Installing Ductless AC in 3-Story Home

Hi,
Crowdsourcing to get an idea of what it would cost to install ductless/split ACs in an average sized three-story brownstone. If you have any recs for installers, I would love to hear that too. Thanks so much in advance!

redwagon

in General Discussion 6 years ago

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manhatta | 6 years ago

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Karim is an excellent installer: karim@gazzhvac.com

jrkeat | 6 years ago

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For mine, each mini-duct unit added 1k–500 in equipment costs and 500 in installation. They are materially less efficient (maybe 30%), so I only mini-ducted one room where a wall unit didn’t match with the curved cieling.

slopefarm | 6 years ago

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I suspect the lower prices are ductless and the higher prices quoted here are mini-duct central.

phindic | 6 years ago

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I recently received a quote of about $40k to cool three floors of a four-story brownstone, with in wall air handlers and rooftop condensers. Does not include dunnage for the condensers.

jrkeat | 6 years ago

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Mine was 19k for 2 floors, 5 zones+4.5k for proper permitting + 1k for Kumo cloud. It is installed on the roof on the parapet. Putting up steel dunnage is 4-5k. A single zone for the parlor floor wpuld ve about 6k more.

gowpvmuhby | 6 years ago

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I spend 10K for four indoor units, two compressors out door, during my renovation, it does require to open wall and ceiling to make look nice to hide all tubes. My machine is Mitsubishi, this cost is based on wall and ceiling opened already, and other contractors finish the rest. The system serves both heat and cold

gowpvmuhby | 6 years ago

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mrohrmann | 6 years ago

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$20-$40k depending on the system design

slopefarm | 6 years ago

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My answer is for mini-duct, not ductless.

slopefarm | 6 years ago

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How many zones? A lot depends on where you want to place the condensers and the air handlers, and how much you will need to open walls, drop ceilings, build soffets, work around joists and beams, etc. $35-40k sounds like a good ballpark idea but your mileage may vary.

randolph | 6 years ago

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> @ParkSlopeJason
> covering 2 floors

the question was to cover 3 floors. so $35ish?

Guest User | 6 years ago

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$23.5k for concealed mini split system covering 2 floors and 6 zones with custom ducting. One condenser on the roof.

Guest User | 6 years ago

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$23K – large in-wall air handler on parlor floor, four wall mounted air handlers throughout 2 other floors. Nest thermostats controlling all units. One condenser mounted on ground floor back yard, one mounted to chimney on roof. Mitsubishi. From very recent personal experience during near gut reno – likely more if you’re retrofitting. Ice Age Mechanical. http://www.iceagemechanical.net/

panda10 | 6 years ago

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Just AC or heat too? If heat, you may need larger outdoor condensers and a place to stick them (the smaller ones are much easier to place- you can even bolt on the rear side of your brownstone which lots of installers do to reduce the length of the run of piping). If you want it on the roof- add 6-9K in costs (iron, crane, required walkway/stairs for fire code). Electrical is the last wild card (existing service vs upgrade) If your existing service is fine then your electrical costs may be included.

randolph | 6 years ago

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