MRCOOL DIY vs Easy Pro vs Select vs Advantage: Which to Buy

MRCOOL DIY vs Advantage comes down to one question: will you install it yourself? Here is how all four MRCOOL lines compare, and which to buy.

The Short Answer

Buy the MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen if you plan to install the system yourself and want it to last. It is the most efficient line, heats in the coldest weather, is the only one that scales to multi-zone, and has by far the longest base warranty.

Buy DIY Select if you are cooling or heating one room in a mild climate on a tight budget. Buy Advantage only if you are already paying an HVAC contractor, because MRCOOL requires one for that line. Easy Pro sits between DIY and Select on price and efficiency.

MRCOOL's Four Lines Side by Side

All four lines are ductless heat pumps that use R-454B refrigerant. They heat and cool, and they all offer app and voice control. The differences are in installation, efficiency, cold-weather range and warranty.

Who Can Install Each Line

This is the single biggest difference, and it decides what you really pay.

DIY 5th Gen, DIY Select and Easy Pro: homeowner-installable

These three ship with line sets that are pre-charged with refrigerant at the factory. You mount the indoor unit, set the outdoor unit, run the lines through the wall and screw the fittings together. There is no vacuum pump, no gauges and no refrigerant handling, which is the part that normally needs a certified technician.

MRCOOL describes the DIY 5th Gen as designed for amateur installation with no special tools or training. It says the same of DIY Select. Its support center lists Easy Pro as a self-install system too.

Advantage: licensed technician required

Advantage line sets are not pre-charged. The installer flares the lines, pulls a vacuum and adds refrigerant beyond 25 ft of line. MRCOOL states the system must be installed by an HVAC technician, and its support center warns that self-installation may void the warranty. Read more in our Advantage 18K guide.

Efficiency and Cold-Weather Heating

SEER2 measures cooling efficiency over a season and HSPF2 measures heating efficiency. Higher is better on both. The difference between 17.5 and 23.5 SEER2 is roughly a quarter less electricity for the same cooling.

If you heat with the unit through a northern winter, the DIY 5th Gen is the only line with a published rating to -13°F. In the South, where the job is mostly cooling, the gap between the lines matters less than the price.

Warranty: The Hidden Cost Difference

The DIY 5th Gen comes with a 5-year parts and 7-year compressor warranty, with no registration required. Select, Easy Pro and Advantage all carry 1 year on parts and 2 years on the compressor.

A compressor is the most expensive part in the system. Five extra years of compressor coverage is worth weighing against the $560 price gap between a 12K Select and a 12K DIY 5th Gen. MRCOOL also sells a paid, subscription-style MRCOOL Care plan that extends coverage. Check MRCOOL's current terms before counting on it.

What a 12K System Really Costs

Here is the same 12,000 BTU, 115V room size across all four lines, using Wild Oak Trail prices at the time of writing.

Advantage looks cheapest until you add the contractor. Installation labor varies too much by region to quote, so get a local bid before you compare. If you are hiring an HVAC company anyway, Advantage is a good value and its larger sizes come in 230V up to 36K.

Which MRCOOL Line Should You Buy?

Choose DIY 5th Gen if

• You will install it yourself and want the longest warranty.
• You need real winter heating in a cold climate.
• You may add rooms later. Only DIY condensers go multi-zone for self-installers.
• You need a long line run. The included 25 ft set is the longest of the DIY lines.

Choose DIY Select if

• You are conditioning one room, garage or shop in a mild climate.
• Price matters more than warranty length. See the Select 12K or the Select 24K.
• The outdoor unit sits right behind the indoor unit, so the short 11.5 ft line set is enough.

Choose Easy Pro if

• You want better efficiency than Select without paying DIY 5th Gen prices.
• A 16 ft line set covers your run. Our Easy Pro guide covers the details.

Choose Advantage if

• You are hiring a licensed HVAC contractor regardless.
• You want a 230V 9K or 12K, or a single-zone 36K, which the DIY lines do not all offer. Start with the Advantage 18K system.

Not sure what size you need? Start with our mini split sizing guide. If the system will run from batteries or solar, read how to run a mini split on solar or an EcoFlow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between MRCOOL DIY and Advantage?

MRCOOL DIY systems use pre-charged line sets that a homeowner connects without a vacuum pump or refrigerant tools. Advantage systems are not pre-charged and MRCOOL requires a licensed HVAC technician to install them. DIY 5th Gen also carries a longer warranty: 5 years parts and 7 years compressor, against 1 and 2 years for Advantage.

Can I install a MRCOOL Advantage myself?

MRCOOL says no. The Advantage line must be installed by an HVAC technician, and MRCOOL's support center warns that self-installation may void the warranty. If you want to install it yourself, choose DIY 5th Gen, DIY Select or Easy Pro.

Is MRCOOL DIY Select as good as DIY 5th Gen?

Select is a simpler, cheaper system. It rates 16.5 to 17.5 SEER2 against up to 23.6 for DIY 5th Gen, has a shorter 11.5 ft line set, and carries a 1-year parts, 2-year compressor warranty instead of 5 and 7 years. It is a good fit for a single room in a mild climate.

Is the MRCOOL Easy Pro really DIY?

MRCOOL markets the Easy Pro as homeowner-installable because it ships with a 16 ft pre-charged Fast Connection line set. As with every MRCOOL line, the electrical connection to a dedicated breaker should be done by a licensed electrician.

Which MRCOOL mini split is best for cold climates?

The DIY 5th Gen has the best published cold-weather rating of the four lines, with heating down to -13°F. MRCOOL does not publish a comparable 5th Gen heating limit for Select, Easy Pro or Advantage.

Which MRCOOL lines come in 115V?

All four lines offer 9,000 and 12,000 BTU models in 115V, which run on a dedicated 115V, 20A circuit. Sizes of 18,000 BTU and up need a 208-230V circuit.