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I suspect that you may find that most of the pro installers will only have Mitsubishi, at least in my experience. After you get over the sticker shock, another option is to install most of it yourself (you and your husband can easily handle it) and only bring in an HVAC tech for the final evacuation and testing, though you can do that yourself too. Doing the installation at least yourself can easily save 50% or more compared to complete professional installation.
A friend of mine installed a Pioneer mini split and has had good experience. Checkout their prices compared to the quote you get. He installed all of the lines himself, which requires you to get HVAC rated copper lines and make the flared connections yourself, and called an HVAC tech to evacuate and pressure test the lines. Most minisplits I have seen come precharged so as long as you get the lines evacuated and leak free, you simply open a couple of valves to complete the installation.
I installed a MrCool DIY unit myself because it comes with precharged or evacuated lines and requires no pipe work and no HVAC tech. IIRC, it costs about twice what a comparable Pioneer unit does. I would guess that, not counting the electrical that I did beforehand, it took me about 8 hours over several days to do the installation by myself, though I was pacing myself because it was hotter'n hell that week. My wife did help for about 5 minutes to help steady the other end of the indoor unit while I hoisted it up on the wall and fed the lines through the hole in the wall with my other hand. Other than that, the hardest part for me was cutting a 4" hole through the brick facade on my my house, though now I figured out the trick it would not be that hard the second time.
Things to consider: The areas you plan to condition is probably going to require at least an 18k BTU unit and 24k might be better. That will probably require a 240v dedicated circuit so you may also have to include electrical in the cost analysis. HVAC guy may include that in their quote. An alternative might be to install two separate units that run on separate 120v circuits . For the smaller space, a 9k unit may be enough with a 12k unit for the larger space. 9K may be enough for the larger space too, though it could be marginal on the hottest and coldest days.
Also note that you can get ceiling mounted units too. This frees up wall space and allows you to put it in the center of the room for more uniform coverage.
A friend of mine installed a Pioneer mini split and has had good experience. Checkout their prices compared to the quote you get. He installed all of the lines himself, which requires you to get HVAC rated copper lines and make the flared connections yourself, and called an HVAC tech to evacuate and pressure test the lines. Most minisplits I have seen come precharged so as long as you get the lines evacuated and leak free, you simply open a couple of valves to complete the installation.
I installed a MrCool DIY unit myself because it comes with precharged or evacuated lines and requires no pipe work and no HVAC tech. IIRC, it costs about twice what a comparable Pioneer unit does. I would guess that, not counting the electrical that I did beforehand, it took me about 8 hours over several days to do the installation by myself, though I was pacing myself because it was hotter'n hell that week. My wife did help for about 5 minutes to help steady the other end of the indoor unit while I hoisted it up on the wall and fed the lines through the hole in the wall with my other hand. Other than that, the hardest part for me was cutting a 4" hole through the brick facade on my my house, though now I figured out the trick it would not be that hard the second time.
Things to consider: The areas you plan to condition is probably going to require at least an 18k BTU unit and 24k might be better. That will probably require a 240v dedicated circuit so you may also have to include electrical in the cost analysis. HVAC guy may include that in their quote. An alternative might be to install two separate units that run on separate 120v circuits . For the smaller space, a 9k unit may be enough with a 12k unit for the larger space. 9K may be enough for the larger space too, though it could be marginal on the hottest and coldest days.
Also note that you can get ceiling mounted units too. This frees up wall space and allows you to put it in the center of the room for more uniform coverage.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
