Review · Forthcoming
Our first unit on the bench.
A hands-on install with measured draw, delivered heat at rated outdoor temp, and honest notes on the install experience.
Vol. I · Issue 01
Honest, measured
reviews of ductless
mini-splits.
We install every unit before we review it. We log real power draw, measured decibel levels, and delivered heat output at specific outdoor temperatures — then pair our findings with owner reports from Reddit, YouTube, and HVAC forums. No sponsored scores, no spec-sheet summaries. Just the things you'd want to know if we were sitting across the table.
§ The working method
I.
Installed
Every unit under review is physically installed by a named author with documented experience. Reviews include photographs, install times, and the surprises that don't make it into spec sheets.
II.
Measured
We record actual power draw at rated load, decibels from realistic distances, and heat output at specific outdoor temperatures. Spec-sheet SEER2 numbers tell you what the lab found; we tell you what the meter did.
III.
Cited
Owner reports from Reddit, YouTube, HVAC forums, and Amazon reviews are quoted with live links and archived snapshots. When a source disappears, our citation still works.
§ Tool No. 01
A cost & payback
calculator, by ZIP.
Enter your ZIP, the rooms you want conditioned, and what you're replacing. We pull your local climate (NOAA), your state's current electricity rate (EIA), and the delivered efficiency your chosen unit can realistically achieve in your climate zone — then show annual operating cost, savings versus your existing system, and simple payback.
NOAA Climate Normals·EIA Form 826·IECC Climate Zones·HSPF2 derate by zone
Run the numbers for your home →§ In the next issue
Field Notes
Cold-climate reality check.
HSPF2 numbers look fine on paper. What do they do when it's actually ten degrees outside? We're assembling the data.