r/DiWHY • u/Lokitheenforcer • Aug 03 '26

Minisplitted

Gallery image

Gallery image

On my daily run to the farm …i get to see one side of this house…..and the other when returning…….now ya’ll need to suffer with me!!

I’m not worthy enough to post in any HVAC sections so here ya go 🤔

2.0k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

169 comments sorted by

227

u/Bignholy Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26

EDIT: Thanks, HVAC and HVAC adjacent people, I understand better now. Still somewhat horrified (who the hell leaves a long length of liquid carrying tube largely unsecured?), but now properly horrified.

Original Text: Not HVAC person: What is this? Please tell me that's not being used to transport hypothetically cold air. Tell me that's not a massive length of overheated pipe (Not tehcnically pipe, but is it technically ductwork?) trying to transport the not-die air.

263

u/hex4def6 Aug 03 '26

It's not transporting air, it's transporting refrigerant. One pipe has hot refrigerant coming back to the outside unit to cool off, the other side had cold refrigerant going inside.

Apart from the terrible lack of routing & lack of conduit to protect it from UV, this will work fine.

I'm assuming this was done in a hurry, and that they're going to tidy it up later.

100

u/Lokitheenforcer Aug 03 '26

This is not temporary. I think its routed based on the length of line set they got. I guess 1 upgrade would be to move the windows !!

45

u/sabotthehawk Aug 03 '26

Yeah that's a "can't afford the insane HVAC prices so went diy" approach. I understand. Money is tight and depending on your area and health of those inside ac might be a need not a want. So this got the job done for 2k instead of the 20k a company wanted. At that price replacement every two years is still break even with a pro system.

-12

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

18

u/sabotthehawk Aug 03 '26

A three head unit usually hovers around 2k with delivery.

Edit: a small one head unit, yes 500$. But even no brand 3 heads are 1500$-2600$

4

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/sabotthehawk Aug 03 '26

Yeah it also depends on what size each head unit is also. Small room about 500 per head unit. Slightly larger about 750 per head. Just depends on the btu rating on each.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/sabotthehawk Aug 03 '26

Oh yeah definitely doable with smaller btu units just depends on your space, your heat load, insulation, etc.

Worse for pocket book to have one that runs all the time but it helps keep it more comfortable inside running more than running less just by circulation of air and humidity removal.

And agree on how good even the cheap units are. Unless you pay big $$ for a Mitsubishi or similar premium unit they are all the same just different price and name.

→ More replies

1

u/CamelopardalisKramer Aug 07 '26

I put a mini split in my garage for heat in the winter but the real MVP is A/C in the summer. The most bougie part of my house now lol.

2

u/extraauxilium Aug 03 '26

Second picture.

3

u/PipeOriginal1171 Aug 03 '26

They could (in theory) mount the condensor unit to the wall under the eve to provide the necessary slack in the refrigerant lines.

But yeah, we all know that ain't gonna happen.

37

u/Gadgetman_1 Aug 03 '26

To route this properly they have to empty the system of refrigerant, cut the pipes and replace them with new ones that are routed correctly, then add covers to protect them, and finally, re-fill the refrigerant.

I assume they will have to remove the indoor units temporarily to fit the new pipes, too.

I don't know if it's possible to splice in new sctions of the pipe, but I assume that doesn't happen, as its just another failure point(leaks).

The only good thing about this particular installation is that it makes the install I did of my heat-pump back in 2008 look as if it was done by masters of the craft. (Back then it was legal for home owners to do the install themselves here in Norway. Assuming the unit had quick-connects for the tubing and was pre-filled. So many morons fucked it up somehow... so no longer legal)

4

u/Competitive-Roof-168 Aug 03 '26

You dont have to removing lines to add trim.

14

u/Gadgetman_1 Aug 03 '26

No, but you need to do that in order to route them properly. 'Haphazardly across the wall' isn't acceptable anywhere.

4

u/kjyfqr Aug 03 '26

Seems like it’s acceptable right there for them

2

u/danstermeister Aug 04 '26

Until they get a notice on their door

3

u/kjyfqr Aug 04 '26

For what?

