Tony Marino’s In-Depth Guide on How to Install a Mini Split Air Conditioner — And Why More Homeowners Are Ditching Traditional HVAC

If you’re shopping HVAC, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the buzz around mini split air conditioners, especially for homes without existing ductwork, home offices, older properties, bonus rooms, garages, workshops, finished basements, and spaces where running new ducting is a royal pain in the neck.

Now — I am a straight shooter. I’ve been in HVAC for over 30 years, and I’ve seen consumer trends rise, fall, come back again, stick for a decade, then disappear overnight. But this one isn’t going away.

The modern homeowner — especially those renovating — wants flexibility, zoning, efficiency, and control at room level. Mini splits provide something traditional central air could never touch without major rework — targeted temperature control where you want it, without paying to condition spaces that don’t need it.

But here’s the twist:

Installing a mini split air conditioner today isn’t just a contractor-only project anymore.

Consumers are becoming more educated. Manufacturer design has evolved. Tool access has improved. Installation videos are everywhere. And DIY-friendly mini split systems have flat-out changed the game.

Does that mean installing a mini split air conditioning unit is simple? No — but it means that the serious DIYer, the methodical homeowner, and the mechanically inclined weekend warrior are grabbing tools and saying, “You know what — I can handle this.”

And many of them are right.

So today, we are going to break this down the Marino way — detailed, honest, practical — without sugarcoating what’s easy and what absolutely is not.

And we’ll do it while spotlighting a modern HVAC solution, the Goodman 3 Ton 14.5 SEER2 R32 Bundle, because for a full-home or large-zone installation, it demonstrates where HVAC is heading in efficiency and cleaner refrigerants, especially compared to legacy R410A systems.

Grab a coffee — because we’re going deep.

---

SECTION 1 — Why Mini Split Air Conditioning Has Exploded in the United States

Mini splits are nothing new — Europe and Asia have been using ductless heat pumps since the late 1960s. But the U.S. HVAC market is a different beast — money, infrastructure, and habit matter.

So why now? Why the surge?

Reason #1 — Energy Efficiency Is No Longer a Luxury

People started noticing rising energy costs — not quarterly, monthly.

When energy-conscious homeowners compare mini split operation to a leaky, 30-year-old duct system that loses 30–40 percent of conditioned air, it becomes an easy calculation.

Every foot of ductwork is another opportunity to lose money.

Mini splits eliminate that in one swoop.

Reason #2 — Older Homes Weren’t Designed for Ducts

When you look at homes built before 1970:

• plaster walls

• no chase spaces

• low attics

• tight joists

• limited access retrofits

Running ductwork through these isn’t “a job” — it’s surgery.

Mini splits circumvent all of that.

Reason #3 — Zoning Is King

Why cool a bedroom during the day?
Why cool a kitchen at night?
Why cool the whole house when you work in one room with the door shut?

Mini splits let you install air handlers where you want conditioned air — period.

---

SECTION 2 — The Case for the Goodman 3 Ton 14.5 SEER2 R32 Bundle

Now, I am going to make something absolutely clear before we get deep into installation talk.

Mini splits are phenomenal — but they are not the only HVAC future.

Ducted systems are still the backbone of American living.
And when done correctly, they are efficient, powerful, long-lasting, and have the capability to heat and cool an entire home seamlessly.

The Goodman 3 Ton 14.5 SEER2 R32 Bundle takes what people expect from a premium American HVAC manufacturer and adopts an upgraded refrigerant strategy (R32) that results in:

• Lower global warming potential compared to R410A

• Higher cooling capacity per pound of refrigerant

• Reduced energy consumption

• Easier servicing

Many homeowners don’t know that SEER2 regulations changed the efficiency landscape. R32 aligns with the industry’s future — not its past.

The reason I am bringing this up in a discussion about how to install a mini split air conditioning unit is because the modern homeowner no longer chooses between “ductless” and “central.”

Many are choosing hybrid systems — central air plus ductless supplements — for:

• Additions

• Sunrooms

• Bonus rooms

• Finished basements

• Home offices

• Detached garages

The Goodman bundle for the main structure, a mini split for the problem area — that’s the modern solution.

---

SECTION 3 — Can You Install a Mini Split Air Conditioner Yourself?

Short answer:

Yes — with the right tools, the right system, and the ability to follow directions without pretending shortcuts don’t matter.

Long answer:

There are six core disciplines involved:

This is where many DIY installations fail. The install isn’t difficult — but it is exact.

If you are the type who:

• Measures nine times

• Doesn’t skip pages in the manual

• Understands torque

• Understands that “hand tight” isn’t a measurement

Then you have a shot.

If you are the type who:

• Doesn’t read instructions

• Rushes

• Likes guessing

• Doesn’t own a torque wrench

• Thinks plumbers tape can fix refrigerant lines

Then hire a pro.

Mini Split Installation Requires Three Critical Tool Categories

1. Vacuum and Refrigerant Tools
   The system must be vacuumed to remove moisture and non-condensables. Moisture becomes acid. Acid becomes compressor death.

2. Electrical Tools
   Wire strippers and crimpers are not optional. Proper grounding saves lives.

3. Hole Saw / Masonry Drilling
   Because refrigerant lines and drains need a clean, pitched pass-through.

Some DIY systems come “pre-charged with sealed lines,” eliminating refrigerant handling — but quality varies.

