Any HVAC Experts On Board? Lennox?

[Sigarms]

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Good to know about the 70%.
Part of the problem is this is only the second mini split the dealer has installed. He is responsive but a big part of the problem is Lennox support.
He had Lennox on the hold line for over an hour the day of installation with a question and never did get to talk to a tech. Also, my understanding is that Lennox doesn't provide adequate written service info to their dealers.

I told him that I would try adjusting the cooling temperature compensation which I did and he will call Lennox when I get back with him with the results. He is a good dealer, it's just hard to get info from Lennox.

Just remember, the guy that knows his ***** on the equipment doesn't work for Lennox, but the manufacturer of the re branded Lennox equipment.

Technical support by Lennox can be regional. Sometimes it's who you know to call. That said, since Lennox doesn't actually make their own mini splits, not certain how they break the technical flow chart for that brand on who gets the call on their end and who those calls go to as I've never dealt with them for mini splits.

Generally when it comes to mini splits, you need to deal with a guy that either works with the manufacturer themselves, or someone who specializes in Mini Splits working for the "sub brand" (in this case Lennox).

I can tell you for a fact and first hand experience, when dealing with Daikin, Fujitsu and Mitsubishi, if the dealer knows what he's doing, he's going to call tech support (direct to that brands tech department) ahead and schedule an appointment when he or his guys are out on the job (generally 1/2 hour after the appointment on the job, so you have time to run the diagnostics and you can start going over the system operation).

I'd rather deal straight with the manufacturer than the sub brand people myself.

Carrier / ICP brands = Toshiba (or they may have changed because I know ICP is now using Gree)
Lennox brand = Media (or they may have changed)
York brand = Gree for residential
Rheem brands = Fujitsu
Trane/American standard brands = Mitsubishi

Word of advice, tell your lennox dealer he should just deal with Daikin, Fujitsu or Mitsubishi and be done with it. That said, regional support with either 3 I mentioned can be different on the contractors side.

EDIT - How old in age is your dealer? Only his second mini split system??! Inverter systems is where everything is going to be at 20 years from now (or sooner), added you'll end up using a inverter compressor for coils on top of gas furnaces and air handlers (already out now). I can't believe that if he already has used Daikin, Fujitsu or Mitsubishi he would of went to Lennox for a private lable brand.

Think about this... Lennox use to use Gree, now they are using Media (or perhaps someone else). Where do you get the parts 10 years from now if it was made by Gree and Lennox is no longer using Gree? Part of the problem on older private labled systems is just trying to figure out who actually made it if you aren't familiar with the nomenclature.

On a sidenote, Far east countries who make mini splits don't use a standard serial number like the Americans do that specify exactly when and where it was made. Seriously. Gave Mitsubishi a serial number for a replacement compressor. They asked me what year it was installed. Told them I had no clue but the serial number should get them in the ballpark. Nope, it was either made in 2001 or 2011, I needed to know the install year for them to look up the part because the parts could be different.

 

[kenmac]

I wish him the best. It has been my experience, Tech support is lacking throughout the industry

 

[Sigarms]

I wish him the best. It has been my experience, Tech support is lacking throughout the industry

It's who you know and whose cell phone do you have, added you need to ensure you have your data correct and together, other then telling the techincal service guy "everything looks good". FIRST thing I ask a guy myself on a unitary split product system is what's your static pressure and CFM's. The answer is generally always "GOOD!". From a technical standpoint, "GOOD!" means jack crap. Know why they say "GOOD!"? Because they never check because what's more important to them is what their gauges are telling them.

 

[npalen]

Five degrees between where the unit starts to cool and where it shuts off seems like a very basic problem that should be fixed with a simple parameter adjustment.
I think the problem is that Lennox doesn't supply this info to the dealers.

 

[Sigarms]

The irony is with all this trouble shooting, the one question not asked / answered is how high is the wall mount unit off the floor (hot air rises, cold air falls)? Also, how far is the wall mount unit away from the opposing wall and what is the throw distance of that unit (should be found in it's tech spec guide).

Honestly from my experience, full glass enclosures can be the most trickiest. Simple solution is it's the equipment's issue, more harder is the environment the equipment is in.

