Recommendations for Mini Split installer

[EsteroMoruaAnnie]

Hi all, I followed a thread with some good info on mini-split systems but could not find any details: Can anyone recommend an installer? We are solar based for power but have a large Generac that we could use to power the A/C. Who have you used, and who do you trust?

 

[brokenwave]

I bought all my Mirage brand mini's from Muebles Coloniales down the street from Super Ley on Constitution.

They supplied the installers who charged me $40-60 for each install in Cholla Bay (had 3 units installed at different times).
2 out of 3 installers were great and the last one was still good.
Install price $40-50 is about the same as my 1st install in 2012. LOL

If you use MC, find out who they use, who can take care of what you need and is willing to travel outside of
Penasco (if you are out east of RP).
After you buy the mini's the installer will deliver them.

If they are to be wall mounted have the brackets ready for them and have electricity also available.
I had the electrical supply location near where the units were to be installed so it was easy for them.

If you buy some 12,000btu (1 Ton units) Those are good for 300-350sf in humid places like RP in summer.
MC sells some 1 ton mini's that are 110V and they draw approx 9-10 amps).
If you want cool and heat (Frio y Calor, I highly recommend getting at least one) some 1 ton's are 110v and most are 220V.

At MC there is a shorter sales lady who speaks perfect English and knows a lot.
Last May 2019, at MC, Mirage Life+, brand mini's cool and heat 220v, 1 ton was $300(4700pesos), 1.5 ton was $400(7540pesos) and 2 ton was $500 (9600pesos) for R410 units with a 12-13 seer.
Use a US credit card and you'll save some pesos on the exchange conversion, ask for the CC charge to be in pesos saves $30-50 per unit.

 

[CheddarBob]

Hi all, I followed a thread with some good info on mini-split systems but could not find any details: Can anyone recommend an installer? We are solar based for power but have a large Generac that we could use to power the A/C. Who have you used, and who do you trust?

Don’t buy R - 22 ductless splits outdated. Purchase 410 refrigeration ductless splits.

 

[brokenwave]

Don’t buy R - 22 ductless splits outdated. Purchase 410 refrigeration ductless splits.

Cheddar, Good point, I'm pretty sure, Muebles sells only R410 units now. FYI, I did see a R22 unit at Sam's last trip in March
so places are still unloading them.
I have one R410 unit and I swear it blows out a few degrees colder than my R22 units which do very well in Penasco's summer.

 

[RP Life]

Hi all, I followed a thread with some good info on mini-split systems but could not find any details: Can anyone recommend an installer? We are solar based for power but have a large Generac that we could use to power the A/C. Who have you used, and who do you trust?

Before you contact anyone about mini split run a HVAC load calculation (www.coolcalc.com/ Its free) have an idea of size unit you may need. After you know what size unit you need then you can start shopping for units and I would choose a unit that uses inverter technology and has soft start for the compressor (variable speed) and the highest seer rating you can afford (energy efficiency) and R410 refrigerant (environmentally friendly and more efficient) . Check to see the min and max btu rating of any unit that fits your heating and cooling needs.

The reason for choosing inverter with soft start: Lets say its 77F in the room and you set the air to come on at 75F the compressor will come on on the lowest speed and ramps up speed gradually to get to 75F ( non inverter units comes on at full speed all the time and uses more energy)

The reason for verifying the units min and max btu range: Lets say you have a 1 ton unit (12000 Btu rating) and the room or house requires 7000 btu cooling and the unit you have has a cooling btu rating 4000 - 12000 then you will be running the unit below its max energy rating (saves on electric bill) and the minimum btu rating is what the unit will come on at then gradually ramp up (saves on electric bill)

As far as I know Muebles Coloniales is an authorized distributor for Mirage mini split they may not have the best selection or prices so you can purchase online or where ever you can find a deal and have the tech at Muebles Coloniales come an install and register the unit for warranty. Or you can install it yourself and no warranty and if there is an issue in the future purchase parts direct from mirage and install yourself.

There is also another HVAC store (Reincom refrigeracion industrial and comercial 638 102-0065 the owner speaks English) on Samuel Ocana Garcia pass the Autozone on the right do not go to the one on the left

www.ecoclimas.com.mx/
They have good prices and they deliver

 

[brokenwave]

I was going to go with inverter mini's but couldn't justify the added cost when I installed my 1st, 2 ton mini in 2012.
I'm at my Cholla place 7-8 weeks per year and my CFE bill is under $60-80 per year. From mid June - Oct we will be
there 10-12 days total. Between the wind and salt in the air most mini's just rust away after 10 years.

Maybe when I have to replace them I'll go for an Inverter one with a seer of 15+. Mine are 10, 12 and 13 Seer.

