Thank you all for the comments!! I should add,

• We live in Austin TX where it was >100 degrees over 90 days in a row this summer.

• I will also be using this space often as it will be a workout room and tumble room for our kids. So, “man cave” was probably a bad choice of words. In our household we make decisions together and I will be funding this project.

• We plan to later convert this space into a guest house (phase 3 of our remodel)

I’m not following all the comments about Mr cool. I just have at least 10 friends who either DIY’d or had a handyman install a mini split in their outdoor office and none have had problems.

"A handyman or someone who does not have a refrigerant license can't install a mini split. The exception is the DYI type which has a sealed refrigerant system." There's no exception here in Virginia, Mike. Handyman services are not licensed contractors and can't do new installation work nor pull permits. They are limited to minor repair-type work. There's no exception for the installation of a mini-split with a pre-charged line set.

Also, what is the risk of hiring a handyman? Is it just that it might break and it isn’t warrantied? Anything dangerous that could happen?

Yes, mini split installations are a total racket for HVAC companies. You either have to do it yourself or be willing to forego proper permitting, inspections etc. The refrigerant line connection is the tricky part that requires above-average DIY expertise. Everything else can be done by a competent DIYer. I ended up getting a very good deal for professional installation of a 15k btu Mitsubishi for $4500 (unit, labor, permit) 2 years ago (not incl the extra electrical work and 240v disconnect). But it took the 23 yr old kid they sent out all of 3.5 hrs to install and give me the basic operations tour.

Handyman services are not licensed contractors and can't do new installation work nor pull permits. There's no exception for the installation of a mini-split with a pre-charged line set.

I agree with you Charles. The point I was trying to make was handling refrigerant requires a license, specialized tools, and skills. The electrical wiring would also need a license. But I suspect this is often done by a non-licensed person.

Also, what is the risk of hiring a handyman?

The risk is improper installation. The mini-split may not operate correctly causing multiple repairs or premate failure. If someone has the skills to install a mini split, then why work as a handyman?

I just have at least 10 friends who either DIY’d or had a handyman install a mini split in their outdoor office and none have had problems.

If that is a case then get some quotes and ask for references.

How about a through-wall air conditioner/heater that fits inside a sleeve placed in an exterior wall? It's all one unit so it should be easier to install.

• Koldfront 8,000 BTU 115-Volt Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner Cools 350 Sq. Ft. with Heater and Remote in White
• Koldfront 26 in Metal Through-the-Wall Mounting Sleeve

Just find a handyman that has installed one previously. There's very little to installing a DIY minisplit. Just get an electrician to do the necessary wiring (if you don't have a 120v socket close by) and the rest is simple. Don't be scared off by "Pros" trying to protect their livelihood!

And if you DO have a problem, you can replace the entire system with a second system for less than the "Pros" are quoting!

Contractor laws are intended to protect consumers. While DIY installations are generally not restricted, when an individual is hired to install equipment, they are subject to state contractor laws. In my home state of Virginia, those individuals would need to be appropriately licensed and insured and pull a permit to install a mini-split heat pump. If not, they're operating illegally--whether or not they have the requisite skills to perform the task.

Contractor laws are intended to protect consumers.

Contractor laws are "consumer protection," and they spread risk... They protect individuals from bad actors, but do so by making things more expensive. That does result in a higher overall quality of services in the area and absolutely protects consumers.

They make it more difficult for bad contractors to take advantage of a consumer's lack of knowledge... However, like any other regulation, they can also be exploited because they are just a barrier to entry and put oligopoly pressure on the market.

I will argue that this is one of those times where the regulation is contrary to its intended purpose. What percentage of handymen could successfully install a mini-split intended for DIY installation? What percentage of those people could successfully apply and get a permit? Answer those two questions and you can understand why HVAC companies are charging $4,000 for a few hours of work.

"Answer those two questions and you can understand why HVAC companies are charging $4,000 for a few hours of work."

Don't understand what you are saying(?)

What percentage of handymen could successfully install a mini-split intended for DIY installation?

I would think it would be close to 100%. If a handyman can't install an item intended for a DIY installation by a homeowner, then he should be looking for another line of work.

What percentage of those people could successfully apply and get a permit?