Personal experience in NC, commercial add on to a building, full glass enclosure which had no conditioned space below the add on office space. Job being done in February when it gets cold even in NC. Before the equipment was installed, guys showed up in the new office space at 0800. It was about 35 degrees outside that morning (that's cold for southerners when I could still be wearing shorts LOL). The new office space (without HVAC) was already over 80 degree F that morning in that office space. I didn't plan the job, but it was a "oh *****" moment on the guy who ordered the equipment when everyone looked for the actual low ambient cooling capacity. End of the day, brands were switched out to guaranty low ambient cooling. Point being, sometimes it's not the equipments issue but an envrionment issue.

Never spent much time in Kansas, but had spent some time in Oklahoma. I'm guessing the temps between winter and summer can be extreme?

 

[wagne223]

Five degrees between where the unit starts to cool and where it shuts off seems like a very basic problem that should be fixed with a simple parameter adjustment.
I think the problem is that Lennox doesn't supply this info to the dealers.

I have 3 pioneer mini splits. My understanding and experience is they have a 4 degree swing on-off.
Mini splits are designed to keep you comfortable and control humidity by running continually. They do not cycle like typical split systems.


Mini splits are quiet and energy efficient, however they are poor at circulating air.
Air circulation is important for even cooling and comfort.

I run a fan at all times in the rooms that have mini splits. 2 have ceiling fans and one I use a small Honeywell fan.

Adding the air circulation helped my comfort considerably.

Also, the Auto system selection is worthless for comfort. Only good for vacation. Be sure to use "cool" or "heat" setting.
I do use auto on the fan speed.

 

[Sigarms]

Also, the Auto system selection is worthless for comfort. Only good for vacation. Be sure to use "cool" or "heat" setting.
I do use auto on the fan speed.

Fact is both Fujitsu and Mitsubishi have a GREAT feature for "auto" between heating and cooling for single zone systems. When it comes to multi zones, Fujitsu has a 30-45 minute delay which can upset customers, and with Mitsubishi its not even possible to set a multi zone on auto unless you use their app software, which can confuse anyone to actually enact the auto feature and it's not worth even trying to go over what you need to do with the homeowner.

At least the unkown Chinese factory used an American name for "Pioneer" Seems they are imported under Parker Davis HVAC international. Sometimes you do get what you pay for.

 

[npalen]

Yes, temperatures in Kansas can range from -20F to +120F.

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Wondering if this universal mini split controller might be an answer. Supposedly it shuts the unit "off" when set temp is reached and "on" when it needs to heat or cool. My question would be if shutting the unit completely off is a good thing. Anyone with experience with these? They are also wifi controllable with the app for what that's worth.

Edit: After further reading, it sounds like the controller does not actually turn the unit on and off but actually cycles the compressor for heat or cool and also controls the fan speed.

I have 3 pioneer mini splits. My understanding and experience is they have a 4 degree swing on-off.
Mini splits are designed to keep you comfortable and control humidity by running continually. They do not cycle like typical split systems.

Not sure what you're saying above. How does one get them to run continually rather than cycle?

 

[Sigarms]

Not sure what you're saying above. How does one get them to run continually rather than cycle?

If you're driving a car, what if you had 160 gears in a automatic?

When you drive a V8, do you get better gas mileage if your in the city stoping and going at every traffic light, or do you do better cruising at 70 at a constant speed?

If your riding a bike, is it easier or harder going uphill and down hill on that bike with a 3 speed vs a 10 speed?

Same concept with inverter compressors.

Take my word for it, stay away from mobile apps on your mini split system. With a mobile app, you're now including a whole set of possible issues that has nothing to do with the mini split system. Set it for the temp you want, and let it run...

 

[npalen]

Set it for the temp you want, and let it run...

That would be fine if there was not five degrees fahrenheit variance. That's going from uncomfortably warm to uncomfortably cold.

Take my word for it, stay away from mobile apps on your mini split system. With a mobile app, you're now including a whole set of possible issues that has nothing to do with the mini split system. Set it for the temp you want, and let it run...

Can you elaborate? The Cielo controller can be used locally as well as via wifi. Are you saying there are possible issues with either method or just the mobile app and wifi, and what are the issues?