Senville AURA Series Mini Split Air Conditioner Inverter Heat Pump, 24000 BTU, Works with Alexa, Energy Star, White

We purchased the Senville SENA-18HF-Z to replace the portable heat pump/AC units we've been using in an outbuilding which houses a 280sf studio and a separate 90sf cattery room (about 3500 cf total). Those portable units, at a cost of about $400-$600 each, would last for about two years running 24/7 before quitting, not to mention having to manually select heat/cool/dehumidifier modes - a real PITA when you're dealing with extreme temperature fluctuations and animal housing. With the price of these mini-splits now so affordable, it was a no-brainer to finally make the leap when one of the portable units died again. We opted to go with Senville over the next closest contender we looked at, Mr. Cool, based on cost, energy efficiency, warranty and length of lineset (16 ft standard, longer available; Mr. Cool only offers 25 ft length).The hardest part of the installation was finding a qualified HVAC person to come out and do the final hookup to qualify for the warranty. Most companies I contacted understandably want to do the whole installation, either with systems they carry or exclusively work on (e.g., Mitsubishi and Daikin). Before pulling the purchasing trigger, I found a company who agreed to do the final portion of the installation with the system we wanted to buy, for $400. While we waited for the Senville to arrive, we ran the new electrical line and quick disconnect box Siemens WN2060U Non-Fused AC Disconnect. We also had to figure out how we were going to circulate the conditioned air into the smaller cattery side of the building, and ended up installing a couple intake fans through an inside window Achla Designs Room-to-Room Minuteman Doorway Fan and an exhaust fan Fan, Room To Room, 8 In through the wall.Our system arrived from So Good to Buy in about 2 weeks, one week earlier than the shipping estimate. Everything we needed was included (except for a 12-4 or 14-4 power cord, which we bought locally but can also buy here MINI SPLIT CABLE 25FT LENGTH), and we installed both the air handler (indoor) and condenser (outdoor) units over two days. The directions aren't great; I think the instructions assume you're an HVAC professional and know what you're doing. There was no wall template for installing the air handler bracket. They use the same directions for several systems and it's not clear what diagrams go with what since they're not keyed by model number. With a little common sense it's not hard to figure out how the units get mounted and what the basic hookups entail. Since the condenser was going to be located on the side of the studio above our parking area, we opted to rent a material lifter to safely hoist it up about 8 feet onto the brackets Outdoor Mounting Bracket for Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner Heat Pump Systems, Universal, 9000-36000 Btu Condenser we purchased separately. The condenser only weighs about 130 lbs. but the weight is very unevenly distributed and wouldn't have been fun for two people on ladders to deal with. For the final work, our HVAC guy checked the electrical, evacuated lines, hooked everything up, released the refrigerant and checked the system for proper function. He was also prepared to bend the lineset and cut/reflare the lineset ends but didn't have to. Since the Senville needs a minimum of 10 feet of lineset, he opted to leave it as is and coil the remainder behind the outdoor unit. The big moment came when the system was turned on for the first time; we were thrilled when the studio temperature immediately dropped 15 degrees in about 5 minutes! And the cool air was nicely distributed throughout the whole room, even the loft area. There are no controls on the air handler; you must use the remote to make any adjustments. We've installed the remote and its included holder near the entrance. HVAC guy said the actual thermostat is in the air handler, and there's a convenient lighted display of the current room temperature right on the front panel. Countering the worst review here, I've not found the actual room temperature to be different from whatever I've set it to. Also, the condensor may not be the better-known Mitsubishi or Daikin brands, but is made by Toshiba and has a 7-year warranty.The system has been working fantastically for about a month now, getting us through some very warm days and a full-on 90+ degree heat spell. The air handler is completely silent, and the condenser runs quietly and without any noticeable vibration at all. We've tried the heating and it appears to work as well as the A/C; we'll find out for sure soon enough. This unit was probably a little oversized for what we needed, but I wanted to make sure there was enough power to reach into the poorly-insulated cattery side. With the room-to-room fan setup so far there's only about a 3-5 degree difference, if that. This Senville system has made a world of difference in comfort, convenience and (hopefully) energy savings for us. Now all I have to do is convince my better half to install one or two in our house!UPDATE 9/19/17: We've had to use the heater since it seems Fall has officially arrived and it works just as well as the A/C. There are no hot spots or hot air blowing - just a warm, ambient temperature. We'll see how things go this winter, but so far we haven't had to change the unit out of Auto Mode at all.UPDATE 2/18/20: Our unit continues to to work perfectly! I make sure to vacuum the filter every couple of months due to the dusty, furry conditions in the studio. It is generally set at auto 75 degrees. I have to adjust up or down a little if its cold (in the 30s) or warm (in the 80s or above) in order to keep the poorly insulated adjoining cattery comfortable. If it was just the studio alone I could literally set it and forget it.UPDATE 11/29/2024: This Senville has been working nonstop except during power outages for over 7 years! It has not malfunctioned even once, and continues to provide spot-on temperature regulation. I leave it on Auto and still tweak the temperature up or down, depending on how much moisture is in the air, which seems to affect the feels-like temperature. The only negative I can see is that the insulation around the lineset outside is breaking down. I will probably need to have someone come out and replace it. Lastly, the only other downside was my husband passing away before we could get another unit installed in the house. The takeaway? Don't wait to get it. You'll love it. But also have a backup plan if the power goes out.