I don't know how it works in other municipalities, but in my state of NJ a homeowner may apply for a permit to do work in their own house. Then the homeowner can hire a handyman or any other unlicensed individual to do the work. The homeowner will need to schedule the inspections and deal with any problems.

I don't know what NJ's contractor's law requires, but a handyman who is performing the work of a contractor without a contractor's license in Virginia would be operating illegally. My understanding is that it's not illegal for a homeowner to contract with them to perform the work, but it is illegal for the handyman to be working outside the restrictions of his/her license. Caveat emptor.

Operating a vehicle at speeds that exceed the posted speed limit is also illegal... plenty of people do it. Ironically enough, if someone is bleeding out next to you, and you are speeding to the hospital, it is still illegal. Unfortunately, statutes are not designed to handle special circumstances.

I support hiring licensed tradespeople when appropriate, and it is usually appropriate, but there is no way I would pay $4,000 just for installation of a mini-split. If I couldn't do it myself, I would just lie about hiring someone and chalk it up to one of those times that the law was ill equipped to accommodate this particular circumstance.

Don't let a contractor scare you off because what you're doing or thinking of doing is going to affect their livelihood.

I took an oath upon graduating trade school & before entering this field to do no harm. It's not entirely true that my opinion is only about money.

I've seen desperation in person. The rich can afford it, I would say 99% that are even considering it can not if something goes wrong. In HVAC things go wrong more often than you think. In fact I've had days in which nothing goes right.

This isn't an attempt to scare you btw. It's to warn you as to what could be in your future. A quick search of the university you tube of hard knocks. The camera man thought it more important to video this than to put the fire out? Let that sink in. It's only about the clicks & notoriety?

A link to the video >>> AC unit on FIRE

I still do not understand why any mini split is being considered as superior to a plain jane, much less expensive, $600 window unit, that virtually anyone can install. It is no less comfortable, or less attractive. Which is to say, both are ugly, but do the job.

I took an oath upon graduating trade school & before entering this field to do no harm. It's not entirely true that my opinion is only about money.

Did they give you a cape too? There has never been a question of whether or not you believe in what you are saying... it is incredibly easy to find belief in advice that helps you out. However, your oath to do no harm seems particularly blind to economic harm... you are just pretending that your arbitrage isn't harmful. But, it is harmful.

Eg. you provide a video of a different type of AC unit, which was likely installed by a licensed HVAC professional, on fire and pretend that you are somehow protecting the OP. Can you provide some statistics on the likelihood of an installed unit catching fire? Of those that caught fire, what percentage were installed by HVAC professionals? Of those installed by handymen, how many were mini-splits designed to be installed by homeowners?

You are pretending that you are doing no harm while simultaneously using tactics that a used car salesman wouldn't stoop to, and cars catch on fire more often than AC units...

"I took an oath upon graduating trade school & before entering this field to do no harm."

No you didn't! Please don't try to equate semi-skilled labor with a bona fide Medical/Surgical qualification!

I don't know what NJ's contractor's law requires, but a handyman who is performing the work of a contractor without a contractor's license in Virginia would be operating illegally.

It is also illegal in the State of NJ.

...but there is no way I would pay $4,000 just for installation of a mini-split.

The high labor cost of mini split installations has been discussed many times on this forum. In my opinion it is not due because the installer is licensed. For example house painters in NJ also have to be licensed. But I don't think they can charge $4000 in labor to do a day of painting. It comes down to supply and demand for a service and what the free market will bear.

I took an oath upon graduating trade school & before entering this field to do no harm.

Medical doctors and surgeons also take an oath upon graduating from medical school to do no harm. But they all carry malpractice insurance.

I don't think they can charge $4000 in labor to do a day of painting. It comes down to supply and demand for a service and what the free market will bear.

There is no such thing as a free market that requires sellers to have a license. That is literally a synthetic barrier to entry and it increases the cost to consumers always. Do you actually believe that if there were no licenses or permits required that it would cost $4,000 to install a mini-split?

If you find a market that requires licensing and is still efficient (free) then we have a great shot at a Nobel prize in economics, so let me know if you find one.

There is no such thing as a free market that requires sellers to have a license.

