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Mitsubishi 9,000 BTU Mini Split Air Conditioner, 30 SEER - $500 (San Marcos)
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Fast forward to this month, and it was again not cooling well (we only use it for about one month a year). A second service tech diagnosed low refrigerant, so the previous tech either missed the leak – or there were two leaks, and he missed the second one. No problem, I thought, track down the real leak, recharge the system, and we’re back in business… then he gave me these options:
1. Recharge as-is, buying us another year(ish) of service, $600
2. Find and fix the leak, recharge the system, $2,200
3. Replace the system, $5,500
To say that I was stunned is an understatement. I was so annoyed with his estimates and frustrated not having proper leak-detection equipment, I replaced the unit myself.
I’m unsure why it took eight years to run down the first time, but only one year the second time. Maybe the leak got worse, maybe the previous tech did a bad job, who knows. During my disassembly of the system, corrosion was found at the line set connections in the inside unit (see photos). I don’t know if this is normal due to condensation, or if it indicates the leak source. The pipes are not oily, as would be expected, and the corrosion is the same on both, so it’s a puzzle. I installed the unit myself, torqued the lines to the recommended values, used sealant on the connections, vacuumed the lines, did a nitrogen purge, vacuumed the lines again, and it operated fine for eight years. It there was a leak, it was so small that it wasn’t detected.
Mitsubishi is one of the best brands that you can buy; this one is extremely efficient, with a SEER of over 30, saving money every time it's used. Its quality is apparent by just picking it up, it literally weighs twice as much as other brands. I strongly suspect that there is nothing wrong with it - but can’t prove it. Other than the slow leak, it works perfect. Extremely quiet, the louvers move silently, and it's never been abused. You get the inside and outside units, wall bracket, remote, and the original factory installation instructions and User Manual. If you have the proper tools and experience, this is the chance to get a top-of-the-line unit that is *probably* fine at a great price.
Price is firm - buyers in the HVAC business will understand what it is and how to correct it - if there is even an issue at all. The unit is being sold as-is, no returns. I don't recommend novice DIY'ers buying this if they don't have leak detection equipment. Lastly, note that the unit runs on 220-240VAC only.