Very easy to install if you know what you are doing. Mini split units are easy to do. This unit draws between 3 and 4 amps per leg full blast under heavy load. 240 single phase. For the love of God please stop putting nm cable in conduit as I have seen in multiple split installs, it is against code. Use THWN or THHN that can be used in wet locations. Make sure you have a nice concentric flare tool, and a vacuum for the line set. This is very well made, super quiet and super efficient. Can't say enough good about this unit. For the btu output it has I can't believe how little power this heat pump uses. This i great for bumper days with hydronic heat and a combi boiler. It can help on risky short cycle days. And the air conditioner works like a charm. Make sure and maintain it well keeping the outside unit clean as well as the inside. Both should be cleaned at least yearly. It is huge on your wall so be prepared for that. Don't skimp on your install quality and make sure you properly run the condensate drain. It is a nice looking unit, but please start making them black. 🙂 Thanks Sennville for a great split unit at a great price. I plan to install more of these in the future.

This is a perfect model for 850-1000 sq feet. The head unit and heat pump unit are very quiet and energy efficient. For the DIYer, the instructions need to be re-done, alot of details are missing. If you are going to tackle this on your own, here are a few good tips and know hows. First the instructions..the pictures are tiny and do not reflect the detail needed when doing a few of the critical steps (like electrical connections) I watched 3-4 videos of other installations of mini-splits and took good notes. Just read through the instructions first and watch a few videos. Second...performing the vacuum on the line is a critical step, knowing the tools required and the connectors is anohter very important aspect that should be in the instructions. I purchased a vacuum (not cleaner) to perform the vacuum procedure, but forgot the brass connector require to connect heat pump to vacuum! took three days to get one! Overall, I had the skills to do this myself and I installed in an afternoon. I also tackled the wiring, which required a 20amp double pole breaker, routing the 12 gauge wire in conduit to a AC cutoff box, also to the outside of house, then wire from AC box to Heat Pump and then wire the connection from head unit to Heat pump. Connecting the lines and the brass fittings; make sure you purchase the Nylog Gasket sealant, be careful with the brass piping, bend slow and easy to get the route needed from head unit to heat pump. After performing the vacuum test and leak test, I put both electrical switches on (AC Cut-off and 20amp double pole in breaker box) Turned the unit on and had instant AC and then switched over to heat! The remote is easy to use and had the option to control via Alexa or Senville app via smart phone, I connected to smart phone and boom! Full control and finally awesome heat for a little house. Also the SEER rating was really good and the unit is Energy Star, so plus plus. Overalll super happy and can be done by anyone with basic wiring, plumbing and handy person skills. Took me 4.5 hours in total. Going to purchase a few more for another project.