I think there are some cases. Real estate agents would be a good example. In most states agents have to be licensed. When the housing market is hot, many people become real estate agents in hopes to make a lot of money. When the market is soft, agents are making no money and leave the profession. In NJ I think it is easier to become a licensed home improvement contractor than a real estate agent. The real estate agent has to take a 75 hour course and pass an exam. The contractor license requires no course or exam.

First, realtors are not sellers.

Next, realtors drastically increase the cost of housing. They are widely accepted as one of the most destructive market inefficiencies. Outside of the financial crisis, realtor fees are responsible for more than half of foreclosures and significantly increase rental rates. There is even a lot of data to suggest that realtor fees damage capital mobility and the labor market.

The fact that the supply and demand for people with licenses moves doesn’t have anything to do with the loss caused by requiring the licenses in the first place.

https://www.housingwire.com/articles/missouri-jury-finds-nar-brokerages-guilty-of-conspiring-to-inflate-commissions/

I honestly don’t know what is sadder… that you say this crap or that you probably actually believe it.

You are not saving the OP from spending thousands more, that is just a lie that everyone here sees past. It is the same kind of stuff that you always post and the reason why most eventually learn to ignore you.

Your posts here should be a red flag to any reasonable consumer. You give off vibes of someone who would install a unit upside down and then spend a month fighting about why that is proper in this case instead of just fixing it. I wouldn’t trust you to warranty anything without a fight.

"Vatterott College was afor-profit career training institute................ and owned by the private equity firm TA Associates." Closed down on December 17, 2018 citing a U.S. Department of Education decision to place it under heightened cash monitoring" Wikipedia

And the mail-order diploma doesn't look like much of an Oath.

I lived in Kansas City, MO at the time. The trade school Vatterott was located in Independence, MO.

I attended the school in person, there was no on line schooling back in 1996. There was no high speed internet no on line - mail in diploma anything in 1996.

Ceremonies and Trade School functions were done in person back in those days. Today it's more about fake it, until you make it. (See lie, cheat, steal >> rinse and repeat) Promise nothing, make excuses, make truth questionable, lie, cheat, skip the rules, no training, just watch a few tiktok's and then magically look at all the money you will save?

I know thinking is for truly educated people, but I digress. We'll blame racism and a bunch of other things like pronouns and such that are convenient excuses we find ourselves in. We certainly won't attest to being hard workers or harbingers of the truth.

sktn77a, I didn't see you there in 1996 when that document was given to me in person after a long ceremony attesting to that document my whole graduating class was there with me.

2018 - 1996 = 22 years later after I had already graduated the school fell on hard times. The bigger question is why? (See lie, cheat, steal >> watch University You Tube school of hard knocks and viral clicks what do you need an education for when you can go viral with clicks and tricks?)

So now in 2023 (if you're paying attention in hard knocks class) we can visualize and experience where you and the world has gone wrong. In 2024, 2025 and beyond? It's only going to get better from here with the intro of mildly flammable refrigerants. Then we'll add "blame game" to the lie, cheat and steal curriculum of hard knocks from YouTube and TikTok University of click bait.

Enjoy!

Austin Air Companie is a for profit HVAC company (gasp! This is how capitalism works)

I would just install it yourself. How bad could it be?

With todays workforce and the ”brain drain” that is skilled labor retiring or moving to the best jobs. in its wake is incompetent people.

We needed work done on our hvac unit for cooling our switchgear and computers at a powerplant, and the hvac guy sent to us clearly did not know what he was doing. From holding a wrench the right way, to knowing how long to flush coils with acid, to finally remembering a filter could be clogged, a ten minute job took all day. I was so embarrassed by the hvac contractor that I apoligized to my employer. No one should have to pay for such incompetence.

I know there are skilled HVAC people out there, but its more likely now to NOT get one than one who is skilled.

Life is a risk, but the more you can do yourself, the better off you will be. HVAC is a skill and not rocket science. Do it yourself.

Just quit while you’re behind. This is just more evidence of what I noted earlier, and the reason I wouldn’t trust you to install a lightbulb.

You are trying to twist a boilerplate charge on a diploma into an oath to do no harm. Which it in no way is. It is just standard, ”go forth and impress the world as a graduate of our institution” language.

If this is the oath you were referring to, then you obviously don’t mind playing fast and loose with facts.

