Installing a mini-split AC in a Brooklyn apartment

NYC housing, landlords, and contractors

• Multiple comments describe NYC property management and trades as exploitative and often incompetent (locksmiths, supers, HVAC, plumbers, electricians).
• Locksmith scams are called out: high prices, immediate drilling instead of picking, and Google Maps filled with fake “emergency locksmith” listings.
• Co-op/condo bureaucracy, board approvals, and city permits are seen as major time and cost multipliers; “approved vendors” and insurance requirements add friction.
• Some suggest building-wide “group buys” for mini-splits as a partial workaround, if boards are proactive.

HVAC industry, pricing, and DIY

• Many say US (and especially NYC) HVAC is “highway robbery”: examples of $10k quotes to install ~$1k minisplits, or ~$40k+ Brooklyn projects that DIYers say they did for ~$4k–6k elsewhere.
• Several report DIY minisplit or central heat pump installs (including electrical, pads, vacuuming, charging) with good results, and note EPA 608 certification is relatively easy to obtain.
• Others stress electrical/code complexity and permitting as non-trivial, even if the physical work is straightforward.
• Concerns about private equity ownership of HVAC and electrical firms: heavy upselling, replacement pushed over repair, scripted “safety upgrade” checklists.
• Counterpoint notes legitimate contractor overhead (licensing, insurance, vehicles, permits, inspections), but many still don’t see how it justifies 3–4× markups.

Installation time and regional contrasts

• Commenters from Europe, Brazil, India, Australia, and other parts of the US report 1–2 day minisplit installs costing ~$500–$2,000 all-in, making the Brooklyn timeline (over a month) and $40k+ cost seem extreme.
• Some share very positive experiences with specific NYC contractors who did neat, fast work in condos, but this is portrayed as rare and highly valuable.

Energy use, insulation, and building envelope

• The apartment’s ~$1,000/month peak electric bills are widely viewed as a red flag: commenters infer “off-the-charts” leakage and/or heavy resistive backup heat use.
• OP’s own description—aluminum windows, no ceiling insulation, constant exhaust fans, a leaky dryer vent, and an elevator shaft—reinforces the idea of a severely compromised envelope.
• Many argue an energy audit, IR camera survey, and air-sealing/insulation should have preceded or accompanied the minisplit investment; some suggest possible meter miswiring in multi-unit buildings.
• A few note that even with poor insulation, a well-functioning heat pump should usually beat space heaters; some question control logic (e.g., defrost cycles, backup heat behavior).

Heat pumps, PTACs, and terminology

• PTAC is clarified as “Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner” (through-the-wall hotel-style units).
• Some are surprised the previous PTAC placement could have blocked a downstairs neighbor’s window; others note the noise impact of outdoor compressors near windows.
• Discussion on terminology: all ACs are technically heat pumps, but in common HVAC usage “heat pump” usually means a reversible system providing both heating and cooling, with higher efficiency than resistive heat or gas in many contexts.

Controls and Wi‑Fi add-ons

• Many complain OEM Wi‑Fi modules for brands like Mitsubishi/Daikin are wildly overpriced (hundreds to ~$1,000) for what is essentially a cheap microcontroller + radio.
• Alternatives suggested include Sensibo, generic IR blasters, open-source ESP32 projects (e.g., Faikin and Mitsubishi CN105 ESPHome) with good Home Assistant / HomeKit integration.

Broader housing and efficiency themes

• Some argue the “greenest” move in many regions is to aggressively depreciate and tear down old, inefficient housing (outside truly historic stock) and rebuild to modern standards, but others raise waste and preservation concerns.
• Zoning, NIMBYism, and historic designation processes are cited as barriers to replacing or significantly upgrading old homes.