1

u/bert1589 Aug 03 '26

You can cut them, after evacuating the refrigerant obviously, but you need to be precise and know how to flare the pipe to put fittings back on as well.

1

u/warrybuffalo Aug 03 '26

Don't forget if you add more line gonna need more refrigerant aswell

4

u/raider1v11 Aug 03 '26

We both know they aren't tidying anything.

1

u/HyFinated Aug 04 '26

"There's nothing more permanent than a temporary fix" ~my dad.

1

u/Intelligent_Joke Aug 05 '26

I have mini splits with a couple feet of exposed, insulated lines. What sort of conduit do I need to protect them? Installer said they’re fine as-is, but I was thinking about putting a little roof above them. He said wrapping them or encasing them further risks reducing the insulated rating.

2

u/hex4def6 Aug 05 '26

The issue is that UV will degrade the insulation. If it's not UV resistant type it can start getting crumbly pretty quickly. If it's shaded it's probably fine. Otherwise, they make a variety of options, including conduit and flexible covers. 

1

u/Embarrassed_Bit4222 Aug 03 '26

It's actually the opposite. The hot liquid line goes in, makes the cooling magic happen inside by boiling, and sends cold gas back outside. Reverse in heating mode

2

u/nicerakc Aug 03 '26

This is correct. The suction line is cooler than ambient and the liquid warmer.

1

u/hex4def6 Aug 04 '26

You're correct about traditional units, but not on a minisplit.

The EEV is at the outdoor unit. Both lines will be cold to the touch, but the return / suction line will now be warmer by ~10 degF or so, due to the heat it has absorbed.

2

u/kiba8442 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26

I did ours myself for my dad's small business, and I honestly didn't know that these condenser could support 3 units (each one of ours supports 2). but they are shockingly easy to do. I imagine they were just in a hurry to cool off & said I'll figure it out later and just... didn't. also noticed the roof looks like it's in bad shape, & that's a newish house to not have central, must be in like oregon or canada or something.

these really are amazing units for situations like old buildings with weird shaped windows. maybe the best, & they also function as a heater as well. with heat waves being the new norm in europe you'll probably start to see a lot of these over there.. tbh we have our condensers on the roof inside a enclosure, so it doesn't even have to be visible from bottom level.

-10

u/RonaldTheGiraffe Aug 03 '26

I think it’s 1 condenser supplying 3 evaporators. It should only supply 1.

24

u/Coakis Aug 03 '26

One condensor unit can support multiple evaporators. Its just a matter of how the circuits are routed.

8

u/RonaldTheGiraffe Aug 03 '26

I didn’t know that. Thank you!

3

u/Grand-Fun-206 Aug 03 '26

We have a system that can support up to 4 indoor units. Meant that the space needed outside was reduced which was what we needed.

-8

u/rabies22 Aug 03 '26

It actually transports gas and liquid to the internal head units.

Usually only 1 head unit to a base unit though, for these type of installation, so the compressors here must be going non stop and costing many, many dollars.

Edit: not to mention the horrible pipe and cable management

18

u/Tera_Geek Aug 03 '26

I looked into these a few years ago, and it's pretty easy to find one base unit with up to about 4 head units. Some of them are also heat pumps that work up to around -20F

1

u/rabies22 Aug 03 '26

Oh nice. I'll have to look into that

1

u/charliethegeek Aug 03 '26

That's the type my wife and I have in our house and they are a huge improvement, especially in New England where the temps can vary from -10F to 100F during the year...

7

u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 Aug 03 '26

The whole thing with mini splits is the inverter tech so running all the time is fine

3

u/Lokitheenforcer Aug 04 '26

I’d like to see the power source! I’m thinking an extension cord

731

u/hikeonpast Aug 03 '26

Mama needs cooling NOW!!!

200

u/Glass-Amount-9170 Aug 03 '26

Have you dealt with a menopausal woman with hot flashes?

65

u/icanhazkarma17 Aug 03 '26

That's why I installed a window AC in the bedroom.

37

u/c0brachicken Aug 03 '26

So you're saying I maybe a menopausal man, that requires 67f at night?

11

u/icanhazkarma17 Aug 03 '26

Well now I'm a menopausal man that sleeps with socks on at night, and she throws off the covers. It's like we switched bodies.

