Senville Mini Split Review

0:00 – Intro
0:33 – Pricing for mini splits
4:05 – Pro’s
6:35 - Con’s
9:33 – My opinion of the Senville mini split

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[Senville]

Fantastic review Walt! I think this really sums the experience for most customers. We usually recommend going your route when it comes to installation. Some customers are more technical and like to go the DIY route to save more. While the warranty won't be covered if you install it yourself, most replacement parts are quite affordable and we do our best to help out all of our clients. Really appreciate the kind words and hope this review is helpful to others.

[mosfet]

Thanks for the honest review Walt.
I just bought a Senville, Oct 2022, SEER is 25.5 and it goes down to -30C(-22F) which is important in my cold climate. We'll see how it goes but looking at the install manual and hearing reports from buyers it looks like a solid company - we'll see. I'm not an HVAC tech but I built, plumbed and wired my own home and I'm an electronic engineer so I should be okay installing it.

[farmerfb]

Thanks for the video Walt.

I just decided to install it myself, the warranty doesn't mean much really unless said warranty covers labour anyhow. Senville parts are really reasonable (checked before I bought one) and while I am not an Hvac tech, Ido however have tools for dealing with gas because of another hobby. If I had to change a compressor, I could do that ; I have done it. As to how it works, it works great, really quiet and does the job. I installed the 18000 BTU model for summer cooling and edge season heating (fall and spring heating) in an 800 sq ft cottage. It's too cold here in the winter for this thing to work for most of Jan/Feb in which case the propane heat kicks on anyhow.

It took about a day in total to install after running the wiring through the concrete basement. I installed it on a concrete wall with the bracket kit you can buy about 20 inches up with it's own snow shelter roof to keep it from getting buried. Pretty satisfied with the energy use so far it's been cheaper than the old window A/C's and provides way more cooling.

I'd say if you have anxiety about tackling this to watch one of several good installation vids here on youtube and just take your time and double check every step. The manual is multi purpose and can be less than helpful, it should be broken up into sections dealing with the specific units and wall mount brackets etc.

For ease of install if you know nothing, I'd give it a seven out of ten provided you do your homework if you don't don't do your homework you'll have a four day process on your hands instead of one day.. For operation and ease of use, it's a solid 9 .

Just my two cents.

[bern]

Thanks for a great honest review Walt!! Like you i purchased a Senville mini split 5+ years ago (12000 btu Aura) $1000.delivered at the time but it cost another $3000.00 ++ to have it installed by a very good contractor after 5 years working perfect like day one 5 stars for Senville!
We just purchased another Seville 12000 btu for basement hobby room, looked at many u tube videos looks like easy install, but like you qualified installers don't want to unless unit is purchased from them anyway this new one is 6 ft away from electric 1st one was 40 feet away...
Electrician friend called me and will help with install sure hope it will last another 5+years without problems like first one. Thanks again for your very easy to understand video very helpful indeed!!!

[williamdarby]

Thanks for a honest review, definitely gonna keep this brand in mind. I am gonna insulate my garage in a few weeks and install a mini split unit.

[kevinflores]

I just got mine installed today and they only charged me $800 and its literally the best company in our area too. All i had to have for them was the outside disconnect for the condenser. Seems like i got a good deal from what others are getting charged

[vzfhvc]

Looking into heat pumps now and this was very informative, thx very much.

[lmiller]

Thanks. This is so helpful. I am considering the 24K BTU for a sunroom. I have a professional willing to install it if I buy it. I just want to make sure it will be enough BTU. I noticed Senville responded to your video, so maybe I will ask them. Good to know they proactive with communicating.

[randybobandy]

Anyone on the fence about senville, I would do it! I bought my first senville back in 2015! It was a 2 zone(2 indoor unit) 36, 000 btu model, and it works amazingly and still does 7 years later! I installed it myself since I like to diy, and buying the proper tools was about 1/3 the cost of an installer. Since then O have installed 2 additional senville units at my business shop( one was a 3 zone 36k btu unit in 2017 and the other was a single zone 36k btu unit in 2019) they all work amazingly. From my research, it looks like pioneer is the same as senville with just rebranded plastic shells. I have also installed blueridge minisplits as well, and they work great, but I'm partial to senville since I have seen proof that it can last 7years+. Also, the price of senville includes all the line sets and everything you need to install the unit, but the blueridge requires you to buy those separately. These units a whisper quite and really put out the cold air when needed! I will probably never go with a traditional duct system in a house ever again. With those cassette air handlers they have now you can install them in the ceiling which makes it so much more attractive in your house!

[haskelswain]

Senville also has ducted models so you can have one unit with vents to several rooms just like traditional hvac

[blujay]

thanks great review i was thinking about getting a 12000 btu for my upstairs area

[garypitzer]

Does yours make A popping and cracking sound after the heat cycle? My mini split keeps me up at night, and when it is in defrost cycle makes it poop and crack even louder! It doesn't pop and crack in a/c mode during the summer, just heat mode. I'm trying to figure out if something is wrong with my mini split, or if they all make that annoying pop and crack sound.

[markanderson]

BTW, I saw your follow up video about a part in the unit failing and needing to be replaced. I just noticed in this video you said you went a bit larger. As I understand it, going larger can result in short cycling which can cause parts to go bad quicker. Could it be you went too large?

[Throbb]

I can't believe how expensive these are for you guys. I just got an equivalent model installed for $3500NZD ($2200USD). The install only took 3.5 hours.

[bebitonenita]

Hello, planning on buying exact unit for a 1200 square foot loft. How is the unit holding out now that you've had for a year, I'm in brutal Florida heat. How is it in the heat of summer and the poer bills? Thank you in advance. Nice garage.

[john]

my 12000 btu model stopped working after 3 months.... self install so no 'warranty'

[blackstarafro]

Why would a warranty be void if you do it yourself?

[dankamp]

Popular Mechanics rated the Senville LETO #1 overall out of 7 others for Best Mini-Split Deals of 2024.

[dankamp]

You can hang the interior unit like it's a TV mount, drill a 3" hole in the wall and drop the lines through it, mount the exterior unit on a glorified shelf hanger, and connect a simple disconnect to the unit with 4 wires. Get an HVAC guy to vacuum test the lines and charge the lines. Run a circuit from the disconnect to breaker box yourself (YouTube it). If an HVAC guy charges more than $300 you are getting robbed.

[mirkymirk]

We just installed two head units - one wall mount and one floor mount. We are having issues with the floor model heating to the desired temperature (eg., 21 C as set). The system seems to turn on AC fine, but when we switch the mode to HEAT, nothing happens. Any ideas? The temperature in the house is say, 19, and the outside temp may be say, 16...so I would think the unit would turn on and heat? My installer suggests we have to supplement the heat pump with our baseboards or gas fireplace...but I disagree. I bought the heat pump to replace at least the baseboard use.