Ac annual inspection
 

We had a Mitsubishi Mini split installed in our Sunroom several years ago. The contract included a free one-year annual inspection. I called to get a 2nd year annual and was the installer doesn't offer a fixed cost inspection. It is all on a time and materials basis at $140/hr and an estimated 1.5 hrs.

I get my whole house unit serviced for a fixed cost $85 but they don't do Mini splits. Is there something mysterious about Mini splits? Observing the first-year free service seemed very simple.

I have never paid for any HVAC inspections. The most important things you can do are to pour hot water down the condensate drain line every 2-3 months and to change the filter about every 6 months. Doing these things annually is not often enough.

How much does a new mini-split cost?

I don't have one so I have no idea, but I'd be interested, if I did have one, on the cost of yearly maintenance compared to the risk of having to replace a unit.

$210 + parts is enough to make me pause.

A mini-split system to heat and cool a typical lanai should cost about $4,000 to $,6000. There is no need to pay for annual maintenance. It should be a DIY task.

Does mini-split have a condensation line? Thought OP was good with HVAC, but they didn’t do their Mini-split

Yes, all air conditioners produce condensate water that needs to be either drained away or evaporated. Some mini-split units have a pump because the condensate water needs to be raised to a higher elevation before being drained by gravity. The owner's manual should have instructions for cleaining the drain line, and usually, this should be done more often than annually.

Thank we are in the process of looking into split for our garage. Good to know

You are right on with the cost for install. We used to have a mini split. To do the deep clean that you should do at least every 3 years or so it requires partial disassembly. Here is a video of how.
https://youtu.be/eT9KMVct4go

If you want an answer to your question, Call the other major vendors and get quotes.

There are DIY minisplit systems, 18,000 BTU are around $2k, HOWEVER, none of these can be used in Sumter County as a DEHUMIDIFIER as it is impossible to get the proper documentation from the DIY suppliers. It appears there is one supplier and several different product names, I found this out when comparing the installation instructions Mr. Cool is one of the names.
It appears that the Mitsubishi minisplits are the ones that most people get for the "dehumidifier" function and these run $5k to $6k typically.

Mini Split
 

We had a Samsung Mini Split in our shop for 5 years. We kept the filter clean and kept an eye on the dirt build up on the condenser coils. After 5 years a circuit board crapped out and was almost impossible to find. It was over 1/3 the price of a new unit. We replaced it with a Daikin unit and do the same, Clean air filters and clean the condenser coilx occasionally. No way I would pay $140 x 1.5 hrs annually just to run the unit and check the charge. There is no way they could have predicted that circuit board was going to fail and the out come would have been the same anyway. Luckily, we have a very fair and honest HVAC tech (non Villages) Keep the filter clean and enjoy.

I pay for a reputable hvac company to come out 2x a year to look at both our whole home hvac system and the mini split in our enclosed lanai. I pay $300 a year for this service and they spend over an hour doing both units. I watch them and they get into the inside of the units and really do a good job cleaning the coils and drain lines, plus clean the outside units.
Also there are multiple kinds of mini splits to buy. If you want the big ugly wall units, then these will be in the $5-$6,000 range, but if you get the ceiling better looking units, you will spend $1000 more.

You can do a google search if you are interested in the opinions of HVAC professionals who install and service mini splits. Daikon or Mitsubishi or Mr Cool.

daikin or mitsubishi "hvac-talk.com" site:hvac-talk.com

or

"mr cool" "hvac-talk.com" site:hvac-talk.com

Munns services both of mine. Both have drain lines, which need to be cleaned. Mini-splits with pumps - pumps fail and cause a major issue. I had mine mounted where is could just be a gravity feed. Filters must be cleaned - but that is easy to do - wash (mini-split) or change (HVAC). Call around most of the big companies that install also service them.

I have a mini-split -- installed by M&S Air Conditioning. They offer maintenance contracts -- call 352-314-5004.

After owning and living with a Mitsubishi mini split system I’ve learned they require in depth cleaning of the fan wheel which unfortunately requires disassembly of the unit. One of my two units has developed a“dirty” fan that is not from dirty air but it’s a “moldy” growth that collects on the fan and coils due to the dampness from humidity removal. The cost is expensive and may require more that one service tech to safely perform the service.

Who do you use

I put one in my 3 car garage in January and it is really nice to work out in the garage this past week, I can drop the temp as far as I would like. I insulated above the garage with the company that did the installation. I insulated my doors myself. I would recommend Kalos out of Clermont. They did a great job for me.

Air Conditioner systems are sealed systems with motors that never need oiled or serviced. Two points of cleaning for personal maintenance are to put vinegar into condensate drain to keep clean sentiment if not used for a period of months which in Florida is probably rare and also clean the outside condenser coils with a hose spraying from top of each side down toward the ground. The only time you should be paying for a service call is if the unit is not working properly. "If you invite a fox into your hen house eventually it will eat your chickens." HVAC service person for over 20 years...Energy company service worker for 37 and counting.

Humm, our AC contractor has never told us about HOT WATER down the line.... always been told 3/4 to 1 C. of white vinegar EVERY month ? And change filters every 2-3 even if they DO NOT "LOOK" dirty. Hot water hu ? and does not have to be every month ? Going to ask them about that and see what they have to say....LOL... maybe they have stock in Heintz....LOL ?

The hot water recommendation is from Munn's, one of the largest HVAC contractors in The Villages. Check out their website. I use a gallon of hot water (not boiling) at least every 2 months or so. More often may be better. I know that some technicians recommend vinegar, but others say that it can interact with the HVAC unit and the piping. There doesn't seem to be a consensus either way. Most companies do not recommend using bleach. But, I think it is a mistake to depend on an annual maintenance service to address the condensate drain and the filter, like some homeowners do.

OK, follow me. I have a mini split. I am going to install 12 years ago and I paid $5400. I recently got a quote for a new unit from SunKool for $7800. I’ll be getting some more quotes.

When you get more quotes, make sure you are comparing units with the same capacity in tons and/or BTUs.

$5,400, 12 years ago, and $7,800 today both sound too high, unless this is a high capacity unit.