TOSOT 9k BTU 115V Mini-Split Air Conditioner

I bought a 12,000 BTU for the kitchen/office and then a 9,000 BTU unit for the bedroom, they were easy to install, and have been working silently and perfectly for heat and cool. I just ordered a 3rd one last night, 9,000 BTU for the front room. You DO need a few things to install these yourself but they are half the price of the "mr cool" units so you still save a few hundred bucks. You will need; A Vacuum pump with gage set (about $100) An open end torque wrench (about $50) A hose adaptor for connecting the vac pump (about $8) Nylog sealant (about $13) Here is what I bought to use; VIVOHOME 110V 1/4 HP 3.5CFM Single Stage Rotary Vane Air Vacuum Pump and AC Manifold Gauge Set VANPO Adjustable Torque Wrench, 5-45 Ft.lb/7-61 Nm, 38MM Open End Torque Wrench, 3/8 Inch Drive Torque Wrench with Interchangeable Jaw & Ratchet Head for HVAC R410a Charging Vacuum Port Adapter Brass Converter with Thimble 5/16 Inch Female Quick Coupler to 1/4 Inch Male Flare for Mini Split System Air Conditioner HVAC Refrigeration Service RT201B Nylog Gasket/Thread Sealant, 30 ml (1 Pack) If you are doing the wiring yourself like I did- you need a 12/2 with ground copper cable, a disconnect box and a breaker. After installing the head unit indoors and the condensor outside you connect the copper linesets, drain hose and communication cable which come out thru the wall from the head unit to the condensor, use a small amount of the Nylog sealant just on the copper flares' seating surface NOT on the screw threads. I used a short piece of 3" PVC drain pipe to cleanly go thru the wall. After connecting the linesets you need to torque the flare nuts on them to the specs in the manual, this is a VERY important step- too loose or too tight can cause leaks, get that tight to the specs and you won't have a leak problem. You need to connect the vaccum pump to the service port using the adaptor as the hoses are different, there are videos showing how on youtube, it's easy enough, let the pump run, a half hour is fine, close the service port valve and then shut the pump off and remove it. Now you use an allen wrench to open the two valves on the condensor's brass fittings, and the refrigerant enters the lines, now it's ready to go! The instruction booklet helps, youtube videos will help get it done easily- just make sure not to kink the copper lines, unroll and flex them gently into shape and position, TORQUE the fittings correctly, vacuum pump a half hour, and it's done, very simple. So I spent about $175 for the pump, adaptor etc but I used it for 2 units and now will be using it for a 3rd, so it's more cost effective divided over multiple units- even buying those to install one unit is a lot cheaper than mr cool which wants around $1299 and that still demands you use a torque wrench to tighten the flare nuts. For youtube videos search for these excellent general guides on a few types of these units such as mr cool and others, ( Tosot also has a youtube video on the exact product too which is also helpful) How To Vacuum Down a Mini Split with Analog Manifold Gauges This MINI-Split AC System Changed My Life | Learn How To Install One Yourself How To Install a Mini Split Line Set - R410a Flaring Guide & Torque Settings Using Nylog One thing to keep in mind is, ALL of these mini splits are basically the same other than slight cosmetic differences- they are manufactured by Gree global corporation at the same plant regardless of "brand" name slapped on the outside. According to the Nikkei newspaper, Gree’s global market share of residential air conditioners reached 20.6% in 2018, ranking No.1 in the world for 14 years. Gree has established 126 research institutions, 1,045 laboratories, 1 academician workstation (motor and control), one national key laboratory, one national engineering research center, one national industrial design center, one national recognized enterprise technology center, and one robotics engineering technology research center. So, these Tosot units should give years of dependable service, and the manufacturer is well established with a long record of many types of appliances and industrial units. EDIT 14 months later, still all good, but I noticed due to trump tariffs the price went up $63, partially hidden with a new $25 'delivery fee' I didn't pay before.