---

SECTION 4 — Step-By-Step: How to Install a Mini Split Air Conditioning Unit

I will explain this from a professional standpoint, breaking it into stages, realities, risks, and options.

This is not a substitute for manufacturer documentation — but it will give you the entire roadmap.

---

STAGE 1 — Planning and Measurement

This stage determines success.

You must consider:

• Indoor unit placement

• Outdoor unit clearance

• Line set length

• Condensate drain path

• Electrical path to panel

• Sun exposure

• Snow drift

• Neighbor, walkway, and fence clearance

Mounting the indoor unit above a doorway? Excellent choice — if you’ve accounted for refrigerant bend radius and drain slope.

Now — time for the first embedded link.

Mini split placement best practices align with the efficiency logic outlined in the Department of Energy guidance on ductless systems, which you can read directly through the resource at the U.S. DOE ductless overview:
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/ductless-mini-split-air-conditioners

If you place the indoor unit too high, too low, directly near a heat source, or blowing into a wall 45 inches away — you choke efficiency.

Placement isn’t decoration — it is physics.

---

STAGE 2 — Electrical

Mini splits use 220–240V, require a dedicated breaker, and must be wired through a service disconnect located near the outdoor unit.

Things to understand:

• Breaker size is determined by manufacturer

• You must use properly rated wire

• You must ground correctly

• Polarity matters

Never, ever, guess with electricity.

---

STAGE 3 — Drilling the Wall and Line Set Penetration

This must be:

• Angled slightly downward for drainage

• Lined or sleeved

• Insulated

• Sealed airtight

Pest intrusion is a real thing. Mice love line set openings like a condo remodel.

---

STAGE 4 — Mounting Indoor and Outdoor Units

Follow engineering — not imagination.

Indoor unit:

• Use studs

• Use a level

• Use real anchors

• Consider vibration feedback

Outdoor unit:

• Use a pad or wall bracket

• Maintain clearance for service

• Elevate for snow markets

---

STAGE 5 — Connecting the Line Set

Your flare fittings must be:

• Clean

• Deburred

• Properly torqued

Under-torque = refrigerant leaks
Over-torque = cracked flare

Both lead to the same outcome — compressor failure.

Do not use Teflon tape on flares. Ever.

---

STAGE 6 — Pulling a Vacuum & Pressure Testing

This is the stage where YouTube confidence dies and manufacturer warranties go to the graveyard.

You need:

• Vacuum pump

• Micron gauge

• Soap test

• Patience

A “good vacuum” is not 15 minutes. Sometimes it is 90.

Moisture in the system is silent. You won’t know today. You won’t know next week. But you will know when your system dies early.

---

STAGE 7 — Commissioning the System

Once the system is sealed, powered, drained, and mounted — you commission.

Commissioning includes:

• Removing service caps

• Opening refrigerant valves

• Checking for leak sound or smell

• Testing amperage draw

• Verifying fan modes

• Testing heat if heat pump

Commissioning is the victory lap — not the shortcut.

---

SECTION 5 — Cost Comparison: Mini Split Installation vs Central HVAC

Consumers love numbers, so let’s talk numbers.

The savings are real. But savings come with responsibility.

---

SECTION 6 — Hybrid Systems: The Real Secret

You don’t need to abandon central air to embrace ductless.

Homes are not uniform temperature environments. They are ecosystems of:

• Hot spots

• Cold spots

• Seasonal rooms

• Guest rooms

• Rarely used basements

• Always used home offices

One of the most overlooked truths about HVAC is discussed in a building science analysis by Green Building Advisor:
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/ductless-mini-split-systems

Hybrid cooling is efficient cooling.

Central air handles the core — ductless handles the problem.

And this is where the Goodman 3 Ton 14.5 SEER2 R32 Bundle fits into the equation:

• Main floors

• Large zones

• Family areas

Mini split handles:

• Add-ons

• Above-garage rooms

• In-law suites

• Outbuildings

This is modern HVAC planning.

---

SECTION 7 — Mistakes Homeowners Make

Let’s be brutally honest — these are the landmines.

1. Installing a mini split undersized because it was cheaper

2. Mounting the indoor unit crooked

3. Not pulling a deep enough vacuum

4. Running the drain uphill

5. Using indoor-rated wire outdoors

6. Buying bargain tools that compromise torque

Most failures are human.

---

SECTION 8 — When You Should NOT DIY

If any of these describe you:

• You have never used a meter

• You are uncomfortable drilling through your home

• You assume instructions are suggestions

• You have no time for mistakes

• You struggle to finish projects

Then DIY will cost more than hiring a pro.

And if you're unsure, a clear breakdown of homeowner vs contractor responsibilities in mini split installation can be found on The Home Depot's website

There is no shame in delegating.

There is only expense in redoing.

---

SECTION 9 — Final Thoughts: Mini Splits Are the Future — With Intelligent Design

The question isn’t whether mini splits are replacing traditional HVAC.

They aren’t.

The real question is:

Are homeowners becoming more strategic with HVAC planning?

Absolutely.

The Goodman 3 Ton 14.5 SEER2 R32 Bundle is the backbone of a main-level solution. Mini splits are the scalpel.

Systems are no longer “one-size-fits-all.”
Homes are no longer uniform environments.
Consumers are no longer uninformed buyers.

And whether you choose to install a mini split air conditioner yourself or hire a pro, the important thing is this:

Your HVAC choice should reflect how you use your home — not how your home was built decades ago.