 

[RP Life]

I was going to go with inverter mini's but couldn't justify the added cost when I installed my 1st, 2 ton mini in 2012.
I'm at my Cholla place 7-8 weeks per year and my CFE bill is under $60-80 per year. From mid June - Oct we will be
there 10-12 days total. Between the wind and salt in the air most mini's just rust away after 10 years.

Maybe when I have to replace them I'll go for an Inverter one with a seer of 15+. Mine are 10, 12 and 13 Seer.

I actually paid $340 usd for a 1 ton Mirage Magnum 19 seer mini split got free delivery and installed myself just had a tech come out to vacuum the lines after the install (200 pesos). What I normally do is wait for the slow season for tourist in Mexico. The USD value increases then use my US credit card with no foreign transaction fee to make any large purchases at the higher exchange rate then you are getting deals.

 

[Hobie Vern]

We got a 1 ton at MC for $213, install was $50!

 

[RP Life]

We got a 1 ton at MC for $213, install was $50!

was it an inverter and what seer was it cause i need to get another one soon

 

[Hobie Vern]

Sorry, I don't know.

 

[brokenwave]

was it an inverter and what seer was it cause i need to get another one soon

That would have to be a for a non inverter, probably a Mirage X2, cool only, 4,365 pesos ($225ish) last year.
MC 1 ton Mirage Magnum 19 inverter's start at 9,500 pesos ($500ish). I have photo's of MC mini split price list.
www.ecoclimas.com.mx/ has some good prices about 10% less than MC, but when you get to the 1.5-2 ton units
about the same price as what I have from last year from MC (they might be outdated prices now).
The contado price is for non financed sales. Cash or Credit Card. (Yes use a no foreign transaction fee CC and price it in pesos)

 

[RP Life]

That would have to be a for a non inverter, probably a Mirage X2, cool only, 4,365 pesos ($225ish) last year.
MC 1 ton Mirage Magnum 19 inverter's start at 9,500 pesos ($500ish). I have photo's of MC mini split price list.
www.ecoclimas.com.mx/ has some good prices about 10% less than MC, but when you get to the 1.5-2 ton units
about the same price as what I have from last year from MC (they might be outdated prices now).
The contado price is for non financed sales. Cash or Credit Card. (Yes use a no foreign transaction fee CC and price it in pesos)

Hey thanks for the info I may go there to see if they have 1.5 ton mirage magnum 30 and see what there price because they were out of stock when I wanted to purchase from ecoclimas

 

[brokenwave]

Hey thanks for the info I may go there to see if they have 1.5 ton mirage magnum 30 and see what there price because they were out of stock when I wanted to purchase from ecoclimas

Magnum 30? A 1.5 ton Magnum19 was 10,700 pesos on my list from last year.

 

[RP Life]

Magnum 30? A 1.5 ton Magnum19 was 10,700 pesos on my list from last year.

yes Magnum 30 seer I believe that was the newest and most efficient unit and I am planning to run it off solar with the help of a
ACDCX Hybrid inverter which is a one way grid tie inverter that only takes power from the grid when there is not enough energy being made by the solar panels. It never supplies the grid with electricity so no need for permits and new meter

 

[brokenwave]

Muebles may not stock the 30 yet, I'd check with them to see if they can order it.

 

[EsteroMoruaAnnie]

Before you contact anyone about mini split run a HVAC load calculation (www.coolcalc.com/ Its free) have an idea of size unit you may need. After you know what size unit you need then you can start shopping for units and I would choose a unit that uses inverter technology and has soft start for the compressor (variable speed) and the highest seer rating you can afford (energy efficiency) and R410 refrigerant (environmentally friendly and more efficient) . Check to see the min and max btu rating of any unit that fits your heating and cooling needs.

The reason for choosing inverter with soft start: Lets say its 77F in the room and you set the air to come on at 75F the compressor will come on on the lowest speed and ramps up speed gradually to get to 75F ( non inverter units comes on at full speed all the time and uses more energy)

The reason for verifying the units min and max btu range: Lets say you have a 1 ton unit (12000 Btu rating) and the room or house requires 7000 btu cooling and the unit you have has a cooling btu rating 4000 - 12000 then you will be running the unit below its max energy rating (saves on electric bill) and the minimum btu rating is what the unit will come on at then gradually ramp up (saves on electric bill)

As far as I know Muebles Coloniales is an authorized distributor for Mirage mini split they may not have the best selection or prices so you can purchase online or where ever you can find a deal and have the tech at Muebles Coloniales come an install and register the unit for warranty. Or you can install it yourself and no warranty and if there is an issue in the future purchase parts direct from mirage and install yourself.

There is also another HVAC store (Reincom refrigeracion industrial and comercial 638 102-0065 the owner speaks English) on Samuel Ocana Garcia pass the Autozone on the right do not go to the one on the left

www.ecoclimas.com.mx/
They have good prices and they deliver

Thank you for the detailed response!! I will do the homework on the size needed and hen contact for install. Much appreciated, Annie R