Thinking about installing a mini split in the garage. Garage is just over 700sq ft. Looking for recommendation on brand and BTU’s for the application.

Garage is insulated (not the doors), is north facing and only windows are the small ones on the doors. Rooms above the garage (2 story house) are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

Research by square footage puts me right in between 12 and 14000 btu systems. Outside temps can reach 120 in the summer and mid 20’s in the winter. I don’t want to go too small or too big.

Suggestions are appreciated.

CT

I don’t have any specific model recommendations for a mini split but I will tell you that insulating your garage doors will make a huge difference.
My younger son bought his first home a couple of years ago and as you would expect it was a tract built starter home so the builder didn’t do anything that wasn’t required and this included using insulated garage doors. Their MBDRM is right above it and he complained that they couldn’t keep the room comfortable. We ended up measuring the thickness of the U channels on the inside of the panels then bought some foam board and cut it to fit tight. We then sealed the edges with some HVAC tape and it has made a world of difference.

I have had tremendous success with the Mr COol series. I put a 2 head unit in my game room and master bedroom, and I ordered 3 more for other parts of my house because I liked them so much. They have a calculator quiz that will lead you down the path to sizing on their website. I think they are a little more expensive than so some other brands, but they worked perfect for my DIY situation.

Mitsubishi, period. Why, we have over 2,000 installed and nothing else seems to compare according to our mech guys in the field. Simply put, they work well.

There was a fairly recent lengthy thread on this same topic. Might be well advised to search for it.

quote:

Originally posted by jcsabolt2:
Mitsubishi, period. Why, we have over 2,000 installed and nothing else seems to compare according to our mech guys in the field. Simply put, they work well.

^^ THIS!

I have a 12k btu on each side of the basement of my split-foyer home. A Fujitsu and a LG. Both are 14 years old. I've replaced the condenser fan motor in the LG, that's it. Very impressed by them. They held up at 3 degrees ambient temp for me last winter. At $4k for a new one installed by a pro, if one of mine kicks the bucket I'll be doing the DIY route. Either Mr. Cool or otherwise. That's too much money to spend when I can do the work myself for 1/4 the cost.

IIRC once you get up to a certain btu you move from 110 to 220, so that will add the cost of an electrician if you don't have a 220 supply at the installation location, and if you don't have room in the panel for adding 220.

Of course it won't matter if you need more BTU you'll have to deal with the power needs.

Agree if you have difficulty keeping the upstairs constant temp wise then getting a new insulated door or a kit to insulate your existing door as well as new rubber seals around the edges and make sure it's not drafting cold/hot air in around the sides will be a big plus. By insulating it, you won't need to work the Mini Split as hard either.

Might check the ceiling insulation too if you are having difficulty keeping the house temps stable.

We have 2
Both were already installed when we bought the house.
1 in our small guest house & the other in our garage/home office/gym.

Tiny house has a Vtronix
Garage is a Daikin

Both seem to work well, no complaints other than the Daikin tends to go through batteries, in the remote, faster than I'd expect.

Fujatisu is the brand I bought about 10-12 years or so ago. I have two units in my workshop (1600 sq. ft. with 12' ceilings). I could not be more pleased with them. My friend has a larger unit that is about the same age, and it runs continuously during the summer, and cold days.

Found it:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...110035405#6110035405

And I too say MITS for the win.