The entire diatribe above is irrelevant… you made a questionable and laughable claim, got called on it, gave incredibly weak support to back it up, and are now pivoting to an entirely different issue…

Free advice: stop telling people you took an oath… Bernie Madoff took more oaths than you did, as did plenty of people who stole and cheated others. Anyone who would give your oath credibility isn’t any smarter than the units you are installing.

Anything that requires electrical and refrigerants is not DIY in my opinion. My husband works from home in a room we designed off the back of a separate 2 car garage and that has a Mitsubishi mini split that has been performing wonderfully these past 3 years (we get both extremes of weather in the Indianapolis area). Installed by our trusted HVAC contractor = Peace of mind for us knowing it was done right (my husband is very DIY with everything except plumbing and electrical which we leave for the pros).

Anything that requires electrical and refrigerants is not DIY in my opinion.

So did you hire an HVAC professional to install your refrigerator? Should every person who installed a refrigerator also be required to hire an HVAC professional?

No one is telling the OP to install a Mitsubishi mini-split all by themselves. Nor is anyone telling the OP to make electrical connections by themselves. These units are pre-charged just like any cooling appliance you have, you do have to make a connection between the unit and the pre-charged line, but that requires two wrenches and knowledge on how to use two wrenches.

You then have an electrician make the electrical connection for you, which is a few hundred bucks at most.

@bry911: "First, realtors are not sellers.

"Next, realtors drastically increase the cost of housing. They are widely accepted as one of the most destructive market inefficiencies."

"Home sellers win $1.8 billion after jury finds Realtor, brokerage conspiracy

"The National Association of Realtors and multiple large brokerages conspired to increase commissions for real estate agents, a federal jury found in a decision that may change the U.S. home-buying process.

"The court on Tuesday ordered the realtors' group and brokerages to pay nearly $1.8 billion in damages, according to The New York Times. The verdict also allows for treble damages, which are used in specific cases to allow courts to award three times the amount stated by the jury, which means that the defendants may be forced to pay over $5 billion.

"Under the realtors association rules, a home seller must pay commissions to the agent representing the buyer, and sellers say this forced them to pay excessive agent fees. The home sellers said the brokerages collaborated with the association to enforce what is known as the 'cooperative compensation rule.'"

Bry aren’t you the one that installed your LVP floors over old wood floors? Some people like to take short cuts to save money and like most things in life it’s a gamble.

Whoa, whoa whoa, just stop! Everyone just stop.

Everything we do in life has risks and rewards, just because someone does it this way or that is on them, and especially with a house. It is THEM that has to live with it. Just because it is not something you might do, does not really matter.

We could do this all day and its not fair to the OP.

“Bry aren’t you the one that installed your LVP floors over old wood floors?”

Nope, I am afraid you are mistaken. My hardwood floors were ruined by water damage and were removed prior to installation of LVP by a flooring installer.

“Some people like to take short cuts to save money and like most things in life it’s a gamble.”

First, sometimes shortcuts are just shorter. Next, you are right, it is a gamble but a gamble is literally just risk and reward. Since this is a money saving thing, let’s quantify it and use numbers to make a financial decision.

The cost to purchase a traditional mini-split system and installation would exceed $6,000. The cost to purchase and install a DIY mini-split system would be under $2,000. Let’s assume that the DIY has a 10% 5 year failure rate (which it doesn’t) then there is a 90% chance the OP will spend $2,000 and a 9% chance the OP will spend $4,000 and a 1% chance the OP will spend $6,000. That is not a gamble… it is just savings.

ETA: This assumes the OP isn't financing the purchase, add in financing or invest the savings and this becomes even more pronounced. Invest the savings and you could buy a new unit every 6 or 7 years off the accumulated returns. Higher quality doesn't always equal higher value.

So did you hire an HVAC professional to install your refrigerator? Should every person who installed a refrigerator also be required to hire an HVAC professional?

What I said isn't an oath, but what is said above here is coming from a genius.

We'll talk about something that arrives at your house as a completed product and compare that to an AC that isn't just simply plugged in when it arrives.

How many geniuses does it take to plug in an appliance that show up in completed working order to where ever it's going. They do make custom fridges and freezers, but that's a realm where oath takers live and in direct conflict with "just plug it in" genius.

