Multi-Split Brands?

What brand of multi-splits would you guys recommend? I'm looking to purchase a 9,000 BTU multi-split for my project. No one is answering in that thread, so I decided to start a new post regarding multi-splits. I'm looking at Soleus because of the cheap price. Does anyone have one of these? The electrician wired the AC for 220V, and Soleus was the only mini-split I could find that used 220V. I'm willing to pay up to $1000, by the way.

My experience with mini split systems or ductless splits has been strictly with the Mitsubishi Mr. Slim. There is no question that they are more expensive than some other systems, but they really are the best. Their service is outstanding, the parts are readily available, and all the bugs have been worked out. I was in Asia a couple of years ago and I was amazed how many I saw there. It seemed like every building used them. I know many companies are jumping into the game and are offering these systems now that they are catching on in the states.....but I am a big believer in stick wth what you know, and you get what you pay for. I have a 12,000 btu Mr Slim. I am not sure if it was 220v. Good luck.

I just purchased a Sanyo 9000 BTU heat pump a few weeks ago. Here's why I picked that brand. I couldn't seem to find (quickly) an online retailer for Mitsubishi Mr. Slim. I had originally planned yo buy one but couldn't find a source. I'm assuming there are some manufacturer restrictions, perhaps to protect authorized dealers/installers. I decided to pass on the less expensive Soleus and Friedrich units... Soleus, based on my earlier research into portable A/C units, was synonymous with "cheap" in my mind, and I was also pretty unimpressed with their customer service/support when I had basic questions about fresh air supply. I wasn't very familiar with the Friedrich brand (although I saw a window air conditioner of that brand a week ago at a hospital office), and the next one up was Sanyo. I went to Sanyo's site and was impressed that they had all the documentation, including installation instructions, on the site. Once I studied the installation instructions, I began to go through the install process in my mind and developed confidence in doing the work myself, so I guess I was sold. (I will be hiring a professional HVAC contractor to charge the system.) I'm about halfway done with the installation, so it's too soon for me to actually recommend the Sanyo yet, and even then, I don't have anything to which to compare it. My workplace has a Fujitsu unit in an equipment room. A restaurant had a Mitsubishi for a while until they installed a central system, and I've been told the Mr. Slim is now keeping their office comfortable. Not sure if you find any value in that... Good luck and let us know what you choose and why. --Keith :mrgreen:

Well, I've ran into another problem. The only 220V mini-splits I can find are usually (excluding cheap, no-name models) 12,000 BTU or higher. What would happen If I ran a model with a higher BTU than I actually need? The only exception I could find were some Mitsubishi models, which I am highly considering. What would you choose between Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, Sanyo, and Daikin?

If you running an oversized air conditioner, you run the risk of "short cycling," meaning the system cools the room in short bursts. This leads to inefficiency (the system runs more efficiently when it is allowed to "warm up" to an optimum level) and comfort fluctuations. But perhaps more importantly is humidity build-up, as the system can only dehumidify the air when it runs for a while. This is more than just a comfort issue -- overly humid rooms can lead to mold growth, sometimes toxic. Bigger is not necessarily better. Properly sizing a system is critical for efficiency and effectiveness. --Keith :mrgreen:

Cool. I guess that leaves me with only one option then. I'm going to go for this Mitsubishi mini-split. I've heard nothing but good things about Mitsubishi mini-splits. And 17 SEER! That's the highest I've found yet. I'll check out some dealers locally to see if the price is any lower, but if not I'll order it off that site. Thanks for your help.

You can't go wrong with a Mitsubishi. That's a good price... Just a few bucks more than I paid for my Sanyo, which is 16 SEER. Had I found that source, I might have bought the Mitsubishi! :roll: --Keith :mrgreen: