A/C recommendation

[Riven]

Every year we usually have to replace one or both of the window a/c's in the chin house. This year we wanted to do something different.

We put in a "mini split" it's a system that has a part inside, and a condenser outside just like a heat pump unit. It ran about $800, John did most of the installing but we had the a/c guy come check it so that costed more.

We've been running it a couple months now, I wanted to check it out for a while before commenting, but it does great cooling the entire chin house at ALL times of the day!

My dad came out and checked everything with the meter because we were having outrageous electric bills and he said the two window a/c's were pulling about 40 amps when running, the mini split... only FIVE AMPS! Like a heat pump it can also be used to heat in the winters.

I highly recommend this type of unit, a little harder to clean, but definitely worth it!

 

[fbodgrl]

:hmm:

I wonder how big of an area they cool? We had something similar my office years ago, but it was a small room. I have no central air in my house and I currently have 4 window units for my 1,100 sq ft house. One of those is for Maci's room. I have no duct work run to my upstairs. My house is a 1930's bungalow so I really don't want to be tearing into walls and floors to run duct work upstairs. So I have said I will probably more than likely never get central air, because I would still have to be running at least 2 AC units. 1 for Macis room and 1 for my room upstairs. The only one that runs 24/7 is Maci's and all 4 run when we are in the 90's. This is my first year with a Chin and man has my electric bill felt it :hilarious:

 

[Riven]

You can get mini splits that have 2 or more inside condensers. My chin barn is 8' x 40' in the breeder section and 12' x 25' in the holding/treatment/office area, and it cools it all with no problems.

When it was over 100 here with 80% humidity it held it at 65 in there without running full time.

For these you just need to drill about a 1 1/2" hole in the wall to run the piping in.

 

[Rainschins]

mini split

where can I find one and do you think it will cool my 12x32 building I am getting also how would I heat this building with the same unit?

 

[kendra]

ooh nice to know, will have to think of how I may be able to make something like that work here- with large windows and no central a/c it would be nice to have something that cooled more rooms than just the one with the chins!

 

[fbodgrl]

Definitely going to be looking into this. Just got my latest electric bill....4 window units is killing me!

 

[Riven]

I can imagine what 4 window a/c's cost... our last bill on the 2 window a/c's in the chin house, plus out unit in the house and other stuff was $650...

The unit just switches from cool to heat, just like a house unit or heat pump does. I saw that some have the multiple indoor condensers
I ordered mine from a company on ebay, my unit is a Klimaire, the ad's for them look kind of cheesy but the product is pretty good. I could look up the seller if someone wanted, mine is the 1 ton, 12000 btu and it was like $800 which included shipping right to my house. It comes on a mini pallet, so it's not something the USPS can send.

I'm really happy with it, I had to turn the a/c down when I was in there today because I was freezing.

The only downfall is that the main control is a remote... so don't lose it!

Here is the seller I used: http://myworld.ebay.com/breezzone/?_trksid=p4340.l2559

I was happy with the transaction and everything, like any a/c it could be easier to clean the coils... but it's no different than my house or old window a/c's... has two removable coil filters that I remove each day and clean out and haven't had too much issues with that.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Are there any pictures of it? Is it a free standing thing or what?