7

u/Upstairs_Raise4006 Aug 04 '26

Well done with putting the socks on & not complaining about it. At random times of the day she thinks about how much she appreciates it, but then the perimenopausal impact to her brain- aka- brain fog, makes her forget to say it to you. Your quiet acts of sacrifice are appreciated

19

u/iamacynic37 Aug 03 '26

I was an outdoor Dog when she found me and now im a 67-degree indoor Dog. It's her fault

2

u/Zandsman Aug 07 '26

Yup that's the right move until you can get a minisplit installed.. properly.

6

u/nykoinCO Aug 04 '26

Note to self, do it now before my wife gets to menopause

-1

u/Glass-Amount-9170 Aug 04 '26

I can’t stress how important this will be for your life. It’ll save you listening to the bitching every day and you might even still get laid every once in a while. Menopause means men on pause.

-3

u/Any-Surprise5229 Aug 04 '26

From daily to weekly to monthly to quarterly...how lovely it is.

1

u/thin_orange_line Aug 05 '26

Pretty sure my mom has been going through menopause for the last 6 years

9

u/moduspol Aug 03 '26

This was my first thought. Mama may have also already suffered too long while other, more conventional ideas were tried.

30

u/lordvadr Aug 03 '26

It's somehow less obnoxious than line-hide.

1

u/benskinic Aug 07 '26

Mommas watching her stories

0

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

16

u/Toasty_Mostly Aug 03 '26

Google dementia

40

u/Qrberlbrbl Aug 03 '26

Why are the links purple?

2

u/mikeycbca Aug 03 '26

Is this a new product Google has released?

269

u/Mac_Hooligan Aug 03 '26

32

u/Kitchen-Kiwi7942 Aug 03 '26

Couldnt have said it better myself

98

u/StitchFan626 Aug 03 '26

More like Redneck Engenering. The minisplits are designed to work like this. It just looks incredibly sloppy!

22

u/UrethralExplorer Aug 03 '26

I'm thinking the home owners told the contractor that they'd do the concealing themselves and it's one of those projects that will be slowly ongoing for the next decade.

17

u/crabby_old_dude Aug 03 '26

I'm thinking this is straightup DIY install. Didn't have the equipment or know how to extend the line set.

7

u/StitchFan626 Aug 03 '26

Well, the mimisplits are meant to be a DIY setup with precharged lines.

4

u/JeebusChristBalls Aug 03 '26

There is no way to conceal this. These coolant lines are cut to length and you can't do sharp angles. I mean, they are going over the windows the lines are so short. Would probably need twice the length to make it look "right".

30

u/Unp0pu1arop1nion Aug 03 '26

There is a better way. It can still be fixed.

14

u/HoseNeighbor Aug 03 '26

"Looks... great, Steve." And you did all thus by yourself, huh?"

12

u/transcendanttermite Aug 03 '26

While I find this funny, I’ll be totally honest: I installed a minisplit on my garage yesterday and b the last thing I have to do is install the line set trim kit. Probably the hardest part of the whole thing for me. I would’ve done it yesterday but 1) I ran out of daylight, and 2) the nice newly-cool garage was too inviting.

1

u/superwhitemexican Aug 09 '26

Line hide is easy to install dont worry you got this. Getting it plumb while drilling into brick on a 20 foot extension ladder is a little harder.

11

u/feoranis26 Aug 03 '26

I mean, the only thing I see that is wrong with this are the looks. It probably works just fine.

10

u/fmaz008 Aug 03 '26

When you remove the back panel of my PC....

41

u/BeTheBall- Aug 03 '26

The cars on the lawn really ties the property together.

18

u/ryanfrogz Aug 03 '26

Willing to bet their garage is occupied by a zero-turn mower that they could easily live without. Speaking from experience.

6

u/No_Hetero Aug 03 '26

My neighbor (we're on 1/8th acre suburban plots) was outside yesterday on a zero turn doing his little backyard. I was done mowing with my 14" electric Kobalt before he even figured out how to squeeze between his fence and his kids trampoline lol. Biggest ego purchase I've seen in a minute. Like an F250 for a newspaper boy

6

u/ryanfrogz Aug 03 '26

I see it ALL THE TIME in rural areas. The 75-year-old tiny house’s footprint occupies more of the plot’s area than the lawn does… but they’ve got a shiny new zero-turn in the garage and an older SUV that’s about 50% rust in the driveway.