I currently have a refrigerator that the freezer section is broken, you can have it if you let me watch over you while you fix it, chant a few priceless oath driven words in your ear. Things that you can't live by because you're more worried about the supply of excuses in the world drying up.

Ha, ha. So amusing and of really no surprise. I've been doing HVAC for just a shade over 30 years now. Honestly what "could" surprise me now?

-------------

The cost to purchase a traditional mini-split system and installation would exceed $6,000. The cost to purchase and install a DIY mini-split system would be under $2,000. Let’s assume that the DIY has a 10% 5 year failure rate (which it doesn’t)

------------

The DIY argument that assumes there is a 10% 5 year failure rate is assuming this based on what?

Experience? no. DIY means do it yourself, but we are in a forum board talking about doing it yourself when you don't have the experience to do it yourself you run to the internet.

(stop twisting the argument Ray, you oath breather.)

There are no such stats that show any failure rate or work rate out of the DIY box. DIY's don't have a hot line number for you provide your stats. It's called DIY the stats? Keep them to yourself.

The argument you can do it and find out yourself? uh, yes it's called DIY? When you have trouble with that who are you most likely to call when you have that trouble. Another Genius DIY guy on Houzz? Please show me the video footage of that.

How do you look at yourself in the mirror? what is a lie these days? DIY in no way shape or form means run to the internet, watch youtube, tiktok, read message boards. It assumes you know enough to actually do it yourself. You become the help line when things go wrong.

The truth behind the scenes why is that important? Why do I put it here? For the DIY'ers? NO.

I put it here for those considering this nonsense ill equipped to become there own help line and then calling me when things go wrong. I'd rather give you the bad news now before you do something foolish. The claim of riches is devoid of any common sense whatsoever.

BECAUSE; here we assume do to the magic in the air you won't have any trouble whatsoever. Even though HVAC is essentially a synonym of the word trouble from a professional who has actually has a career of working on and fixing air conditioners for a living.

Oh Ray, just stop it. Stop stating truths here and seek some help. Utter a few more oaths get an oath document from the online document warehouse. At this stage of the game you better be using someone who has taken some oaths even how little you think those words mean in today's world.

I'm here for the silent reader who is searching to do it right, the professed geniuses merely provide me material from which to respond to as I have done here for countless years now. Nothing new in that regard.

the more you type, the better my case for DIY becomes. That stream of consciousness nonsense doesn’t come within five miles of a point or remotely reflect anything said here.

A ten year old could spot the irony you couldn’t.

@Austin Air Companie: "Oh Ray, just stop it."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

As long as people who attempt to DIY stop calling me to come to their house after the fact.

As long as people who chime in here saying they are doing DIY that includes other people that isn't DIY.

A liar can't spot a lie from the word go? You are of your father... who was a liar from the beginning.

Can you spot the irony there? ( I am of the persuasion that if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. Including DIY that isn't truly DIY if you are involving other people who only claim to know something with no proof of actually knowing anything at all. )

“As long as people who chime in here saying they are doing DIY that includes other people that isn't DIY.”

This is exactly what I am talking about, this is a truly asinine statement in every possible way and proof that you can convince yourself you are right about anything.

You don’t get to decide what the term DIY means and I suspect the common usage of DIY is anytime a person does something for themselves that a professional would normally be hired to do.

Did you think we were advising the OP to build the unit from scratch before assembling it? Almost all DIY includes other people. This is just a patently ridiculous attempt at a semantics argument.

I recently read quite a bit on the DYI mini split AC systems. I think y'all should seriously consider installing one yourselves if you have read enough to understand the installation. It's my understanding that you will put the outdoor unit where you want it (electrical connections needed) and you will drill holes in your garage wall to run electrical wires, two coolant lines, and I think a condensation drain line. You will hang the cooling unit on the wall inside your garage and connect the electrical and the two coolant lines. The most complicated parts I saw in my reading was that you should be able to make a good flange (on at least some units) to connect the coolant lines to the outside and inside units. You also have to own or rent a vacuum pump (and pressure gages) to evacuate the air out of the two coolant lines before opening valves on the outdoor unit to let the refrigerant into the system you have connected. Yes, there are some technical things to do but surely it's worth considering in light of your skills, time, and enthusiasm for taking on the project!

