licensed electrician hardwires the mini split into the home's electrical system. It may be most convenient to set up the mini split and have the electrican wire the unit into the electrical system when the room is wired for lights and electrical outlets.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
