Mini-split – Graves On SOHO Technology

A dirty little tale of a Mitsubishi mini-split heat pump

September 8, 2025
Michael Graves
Office Life

I’ve worked from my home office in Houston since May of 2001. Technically, it’s the apartment that’s part of our detached garage. When we bought this place it was equipped with a hefty through-the-wall heat pump that roared like a locomotive. It wasn’t long before that noisy old beast failed.

Since then we’ve had three different ductless mini-split systems installed. And learned a bit about them along the way. Some lessons take some time to really sink in. That makes them worth sharing.

Staying Frosty Through A Texas Summer

Some time ago I characterized a high quality coffee machine as essential equipment for home office dweller. That remains true, but given the last four weeks straight of 90+ degree days, culminating in a daytime high of 107 F (!) last weekend, I’m revising my stance to nominate the air conditioner as technological king of this hill.

When my wife and I bought this property some dozen years ago we were specifically looking for a home with a garage apartment that I could adapt into a home office. The one bedroom, ground floor, garage apartment here seemed the perfect candidate.

In general, my home office has served me well. In fact, I’m truly blessed to have such a space. Even so, over time I’ve made some changes to enhance my productivity, including replacing the air conditioner…twice!

The path by which I can to have the current air conditioner was not simple. Along the way I have learned a few lessons. Since the major purpose of this site is to share such experience I thought it about time that I addressed the matter of keeping my cool.