Minisplit head placement

QuintonS

Where would you guys place Minisplit heads in this duplex? Unit on left is 700sqft and unit on right is 600sqft.

Larry Weingarten

Hi, Not sure if this approach fits, but I'd use a ducted mini-split in the floor 1 unit and put it just above a lowered ceiling in the hallway that serves a bedroom and bath. From there it could condition those rooms and the Kitchen. With some creative sheet metal work, perhaps it could take care of the living room as well. A separate head for the "North" bedroom seems needed.

For floor 2, If the ceiling could be lowered in the rectangle that is by the stairs and touches both bedrooms and the kitchen/living room, a ducted mini-split could go there and serve the space.

Yours, Larry

EBEBRATT-Ed

How many heads do you think you need? I will guess and say you need about 12000 btu/apartment with 2 heads in each

QuintonS

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1857396#Comment_1857396

I was thinking very similarly. 2 heads per apartment. Where would you put them though?

pecmsg

1 on each floor is probably oversized.

You can’t “Think” about sizing it must be right!

Kaos

Wall mounts are not zero maintaince so you want to minimize the number. Single head per floor can work if you can get the building load down enough, possible as part of the reno but takes some planning. You would still need a bit of supplement heat in the rooms so you have heat there overnight with the doors closed.

A better option is what @Larry Weingarten suggested.

Steam boiler generally means basement. That means you can put the main floor unit there and run the ducts in the basement. If you want to ever finish the basement, try to put the supply trunk against an outside wall so it doesn't become a headbanger. The small bed on the main might need some baseboard heat as it looks like there is no basement bellow it.

The 2nd floor unit can also be in the basement with a trunk up to the 2nd floor say with the trunk in the corner of the main floor living. You can also put it in a dropped ceiling of the main floor bath and have a small bulkhead run across the main floor for the trunk with supply takeoffs in the floor space.

In cold climate you want the supply registers under windows.

SuperTech

I would also prefer to put ductwork in. The home will be much more comfortable. Mini splits need to be installed on an exterior wall so you can drain the condensate outside and access the line set fittings from the outside. This limits where you can install the indoor units.

I know you technically can install them on an interior wall, but anytime that is done it becomes a nightmare for service. Condensate drainage usually requires a pump which can be problematic. Personally I think installing them on an interior wall is idiotic.

If you can install a proper ducted system you will be much better off in the long run.