“You also have to own or rent a vacuum pump (and pressure gages) to evacuate the air out of the two coolant lines before opening valves on the outdoor unit to let the refrigerant into the system you have connected.”

The DIY minisplits come with precharged lines and don’t require gauges or vacuum pump. They require two wrenches to connect the line set to the unit.

@John 9a: "You also have to own or rent a vacuum pump (and pressure gages) to evacuate the air out of the two coolant lines..."

It depends on the product. The Mr. Cool and Gree mini-split packages whose instructions I reviewed did not require this but the Bosch and Friedrich packages did.

The innovation of the Mr. Cool system was including pre-charged line sets with their mini-split heat pumps. That makes the units literally plug and play and makes them ideal for the DIY market.

E.T.A. Reading the instructions, and/or watching relevant YouTube videos. and/or asking for tips from houzzers would not disqualify the installation as a DIY installation.

A vacuum pump and gauges are free for anyone with a major auto parts store in their area. Auto Zone and O'Reilly's put the products on your card. When you bring them back, they cancel the transaction. THAT'S FREE. Watch Will's video. His install of the $788 unit is complete at a pro level you can emulate. The unit is precharged with refrigerant.

$788 versus $4,000.

The innovation of the Mr. Cool system was including pre-charged line sets with their mini-split heat pumps. That makes the units literally plug and play and makes them ideal for the DIY market.

Here we get to see how great that innovation truly is / was.

(Don't quit your day job just yet over the savings of DIY)

note this isn't my video below: DIY university on YouTube with a pro that was called out on DIY system.

To make matters worse it appears MR Cool isn't so cool a year later due to these kinds of issues.

Anyone promoting these as a solution doesn't tell you these things up front.

If it's not lies, it's lies by omission. It's still a lie.

Mr. Ross doesn't buy refrigerants, so don't expect to call him to troubleshoot the thing.

DIY Island is a lonely place to find yourself.

A single user's bad experience is not a statistically-significant sample. You'll find plenty of favorable testimonials on Mr. Cool systems, too. If you want to do an objective comparison bring some data. Any idiot can make a You Tube video as evidenced by "Freon Wars."

My new heat pump system installed by an independent dealer of more than 40 years immediately had a refrigerant leak. Installation date 1/4/2022. 3/29/2022-ish I noticed reduced performance. Checked the Delta T, not up-to-par. Opened the compressor's service panel (I know how to use a nut driver and interpret fault codes via the tech sheet, the horror!). Code F7 on the EEV board. I reset the code (OMG!!) and it recurred. I called for service on 4/5/2022. They found the leak at a service port. So yeah, it's fortunate I didn't try to DIY the install else a leak may have occurred ...

If you want to be afraid of your own shadow, fine. Hire it done. If you worry about failing instead of tackling a challenge, sure. Pay someone. This is America. Do what you want. So will I.

Thanks for pointing out the charged-line systems. That would make things even simpler for the DYI installation. My primary concern or point of research would become the reliability of a compression-fit refrigerant line. That's standard in auto AC units but I wonder if the pressure may be higher in home units...would this apply to mini-splits? I have done some copper line flange fits for water lines and that works fairly well. Are the DYI units washer-less fits? I would have to think a pre-flanged, or washer-based fitting would be a no-brainer feature if manufacturers are pre-charging lines to help the DYI application. All of the home units I have had installed were sweated in so I assume that is the most reliable connection. Of course, my full-sized professionally installed unit failed with a leak in the cooling coils so go figure :>)

OP here. I feel like I really struck a nerve with some people in my post.

I am still filtering through all the comments. A little overwhelmed. Lol! I think I will still just hire a handyman. An experienced one. Was never going to DIY.

I just can’t pay a company 3.5 X for labor what the entire unit costs.

The value of the Will Prowse video for the OP is in having the knowledge to recognize what is needed to do a correct installation. Whether the OP does it diy or looks for a handyman. With that information he can evaluate a handyman instead of having to rely on the guy's statements. Ask what tools he'll use. The torque wrench is specialized. If choosing the Pioneer unit, ask about a vacuum pump and gauges. Ask about flaring tools to shorten the piping. The more you know, the better the job goes. Do your research to get the savings without problems.