Ductless Mini-Split Installation Cost
- Labor and Materials – $4,340
- Labor Only – $1,340
- Labor and Materials – $3,900
- Labor Only – $900
Cost to Install a New Mini-Split System
When homeowners have a new project they are working on, like converting a garage to a livable space or new room addition to the home, a mini-split ends up being one of the best solutions for heating and cooling. So you start doing some online research to see if it’s a good solution for your project. You can see the online prices for the equipment, but how much will it cost to install the mini-split? We charge around $1,340 for the labor portion of the installation and around $3,000 for the equipment. So in total, a ductless mini-split installation will cost approximately $4,340.
Detailed Pricing Breakout to Install a New Mini-Split
| Item | Equipment Cost | Labor Cost | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Ton Mini-Split | $3,000 | $3,000 | |
| Run a New Electrical Line to the Condenser | $500 | $500 | |
| Set New Pad and Mini-Split Condenser | $60 | $60 | |
| Run a New Line Set and Drain Line | $360 | $360 | |
| Hang the Mini-Split Head | $240 | $240 | |
| Hook up Electrical | $60 | $60 | |
| Calibrate the System | $120 | $120 | |
| Total | $3,000 | $1,340 | $4,340 |
New Installation Done Right
Installing a new mini-split isn’t necessarily a complicated process but is the most critical factor for the system’s longevity. If a mini-split is installed wrong, it could reduce its useful life expectancy by as much as ten years.
Install Checklist
- Is the new electrical circuit sized right and stand-alone
- Is a quick disconnect installed inline to the condenser
- Is the line set blown out before being hooked up
- Is a vacuum pulled before opening the king valve (If required)
- Is the freon levels calibrated
- Is the communicating wire between the condenser and heads hooked up correctly
- Is the condenser and heads level
Cost to Replace an Existing Mini-Split System
As we all know, air conditioners don’t last forever and will eventually need to be replaced. Replacing an existing mini-split is a little easier than installing a new one, which is why the installation costs less. The labor cost to install a new mini-split is around $900, while the equipment will run around $3,000. On average, the cost to replace a mini-split will run around $3,900.
Detailed Pricing Breakout to Replace a Mini-Split
| Item | Equipment Cost | Labor Cost | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Ton Mini-Split | $4,100 | - | $3,000 |
| Pump Down System | - | $60 | $60 |
| Remove Existing Equipment | - | $60 | $60 |
| Install New Mini-Split Condenser | - | $360 | $360 |
| Hang New Mini-Split Head | - | $240 | $240 |
| Acid Flush the Line Set | - | $60 | $60 |
| Calibrate the System | - | $120 | $120 |
| Total | $4,100 | $900 | $5,000 |
Mini-Split Replacement Done Right
Replacing an existing mini-split is a little easier than installing a new one because the line set and electrical are already in place and often can be reused. One of the most important things to know about a system replacement is the install process is critical for the mini-split to work long term.
Replacement Checklist
- Is the line set cleaned using an acid flush before hook up
- Is a vacuum pulled before opening the king valve (If required)
- Is the freon levels calibrated
- Is the communicating wire between the condenser and heads hooked up correctly
- Is the condenser and heads level
Mini-Split Installation Cost by Size
I’m sure this is no surprise to you, but the larger the mini-split required to heat and cool, the higher the cost. The cost increase comes primarily from the equipment, while the installation cost stays the same no matter the size. For example, a 9,000 BTU mini-split installation costs $2,940, while a 36,000 BTU mini-split installation cost will run around $4,340.
Detailed Mini-Split Installation Cost by Size
| Mini-Split Sizes | Labor & Material Costs | Labor & Material Costs | Labor & Material Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9,000 BTU (400 Sq. Ft) | $1,600 | $1,340 | $2,940 |
| 12,000 BTU (550 Sq. Ft) | $1,700 | $1,340 | $3,040 |
| 18,000 BTU (800 Sq. Ft) | $2,300 | $1,340 | $3,640 |
| 24,000 BTU (1,100 Sq. Ft) | $2,500 | $1,340 | $3,840 |
| 36,000 BTU (1,600 Sq. Ft) | $3,000 | $1,340 | $4,340 |
If you are a homeowner tiring to set a budget for a project you are working on, the size of the mini-split will have an impact on how much you’ll spend. One thing to note when setting your budget is the recommended square footage for the mini-split BTU output is for insulated areas. If you have a none insulated area that you are looking to add a mini-split to, like a garage, you will need to go up in size to offset the lack of insulation. This will help you to get a better idea of how much you will spend without a hiccup you have to deal with later.
Best Mini-Split Brands
There are a lot of mini-split brands out there, but how do you know which one is right for you? It depends on the application. Do you need something cheap, or reliable, or energy efficient? Each of these questions has a different answer. If you are looking for something cheap Senville or Fujitsu will get the job done, but if you want something more reliable, I would lean more toward Mitsubishi or Daikin. The brands that I’m recommending in this article are the brands that we use for our customers because of their high reliability.
Top Mini-Split Brands
| Mini-Split, 23 Seer, 12,000 BTU | Labor & Material Costs |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi | $2,828 |
| LG | $2,904 |
| Daikin | $2,975 |
| GE | $3,040 |
How to Get the Most Reliable Mini-Split Installation
If you are looking for a long-term solution to heat and cool an area of your home or minimize that amount of future maintenance, there are a few things that are worth considering before making a buying decision.
1st) Installation Process
Many homeowners are unaware that the installation process will have the most significant impact on the longevity of the mini-split and the number of future repairs you might have, so I recommend using an HVAC contractor to do the install for you. If one little thing is done wrong, it could significantly impact the system’s life expectancy. When considering how to move forward, the best thing to do is to put just as much emphasis on the HVAC contractor as you are on the brands you are considering.
2nd) Where to buy
The next thing to consider, an HVAC contractor will have access to higher quality mini-splits than what you are going to be able to find online. As we all know, the primary factor that helps consumers buy more of a product is lower prices, sometimes that comes with lower quality. We have found this to be the case with mini-splits when customers ask us to do this installation for them. If you are looking for the highest quality mini-split, I recommend using an HVAC contractor to provide the equipment.
3rd) Best Mini-Split Brands
Lastly, we have the different mini-split brands to consider. There are many mini-split brands, and it can be hard to choose the right one. A few brands on the market take pride in quality over cost. Here are our top picks for the top 4 mini-split brands.
- Daikin
- Mitsubishi
- GE
- LG
In our experience, if you choose any one of these four brands, you’re going to end up with a good system that will perform day in and day out.
Multi Head Mini-Split Cost
One major drawback to mini-splits is that it only cools the area where the head is installed, which could be a headache if you want to heat and cool more than one room. There is a way around this. You can install more than one head on a mini-split, allowing you to heat and cool multiple rooms independently from each other. The downside to this is it does drive up the cost.
Multi Head Mini-Split Cost
| 36,000 BTU Mini-Split | Labor & Material Costs |
|---|---|
| 1 Head | $5,000 |
| 2 Heads | $6,946 |
| 3 Heads | $7,461 |
| 4 Heads | $8,410 |
| 5 Heads | $9,839 |
One of the great things about multi-head mini-split is you can control each head independently. So in one room, you can set to temperature to 72 degrees, and in the next room, 76 degrees, each head will maintain that set temperature. If you are looking for a solution where you can have complete control over the temperature in each room, a multi-head mini-split might be a good solution for you.
About Us
If you are looking for new mini-split installation or HVAC repair in San Antonio or Austin, you can always count on Atlas AC Repair to deliver top-notch services.