# Ductless AC installation **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047 "2013-07-20T18:36:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CTburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a5b964/32.png) [@CTburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CTburns)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/1 "2013-07-20T18:36:56Z")
Does anyone have experience with ductless ac installation? I Just got a quote from Sears and it was pretty outrageous. I knew that they’d be the most expensive estimate I got but I wasn’t expecting $16,000.00 to do 4 zones in my little cape. Any information that you can share about your experience with this process would be helpful. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/2 "2013-07-20T18:54:49Z")
> [@CTburns](#): > > Does anyone have experience with ductless ac installation? I Just got a quote from Sears and it was pretty outrageous. I knew that they’d be the most expensive estimate I got but I wasn’t expecting $16,000.00 to do 4 zones in my little cape. Any information that you can share about your experience with this process would be helpful. Thanks! $16k for four zones doesn’t seem too bad. You don’t say what the capacity of the units is. Are you running a large singe outside unit with four interior zones or are you talking about four exclusive zones? Installation of these units isn’t a snap. There is mounting, running the tubing and the installation of the inside unit. You want it done right so you aren’t left with a mess. Ductless isn’t the cheapest but it is probably the longest lasting, most efficient and overall the best. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/3 "2013-07-20T19:11:28Z")
This thread is interesting. Are there four runs of tubing for 4 zones, or is a zone just the indoor unit in a room? I assumed each indoor unit would have it’s own thermostat and by default represent a zone, but perhaps that won’t work out if you need more than one unit in a room. It still sounds high compared to prices I saw in the past, but that’s the price of growing older. ---
**Author:** ![CTburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a5b964/32.png) [@CTburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CTburns)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/4 "2013-07-20T19:15:12Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > $16k for four zones doesn’t seem too bad. You don’t say what the capacity of the units is. Are you running a large singe outside unit with four interior zones or are you talking about four exclusive zones? Installation of these units isn’t a snap. There is mounting, running the tubing and the installation of the inside unit. You want it done right so you aren’t left with a mess. Ductless isn’t the cheapest but it is probably the longest lasting, most efficient and overall the best. Yes, 1 unit running 4 zones. Also, I also don’t think that it’s a simple job. It entails running zones to 2 upstairs bedrooms, one being on the opposite side of the house. A zone in the floor of the kitchen (which is tiled) and a large-capacity zone in the living room/dining room area. They claim they don’t have to upgrade my panel because their is a 30 amp circuit they can use. I feel pretty confident that Sears will do the job right, which is a big concern for me. ---
**Author:** ![CTburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a5b964/32.png) [@CTburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CTburns)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/5 "2013-07-20T19:31:53Z")
Also, each zone is independently controlled, and I can use it for heat in the winter also, which would be helpful to regulate the temperature in the kid’s bedrooms upstairs. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/6 "2013-07-20T19:34:17Z")
The distance of that 4th zone concerns me, especially if it’s on the 2nd floor. Make sure they install an inverted loop in the line. As for cost, [here’s](http://www.pexsupply.com/LG-LG4HV36S-4-Zone-Heat-Cool-Multi-Split-Standard-Package-4LMN095HV-1LMU365HV-36000-BTU-15166000-p) a 4-unit split system that runs under $5,000. Without knowing the size of your compressor/evaporator units, it’s just an example. $16K seems kind of high. The heat pump that cools our ducted house ran about $5K installed. I’d get bids from a couple of HVAC companies in your area, as Sears is just going to contract it out anyway. ---
**Author:** ![CTburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a5b964/32.png) [@CTburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CTburns)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/7 "2013-07-21T00:14:53Z")
Thanks everyone for the input. I’ll keep the thread alive as the quotes come in. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/8 "2013-07-21T00:57:42Z")
> [@CTburns](#): > > Yes, 1 unit running 4 zones. Also, I also don’t think that it’s a simple job. It entails running zones to 2 upstairs bedrooms, one being on the opposite side of the house. A zone in the floor of the kitchen (which is tiled) and a large-capacity zone in the living room/dining room area. They claim they don’t have to upgrade my panel because their is a 30 amp circuit they can use. I feel pretty confident that Sears will do the job right, which is a big concern for me. OK, when I first read the thread I was thinking that you were installing an outside unit for each zone. Maybe the price is high but do what **Chefguy** suggested and get other bids. Sears probably has a HVAC installer under contract and there are very good HVAC installers out there. Also, as he said, a zone that is far away from the compressor may not function as well as you would like. The tubing would have to be very well insulated. Long runs aren’t good. You may want a separate small unit for that zone. It will be worth it if you really study up on the system and understand exactly what you are buying. We are giving advice off-the-cuff. It is a significant investment so do your due diligence. I would also suggest that if you are on the border between two different sized units, go for the larger one. As with a lot of things, capacity is often overstated. ---
**Author:** ![CTburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a5b964/32.png) [@CTburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CTburns)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/9 "2013-08-24T23:12:58Z")
Today my friend’s nephew finished installing a full central ac for $8,000.00. He does it for a living but is new to the business. He and his experienced coworker do it on the side on their spare time. I didn’t get any other quotes as a couple of professionals did not return my calls. When the hot humid weather returns I’ll update you on how well it works. Thanks for the input! ---
**Author:** ![NotDeadYet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotDeadYet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotDeadYet)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/10 "2013-08-25T02:13:56Z")
The units cost as little as $1000. (Check out the prices on Home Depot website). Have you considered maybe 2 units, one for upstairs and one for down? The compressor unit that goes outside is pretty small and can be mounted to the side of the second floor of the house so the runs to those rooms would be much shorter. I think I’d figure what brand has the best ratings and get a list of their preferred installers. And Sears is always much higher and uses sub-contractors who will be long gone if you need service at which point you’ll be dealing with a different sub-contractor for any service needs. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ductless-ac-installation/664047/11 "2013-08-25T02:56:37Z")
“Sears” doesn’t install HVAC, plumbing, or siding - they hire private contractors, sell them the materials and bill under the Sears name. I wa not happy with their siding job - a strong wind blew off 2 pieces of vinyl siding. When I put them back up, they stayed up. Don’t’ think there is anything special about a company who hires another.