Heating & Air Conditioning Building a Home

Best locations for mini-splits?

8 years ago

Before getting mini splits for the house, we bought one unit for a large, open area, about 1600 sq ft. It cools the area, but it is noticeably cooler in the area on the far side of the room across from the wall unit. We don't have any ceiling fans to circulate the air there.

We like it well enough to proceed with installing two units in the house. The question is, where to put them to cool efficiently? I'm concerned about the placement and the heat in the kitchen. Below is a very rough drawing of the house plan, and in red are the locations we are considering for the heads. Alternate locations are drawn in purple, but it seems to me that the red locations would push the air in a circle through the house if all the doors are open. We will have operable transom windows above the doors.

The calculations showed that two units are sufficient for 1450 square feet with our insulation, windows, ceiling height, etc. My concern is circulation. Does it matter where the heads are located? If so, which placement looks best, or is there a better location we haven't considered? Length of line is also a consideration. The red one in the living room can't go much further toward the center of the room.

Also, where do you usually locate the remote? Where you are, or a central location on the wall?

Featured Answer

mike_home

8 years ago

I suggest you center the head in the large open area between the kitchen and the living room area. Depending how much you cook and bake the kitchen will generate additional heat.

I don't think you want the air blowing directly you while you are sleeping. You will get a wind chill affect.

The small bedroom and bathroom are going to be much warmer than the rest of the area. You could install ceiling fan in the small bedroom to make it more comfortable.

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Comments (8)

PRO
PPF.
8 years ago
Have you considered a ducted split system?
User
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Yes, we considered them but decided on the singles. We already have the two units. Just wondering the best place to put them.
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mtvhike
8 years ago
"we bought one unit for a large, open area"; one what? a mini-split, a room AC, etc. Where is it located on your plan, and do you plan to continue using it? Are you also using them for heat?
User
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
mtvhike

"we bought one unit for a large, open area"; one what? a mini-split, a room AC, etc. Where is it located on your plan, and do you plan to continue using it? Are you also using them for heat?

Different space, not connected to this living space. It is not going to be used on this plan. Yes, the two we bought for the space pictured will also be used for heat, should we ever need heat. We had 2 cold days last winter.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
I'd like the air to blow directly on me, but as long as the room is cool and I have a ceiling fan over the bed, I am fine. With the purple locations, do you think the air will circulate throughout the home? BTU wise, we are covered. It's just getting cool air to the bathroom and other bedroom that concerns me.
chisue
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
We have two Mitsubishi's in our Maui condo to cool 850 sq ft. Each has a hand-held remote that came with a mounting cradle for the wall. (We never mounted these.)

Have you adjusted the louvers? It shouldn't need to run full force if it's right-sized.

Our condo is shaped like a shoebox, with sliders at both short ends. The LR unit is mid-room, over the slider, directing air toward the open kitchen and hallway. The BR unit pushes air across the foot of the bed and on into the dressing room and bathroom. No drafts for sleepers.
User thanked chisue
ionized_gw
8 years ago
I do not anticipate any problem with either location in the BR. I would not want one right over the bed since as they approach set point the blower slows and cold air will fall on the bed like a waterfall.

After switching to seven mini splits from a ducted system, I have not missed a cold air duct in the bathrooms.

Mitsubishi has a feature called "iSee" available for some of their high wall units. They have an infrared sensor that is used to point the air flow at the warmest area in the room. I can't say how well it works. I suspect it might drive my wife nuts since she does not like AC blowing directly on her. Since a person would likely be the warmest part of the room, it seems likely that it would follow a person around.