Mini Split AC recommendations

Hi neighbors,
We are looking to get a mini-split AC unit installed in the bedroom of our garden apartment. I found a referral on an earlier post, and just received an estimate from them for $11,000! In looking online, the unit he specified (9,000 btu) goes for about $1,100. The room is in the back, so unit could go directly on/through the back wall with minimal routing.

Does anyone have experience purchasing a unit and finding a reliable contractor to help with installation? Any recommendations for providers who can complete for a reasonable price would be greatly appreciated! With this small of a scope, I was hoping to get it done for under $3k. Am I crazy?
Thank you!!
J

Guest User | 4 years ago

38

Please log in, in order to post replies!

38 replies

Newest Oldest

chemosphere | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5152 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5140 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "180501"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bym7xqSisQdtaWFx8p2q7DWXNAtg0D/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "jg@jacobgarchik.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:09:44"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(180501)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

as usual on this site there are people quoting figures applicable to gut renos for $4m grand brownstones and figures for people with $800k fixer uppers. I know people who had mini splits put in about 4 years ago in Brooklyn for houses more resembling the latter and it was about $5k per floor as part of a modest renovation, not a gut. This didn’t include any plastering, painting, cleanup, etc. Electrical costs were folded into the electricians bill because they were having electrical done elsewhere in the house. So $11k sounds too high to me.

someonecalleddob | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5150 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5153 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "180552"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(16) "someonecalleddob"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bt2FHjRJKbMegErznABSljdW2VCRzE."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(16) "someonecalleddob"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(39) "concernedcitizensof16thstreet@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:43:09"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(16) "someonecalleddob"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(180552)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

ive used Senville mini-splits on a few properties albeit not in nyc. they’ve held up nicely and are reasonably priced. my buddy and i did the install ourselves. https://senville.com/mini-split-ac/

hkapstein | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5151 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5154 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "197623"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "hkapstein"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bi/rarQU.AidQ5DWnWIzXSi7UikLcx/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(31) "boerumamaemailnotprovided-local"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "hkapstein@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2018-06-15 18:43:24"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(14) "Helen Kapstein"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(197623)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

By the way please let us know what kind of pricing you see. I think it would be useful to know where the market is. I’d say a benchmark is double the price of equipment for the whole job. Your equipment is 1100 but that sounds light for the outdoor and indoor unit, the indoor might be like 500 so maybe your at 3-4kish. You’re probably looking at 1 man day of labor, maybe 2, so that’s about 600 bucks, plus odds and ends, plus 1500 or so for the units, so at 3-4k they’re making decent money.

hkapstein | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5152 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5161 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "197623"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "hkapstein"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bi/rarQU.AidQ5DWnWIzXSi7UikLcx/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(31) "boerumamaemailnotprovided-local"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "hkapstein@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2018-06-15 18:43:24"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(14) "Helen Kapstein"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(197623)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

These guys tend to bid more expensively when its warm out. They do the heatpumps too, but your bids may be a little higher since it’s almost cooling season, so shop I’d shop it around. I don’t know if anything arnica and Simon arnica are the same company but why not call both. These companies may be more interested in bigger jobs, so you may find a better price with a smaller co that’s not an authorized seller of mitsibishi etc, but you might missed out on rebates that way.

Guest User | 4 years ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "200749"

Go with Urbandad’s link. Some of these companies maintain multiple sites under different names. Especially common with plumbers and hvac. That could be the case here but I can’t remember.

hkapstein | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5121 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5119 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "197623"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "hkapstein"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bi/rarQU.AidQ5DWnWIzXSi7UikLcx/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(31) "boerumamaemailnotprovided-local"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "hkapstein@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2018-06-15 18:43:24"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(14) "Helen Kapstein"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(197623)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Cool stuff Inc. 646-330-8304.

hkapstein | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5148 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5147 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "197623"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "hkapstein"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bi/rarQU.AidQ5DWnWIzXSi7UikLcx/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(31) "boerumamaemailnotprovided-local"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "hkapstein@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2018-06-15 18:43:24"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(14) "Helen Kapstein"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(197623)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I was thinking simon from https://arnicaheatingandair.com/, I didn’t know about Anthony. There’s another guy who might be cheaper for a small job like this let me see if I can find his contact.

hkapstein | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5119 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5118 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "197623"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "hkapstein"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bi/rarQU.AidQ5DWnWIzXSi7UikLcx/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(31) "boerumamaemailnotprovided-local"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "hkapstein@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2018-06-15 18:43:24"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(14) "Helen Kapstein"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(197623)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Should not, should not!

Guest User | 4 years ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "200749"

Get at least three quotes. Sometimes i’ve had to get 6 or 7. It’s wild how pricing varies so much.

Guest User | 4 years ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "203439"

thank you! the quote i got was from Ice Age…waiting to hear back from Richair. I will try anthony! 11k just seemed crazy to me when the unit itself was only 1k. Appreciate the advice!!

solehappy | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5159 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5161 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "191690"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "solehappy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B3y5PnYS5d9utCFv8uP0YhlGch9OKB0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "solehappy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "meritage211@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-02-22 17:09:17"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(61) "Your first name Your last name Your first name Your last name"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(191690)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

the quoted cost difference was <$2000

Guest User | 4 years ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "200749"

A ductless wall hung will not usually cost as much as a ceiling cassette.

solehappy | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5151 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5118 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "191690"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "solehappy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B3y5PnYS5d9utCFv8uP0YhlGch9OKB0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "solehappy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "meritage211@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-02-22 17:09:17"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(61) "Your first name Your last name Your first name Your last name"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(191690)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

i worked with one of the above firms, got quotes from both, and my cost albeit for two floors and with ceiling cassettes was over $20,000. this was also a couple years ago now.

Guest User | 4 years ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "200749"

Anthony Arnica, New York Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning
anthony@newyorkheating.net
Phone: 646-315-2271
www.newyorkheating.net

Ice Age Mechanical Corp.
info@iceagemechanical.net
Paula Chica
Administrative Manager
Tel: 718-331-4822
Cell: 718-344-5095
Office Hrs: 7 am – 4 pm

chemosphere | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5158 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5157 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "180501"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bym7xqSisQdtaWFx8p2q7DWXNAtg0D/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "jg@jacobgarchik.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:09:44"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "chemosphere"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(180501)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Did you mean to write “you should *NOT* be paying 11k”?

hkapstein | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5148 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5163 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "197623"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "hkapstein"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bi/rarQU.AidQ5DWnWIzXSi7UikLcx/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(31) "boerumamaemailnotprovided-local"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "hkapstein@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2018-06-15 18:43:24"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(14) "Helen Kapstein"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(197623)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If it’s a simple through the wall install, you should be paying 11k. Try ice age or arnica. You can even do it yourself now with the units that have precharged lines, although you’d need to deal with the wiring. But that shouldn’t be too expensive either .

Guest User | 4 years ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "200749"

How many places did you get estimates from?

solehappy | 4 years ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5152 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5116 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "191690"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "solehappy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B3y5PnYS5d9utCFv8uP0YhlGch9OKB0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "solehappy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "meritage211@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-02-22 17:09:17"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(61) "Your first name Your last name Your first name Your last name"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(191690)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

you can probably get a pretty ugly install with a no walls opened and tubes everywhere for $3000, but properly installing these things is not an easy process in my experience. an element of trial and error in opening up walls which then need to be repaired and painted along with electrical upgrades