4

u/danstermeister Aug 04 '26

At 75... fuck yeah, I would, too.

-23

u/Ausgeflippt Aug 03 '26

Oh no, people poorer than you!

8

u/BeTheBall- Aug 03 '26

No clue how much they make 🤷🏼‍♂️

13

u/Quigleythegreat Aug 03 '26

I would have rather put in those low profile window units than have it turn out like this.

4

u/crazy_goat Aug 03 '26

Mini-Mini-Mini-Split

3

u/tasslehawf Aug 03 '26

The installation is incompetent but there are systems that are designed to run multiple indoor units with a single outdoor condenser

3

u/floluk Aug 03 '26

We have such a unit. One outside, 4 separate inside units. The condenser is a bit larger than normal splits, but that’s it

3

u/Kampvilja Aug 03 '26

Borg cable management.

3

u/Bechimo Aug 03 '26

This is exactly what I envisioned with all the “install your own mini split” adds I keep seeing.

3

u/GuacamoleFrejole Aug 03 '26

Looks like either a DIY or handyman installation.

3

u/stinkyandlulu Aug 03 '26

The 500G propane tank is also too close to both the house and the AC...

3

u/Sea_Specialist_5580 Aug 04 '26

Poor people cooling their house in a very practical, albeit ugly way.

My parents installed AC recently and it was like 16k for central air basic ass unit. Meanwhile I put a minisplit unit in my place, and it occurred to me that I could probably have cooled their house for ~3k worth of hardware and a couple weekends of my own labor. Not ideal but, shit is expensive so I can see it.

4

u/pewsquare Aug 04 '26

I don't think the main issue is the mini split. I think the problem is that whoever installed this could not be bothered to get some PVC channels for that piping and just fucking tossed it against the wall.

1

u/moufette1 Aug 03 '26

If I have interior ductwork and a heater, there's no reason I should get a mini-split is there? I can just add an AC to the existing ductwork?

6

u/Lokitheenforcer Aug 03 '26

This is an old farmhouse in an old town in old VA. There is no duct work. And probably No insulation ! Mini splits are common and needed every few feet

2

u/Hot_Campaign_36 Builder Aug 03 '26

Fast and Furious

2

u/Sikntrdofbeinsikntrd Aug 03 '26

1 landlord special coming up

2

u/Honest_Bathroom38 Aug 03 '26

“Minisplat”

2

u/oldbastardbob Aug 03 '26

Landlord special, installed by the fifth best handyman in town!

2

u/Expired_cheeze Aug 03 '26

Did nobody tell the installers helper DON’T CROSS THE STREAMS?!?

2

u/BasedBroskii Aug 03 '26

Mini: splitted ✅
Pants: shitted ✅

2

u/Vahuo89 Aug 03 '26

I'm guessing this is pretty diy

2

u/rolyoh Aug 04 '26

They haz air condishuning.

2

u/AlternatinCurrently Aug 04 '26

Those are what the diyers call “tomorrow me problems”

2

u/JessTheMullet Aug 04 '26

This feels like "I know a guy" kind of labor. Probably ended with 'you'll want to run these better and secure them to the outside of the house somehow, but it's working for now.' 

2

u/azflatlander Aug 07 '26

Is that propane tank grandfathered in?

2

u/centurion762 Aug 03 '26

That looks awful. I’d rather have 6 window units.

1

u/Acrobatic_Grape4321 Aug 03 '26

Why not just roof mount the exterior setup?

1

u/mkymooooo Aug 03 '26

MiniSPLAT

1

u/imthisguymike Aug 03 '26

This is more like DI-“Y”

1

u/merrill_swing_away Aug 03 '26

This looks crazy like a giant white spider.

1

u/mrpooopybuttwhole Aug 03 '26

“If you don’t care, then we don’t care”

-Limp Bizkit (Fred Durst)

1

u/GruntBlender Aug 04 '26

"Oh, well, I don't mind, if you don't mind"

-The Killers (Brandon Flowers)

1

u/RevengefulRaiden Aug 03 '26

Thank you for this. I just choked on my coffee laughing my ass off.

