[Leah Frances]

So, opinions about whether it's a DIY project or not aside (I've read every post on the forum about them), where would you recommend buying the units?

 

[Home Air Direct]

I think it is certainly a do it yourself project up to the point of setting both the indoor and outdoor units, running the linset, and depending on your skill sets, running electric. :thumbsup:

But, (and ain't there always a but) don't swallow elephants and then choke on ants. Hire a pro to step in and connect the copper, open the system, adjust the refrigerant, set the pressures and start up. You will save money by purchasing the system yourself. :yes: You may lose your saving if you do not get it installed properly. Just my $.02

As far as where to buy. I will try to PM you with advice.

Edit: Oops! I didn't read it correctly. You did not ask for advice on DIY. I see that now. Sorry. Check you PM

Good Luck
Jay

 

[yuri]

From my experience if you buy your own unit VERY FEW contractors will want to do the work for you. Most of our $$ is made on installations and markup so why would they like someone cutting into their profits/living when they can do other jobs for more $$. Then you will have no warranty from them as that is built into the job cost also. They are very tricky to install and the drainage of the indoor units is one of the most difficult jobs. I have installed quite a few of them. Fujitsu makes some very efficient units with features others do not have.

 

[slickracer]

Mitsubishi has posted on their website that any units purchased over the internet have no warranty. Just a thought.

 

[Home Air Direct]

Mitsubishi has posted on their website that any units purchased over the internet have no warranty. Just a thought.

I don't want this to derail the OP's thread, but that is a big misconception. That statement, whether on Mitsubishi's site or Goodman (who does the same) or any other manufacturer is there to satisfy a dealer network.

I know I am going to regret posting this, but this always grinds my gears. When you buy something from "the internet", you are probably buying from an HVAC contractor/dealer who has expanded his market. Mitsubishi or any other manufacturer is probably not going to warrant any of their products directly with a homeowner anyway. They will, almost always warrant with a contractor, regardless of whether it was purchased from the contractor or not, as long as the warranting contractor is approved by the manufacturer and even then, it probably won't matter as long as the wholesale distributor will back the contrator, and they will, as the contractor can usually give the distributor about 100,000 ($$$) reasons why they should.

I am sure that every pro on here will want to shoot holes in this, but I have seen it for years and I can tell you that if you buy an item, and there is a warranted defect, the manufacturer will warrant the product through its distribution channel. To not do so erodes their chances of expanding their sale of boxes, and I can tell you, selling boxes is their primary concern.

In the end, this is just my opinion based on a decade of watching over $150,000,000 worth of product move through the channels. I don't intend the ruffle any feathers with this. I think maybe writing this was more theraputic for me then anything else. Also, this is a DIY forum.

 

[yuri]

Beware, some of the major companies are starting to enforce the policy of having a annual maintenance by a licensed tech on their units or the warranty is void. Read the fine print on the warranty info. One of the companies who provide the extended warranties ARE enforcing it as the one we use is. Too many claims for dirty flames sensors etc etc (lack of maintenance etc) is driving the cost up. I can just imagine trying to make a warranty claim in the future if you are not a proper dealer/DIYer.

 

[Leah Frances]

FYI I am going to have a pro do the hook up.

Here's a question: how many people out there have many warranty claims on the Mr. Slims?

Is the reason people obsess about the warranty issue because they have warranty issues?

 

[Home Air Direct]

FYI I am going to have a pro do the hook up.
Here's a question: how many people out there have many warranty claims on the Mr. Slims?

Is the reason people obsess about the warranty issue because they have warranty issues?

If an engineered piece of equipment is installed properly, the rate of warranty issues is within an acceptable level (both for consumers and manufacturers. Actuarial's set it up that way. The fuss is more about products that are not installed correctly, therefore creating warranty issues that are really not the fault of the engineering.

 

[yuri]

That is so true. Minisplits IF installed properly are very reliable. Europe and Asia are saturated with them. I absolutely hate seeing perfectly good equipment installed/ruined by hackers. The consumers are sometimes to blame for going cheap also. Good equipment also gets ruined from a lack of maintenance but that keeps me employed so I shouldn't complain.

 

[Home Air Direct]

The consumers are sometimes to blame for going cheap also.

YES!!!!!!!!!:yes:

Consumers become so obsessed with saving money that there comes a point where they pass the point of quality to cost ratio and stop considering quality as a decision factor and make cost the main goal. This is a huge mistake. Yes, cost is important to all of us, but quality is as important.

 

[beenthere]

Keep in mind.

That many distributors charge a handling fee for warranty parts, for units they did not sell.
And so do many HVAC companies.

Since warranty parts are charged to the HVAC company. And only after the manufacturer issues a credit to the distributor. Will the distributor issue a credit to the HVAC company. Some HVAC companies charge full price for the part. And will not reimburst the customer, unitl they receive their credit.

 

[Home Air Direct]

Keep in mind.

That many distributors charge a handling fee for warranty parts, for units they did not sell.
And so do many HVAC companies.

Since warranty parts are charged to the HVAC company. And only after the manufacturer issues a credit to the distributor. Will the distributor issue a credit to the HVAC company. Some HVAC companies charge full price for the part. And will not reimburst the customer, unitl they receive their credit.

I agree, warranty is always a sticky issue. When the homeowner buys a product, they only concentrate on the term of the warranty. If it says 5 year all parts, they have the warm fuzzy that if anything breaks, they will not be out a part cost. What they don't ask in the beginning is "what is the process if I need a part?"

If the installing contractor also sold the equipment, there may be a relationship that will allow the homeowner to be cost free. This only means the contractor is fronting the cost of the part until they are reimbursed by the distributor. But, in our average 7 years, transient lifestyle in the US, the revolving homeowner will probably not be the original purchaser and the new owner will not necessarily call the installing contractor, so we are faced with a homeowner who has a unit in warranty and deserves for that warranty to be honored.

Because HVAC is a bit archaic in its business model it struggles with the "whos responsible for the warranty" syndrome. The appliance industry figured this out pretty well in the last few years and some of the other trades should take note.

Bottom line. The homeowner needs to be educated on the warranty process and not expect to be handed a NC ticket. The good news is that most of the channels are the same, so there is not a real advantage of buying one brand over another beyond features and quality.

 

[beenthere]

Brand makes little difference in many things.

But, some manufacturers are a little slow in doing their warranty credits.