Are Mr. Cool DIY Units Worth It?

Mr. Cool has become a household name when it comes to their DIY mini split ductless units. Their product portfolio doesn’t start and stop with DIY-they have a wide range of products spanning from DIY ductless units, non-DIY ductless units, central air ducted units, and tankless water heaters. However, they are very well known for their DIY ductless units thanks to their marketing team. It also helps that customers enjoy their units and the comforts that they bring. 

But setting aside popularity and the noise, are Mr. Cool DIY ductless units worth it? I think the best way to answer this question is to understand the options available and what those options can provide you. 

What Does Mr. Cool Have to Offer?

Mr. Cool offers two series of DIY ductless units: EasyPros and 4th Generation. EasyPros are single zone only while 4th Generation has both single zone and multi-zone options. The EasyPro single zones are considered the more affordable option due to their very limited 1 year parts/ 2 year compressor warranty, and their efficiency ratings. The 4th Generation ductless units are considered the higher quality option, coming with a 10 year warranty, and higher efficiency levels. Both series have very similar technological capabilities and benefits. Obviously, the 4th Generation ductless units are more expensive.

Factors to Consider

Now that we have a better understanding of what DIY options are available with Mr. Cool, we now can break down whether or not DIY systems are worth it. This question definitely depends on what your needs are. Here are a few common factors that our customers typically consider when choosing a mini split: 

1. Budget
1. What am I willing to pay for a system? 
2. What can I expect to pay for installation labor?
2. Reliability + Longevity
1. How long will my mini split last? 
2. What is my return on investment? 
3. Product Features
1. What do I get with my system? 
2. What can my system do for me? 
4. Part Availability/Customer Service
1. How will the manufacturer respond when I have an issue? 
2. What are my guarantees that my investment will be worth it?

Let’s take a look at each of these factors and take our question “Are Mr. Cool Ductless DIY Worth It?” and answer it by looking at it with that lens. We think the most effective way of considering these factors is by comparing Mr. Cool DIY products to other mini split single zone options. 

Budget: As of 01/24/2024

It is important to consider all the factors that go into the budget category. You must consider equipment cost, material cost, electrician cost, and labor cost. We took the liberty to break down equipment, material, and labor cost. We didn’t add electrician costs because some jurisdictions require electricians to be involved and others do not. 

Let’s break down some of these numbers. The Mr. Cool DIY equipment package prices tend to be very similar to other brands like Mitsubishi and Fujitsu. However, you can begin to see price differences in the materials and labor categories. Mr. Cool DIY systems come pre-packaged with a line-set, condensate hose, and communication cable while other brands just have the indoor and outdoor unit included. 

Apart from equipment and materials, we do need to consider labor costs. Labor costs can vary dramatically depending on the market. We estimated a range between $1500-3500: we suggest getting 3 quotes in your area to get a better grip on labor costs. For the sake of simplicity, we averaged it out to $2500 for a single zone. This means you would be paying $2500 more to install a non-DIY option, for example. 

In summary, you could be paying up to 3 times more if you go with a non-DIY option. 

Now these numbers are only the start of the conversation. Context here is very important. The following questions need to be answered alongside these numbers: how long will each system run? Will I have problems sooner for some models vs. others. These questions lead us into our next category: Reliability & Durability. 

Reliability & Durability. 

The closest way we can determine reliability is based on what the manufacturer sets as their warranty. Based on their R&D, if they think their system is only going to last 2 years, they are not going to offer a warranty past that 2 year mark. We can loosely correlate warranty longevity to system runtime. Take a look at the side by side comparison of these systems’ warranty policies. 

Here are a few takeaways that we took from this chart. The takeaways are in light of the budget section that we just covered. The Mr. Cool Easy Pro single zone was the cheapest option by far compared to the other brands: however, it has the shortest warranty of them all. While correlation is not causation, we can still assume that the Mr. Cool Easy Pro has the highest likelihood of failing the soonest. 

Now, while the Mr. Cool Easy Pro has the highest likelihood of failing first, it is still the cheapest priced item. Mitsubishi on the other hand is the highest priced item on the list: however, it has the longest warranty as well. We can assume based on the warranty, that Mitsubishi would subjectively last the longest. 

Now, let’s do some simple math. Mr. Cool Easy Pro costs approximately $1755 after equipment and material but may only last around 3 years. Fujitsu costs approximately $4372 but lasts up to 13 years (may be more but we are being conservative). Given repairs are not needed on either system in their life-spans and prices stay the same (which is not realistic), in a 13 year span you would spend $7,608 on Mr. Cool and $4987 on Mitsubishi.

Now it is not realistic to assume prices will remain the same, and that repairs will not be needed in the lifetime of the system so that should be considered in the decision making process. 

The same comparison can be made between the Mr. Cool 4th Generation DIY vs. Mitsubishi. Let’s say Mr. Cool 4th Generation lasts 8 years and Mitsubishi lasts 13 years. Let’s look at the math. In a 13 year span, you would spend $3,579 on a Mr. Cool 4th Generation compared to $4987 for Mitsubishi. 

Now you should consider how long you will be using the system. Do you plan on selling your house or property in a number of years or do you plan on keeping it for the indefinite future? These are important questions to ask when purchasing to determine what makes the most financial sense for you and your family. 

Product Features: 

Another factor to consider when thinking about whether DIY systems are worth it is whether or not the product features stack up against non-DIY units. Let’s go back to our favorite comparison table to look at the differences. 

* Follow Me Function allows airflow to follow a human in a room

* Hot Start technology minimizes cold air rushes when starting up the unit.

After comparing the 4 products we can conclude that the DIY options have just as much, if not better features than the other featured products. Of course we are not comparing the DIY systems to the best deluxe systems from other brands but nonetheless they still stack up pretty well in general. 

To put it simply, you are not missing out on most features if you install a DIY ductless system.

Part Availability: 

The last factor we’ll cover is part availability and customer service. This section is largely subjective and is based on our experience as well as collected customer feedback. 

We have not seen Mr. Cool suffer with part availability. If they are backordered on a particular item, we have seen them replace the entire unit just to keep the customer satisfied. This excellent customer service is largely due to our dedicated customer service rep from Mr. Cool who helps keep a high level of customer satisfaction. This may be different for other vendors but it has been super for Got Ductless thus far. 

Mr. Cool has done a great job creating a well rounded reputation for their customer service on the market. We have heard some customers have had issues reaching Mr. Cool directly in a timely manner; however, it should be noted that Mr. Cool is considered a manufacturer and is product focused rather than focused on conversing with end users. That being said, it should be said that Mr. Cool has done an excellent job communicating with their end user customers despite their position.

Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, and other well known, high-quality manufacturers have great customer service departments as well. The distinction between them is that other high quality brands tend to keep some of their parts available in local distribution centers which speeds up the warranty process. Mr. Cool stocks most parts in Kentucky but the rest come from overseas. This may play a factor in speed of resolution but we have not seen major delays on parts thus far. 

Conclusion: 

Is it worth it to get a Mr. Cool DIY system? It really depends on who is installing the system and whether certain factors mean more to you than others. For example, if you are in an area where contractors charge extremely high prices due to labor shortages, and you are able bodied and have the know-how to do it yourself, a Mr. Cool DIY system might be the best option for you. If you are not inclined to do work yourself, and/or what a longer-term care-free solution, it may make more sense to go with a higher-end contractor installed mini split. Are Mr. Cool DIY ductless mini splits worth it? I think the answer varies for every person. We do hope this blog helps you make that decision for yourself. 

We are happy to help you make the right choice! Call us today at 866-399-0206 to hear expert advice.