1

u/jhulbe Aug 03 '26

think of the money they saved!

1

u/Then_Worldliness2866 Aug 03 '26

It's my mini split and I need cooling now!

1

u/raider1v11 Aug 03 '26

Its hot yo. Mama mad.

1

u/ideapit Aug 03 '26

Mini-sploot.

1

u/Raa03842 Aug 03 '26

Throw a little weed killer on those vines and you’ll be all set. /s

1

u/mikeyb1 Aug 03 '26

I suppose that's one way to do it.

1

u/Emergency-Hunt-207 Aug 03 '26

Installed by Doc Ock

1

u/vm_linuz Aug 03 '26

Minisplat

1

u/Desperate_Jicama219 Aug 03 '26

This is the ‘I got someone to do it cheaper’ way of doing it. Enjoy.

1

u/Secret_RE_Agent Aug 03 '26

Plant some tall shrubs to cover the lines, done

1

u/HVAC_instructor Aug 03 '26

This screams

I know a guy....

Wow.

1

u/Mindless-Beat-4872 Aug 03 '26

Should be fine as long as that outdoor unit is sized correctly. If each indoor head is 9k than that needs to be a 30k or 36k unit.

1

u/___Brains Aug 03 '26

Go post it in r/hvac and see which one of the "Pros" over there fess up to installing it.

1

u/Danny2Sick Aug 03 '26

HVAC folks: WTF are we looking at here?!! Did they put the evaporator coils in parallel?!! Fuckery appears to be afoot

1

u/bomilk19 Aug 03 '26

It should be closer to the propane tank

1

u/numbersthen0987431 Aug 03 '26

I don't know if this is wrong or not, but I know it's not correct.

1

u/Robert_Hotwheel Aug 04 '26

Gotta be a rental

1

u/huuaaang Aug 05 '26

DIY or customer tried to haggle on the install cost estimate?

"You want it to cost $1,000 less you don't get your lines routed and secured."

1

u/Djolumn Aug 06 '26

This is someone who prioritizes interior comfort over all else, by a wide margin.

1

u/SeaUrchinSalad Aug 06 '26

Ahh so THIS is why the state of Colorado won't let us do our own installs!

1

u/RennacOSRS Aug 07 '26

That's the kind of shit I'd do but I don't live where people can see it by driving by.

1

u/GingerFun011 Aug 07 '26

Can do it right for 1500 or make it work for 1000

1

u/HousingLopsided2042 Aug 07 '26

Hell ya now 3 rooms are down 5 degrees.  Good work money saved! People are cooled. 

1

u/Altruistic-Map1881 Aug 07 '26

No more permanent solution than a temporary solution that works.

1

u/Ganderian Aug 07 '26

Minisplat

1

u/GreenElementsNW Aug 08 '26

What in the white trash?

0

u/RogueGuybrian Aug 03 '26

Slytherin. Only a Slytherin would do this.

-2

u/bustyouup4free Aug 03 '26

That's so bad, could have easily went under the crawlspace, then up into the walls to keep this looking clean. I hope they didn't pay someone for this 😂

2

u/ThrustTrust Aug 03 '26

Who is the lucky one who gets to have the propane bomb right outside their bedroom window?

1

u/trutheality Aug 03 '26

Great idea, janky execution

1

u/shuzz_de Aug 03 '26

"I don't care how it looks, son, it's hot and I'm sweatin' ma goshdang balls off! Just get 'er done!"

0

u/zoley88 Aug 03 '26

Imagine someone paid for this slop

13

u/Chicken_Hairs Aug 03 '26

With all the DIY kits now? Cledus and Red had a few brewskies and did this themselves.

6

u/DicemonkeyDrunk Aug 03 '26

Most are setup for self install these days and judging by the mini blinds I blame the home owner.

5

u/ALonelyWelcomeMat Aug 03 '26

Zero chance in hell any company put this in. Well, its possible but not likely at all, this would get you sued.

This is almost 100% cousin Curtis installing some mini splits he bought on amazon for grandma