Goodman vs MRCOOL Mini Split: Pro-Installed or DIY in 2026?

Both brands make inverter heat pumps that cool, heat and dehumidify without ductwork. So the real choice is how you want the job done and how you want to pay for it. Below we lay out each path, the warranty basics, the money, and who should pick which.

How do you buy a Goodman mini split?

Goodman lists its ductless line on its own site as 20-series single zone systems (12K and 18K BTU) and an 18K multi-zone system. There's no cart and no price. Every product page sends you to a "Find a Dealer" locator.

That dealer sizes the system, supplies the equipment, mounts it, makes the refrigerant connections, pulls a vacuum, checks for leaks and starts it up. On a typical pro-installed mini split, that refrigerant work is the part that needs an HVAC license and tools most homeowners don't own.

Goodman is clear about online sales. Its internet purchase policy says it offers no warranty coverage on Goodman equipment bought by consumers over the internet, and that coverage depends on the unit being installed by a dealer who follows code and licensing rules. If you find a Goodman mini split on an auction site at a good price, that policy is the reason to walk away.

How do you buy a MRCOOL DIY mini split?

MRCOOL DIY systems are sold through authorized dealers like us and shipped to your door. We send them free to the 48 contiguous states from our Kentucky warehouse.

The key part is the Quick Connect line set. It comes filled with R-454B refrigerant from the factory, so you thread the fittings on, tighten them, and the refrigerant side is done. No vacuum pump, no gauges and no HVAC tech for that step.

We carry three DIY lines, all single zone in 9K, 12K, 18K and 24K, with 36K and multi-zone on the top line:

• DIY Select, from $1,249 (prices as of November 2026). The lowest price, a white or black indoor unit, and an 11.5 ft line set in the box. Longer pre-charged line sets are sold separately.
• DIY EasyPro, from $1,487. Adds leak detection, Follow Me, a Gold Fin coated outdoor coil, and ENERGY STAR certification on the 12K, 18K and 24K.
• DIY 5th Gen, from $2,329. The highest efficiency (up to 23.6 SEER2), a 25 ft line set in the box, a 36K size, and multi-zone for 2 to 6 rooms.

You can see all three side by side on our DIY line comparison chart.

How do the warranties compare?

This is where Goodman has a real edge on paper. Its 20-series page lists a 10-year parts limited warranty when you register online within 60 days of installation. None of our DIY lines match 10 years on parts.

The MRCOOL lifetime compressor option needs registration and MRCOOL's paid Care program. MRCOOL's warranty covers the original registered owner and a DIY install. The full documents are on our manuals and warranty page.

One honest point about the Goodman column: a parts warranty pays for the part. Someone still has to diagnose and replace it, so ask the dealer in writing how long they cover their own labor.

Next: what does a DIY mini split cost once you add every part?

Why does the install path change the price so much?

A dealer quote bundles equipment, labor, the refrigerant work, often the electrical, and the dealer's own service promise into one number. You can't see which part costs what unless you ask for an itemized quote.

With DIY, you see every line. Here's a 12K single zone, for a room up to about 550 sq ft, with the accessories most people need:

Then add the electrician for the dedicated circuit and breaker, plus a permit if your town wants one (typically about $50 to $300). Get a local electrician's price before you order so the total is real.

Put that total next to a Goodman dealer's quote for the same size room. The gap between the two is what you'd be paying for labor, the refrigerant work and the dealer's service. For some people that gap is worth every dollar. For others it pays for a second room.

Who should pick Goodman, and who should pick MRCOOL DIY?

Go with a Goodman dealer, or any dealer-installed brand, if most of these sound like you:

• You don't want to drill a 3 in hole through an outside wall or lift a heavy outdoor unit onto a pad.
• You want one company to call when anything goes wrong.
• A longer parts warranty matters more to you than the upfront price.
• The outdoor unit has to go on a second-story wall or a roof.
• You already have a dealer you trust from your furnace or central AC.

Go with MRCOOL DIY if these fit better:

• You've hung shelves, used a level and followed a wiring diagram.
• You'd rather put the labor money toward a better unit or another room.
• You want to install on your schedule, not a contractor's.
• Your space is a garage, addition, bonus room or basement that the ducts never reached.
• You can line up an electrician, or your town lets you do the circuit yourself.

Not sure you can handle the install? Read our DIY self-check before you decide.

Next: how does MRCOOL DIY compare with Mitsubishi?

What if your situation doesn't fit the usual case?

What if I already have a Goodman furnace or central AC?

That's fine. A ductless mini split is its own system with its own remote and app, so it runs next to your ducted equipment without any connection to it. Lots of our customers add a MRCOOL DIY to the one room the central system never keeps comfortable.

What if my winters hit −15°F?

Every MRCOOL DIY line keeps heating down to −13°F outside. If you see colder nights than that, keep a backup heat source or size up, and call us for cold-climate sizing. For a Goodman, ask the dealer for the low-temperature heating rating of the exact model they quote, in writing.

What if my town says only a licensed contractor can do it?

Call your building department and ask exactly which part needs a license. In most places it's the electrical circuit, not the mounting. If the refrigerant side is what they mean, the pre-charged Quick Connect line set usually changes the answer, but get it from them, not from us.

What if I want to do most of it and hire out the rest?

Many of our customers do it this way. You mount the indoor unit, set the pad and run the line set, and an electrician wires the circuit and disconnect. This split-the-job guide shows how people divide the work.

What should you do next?

Measure the room you want to heat and cool, length times width, and note the ceiling height and how much sun it gets. Then run it through our sizing guide to land on 9K, 12K, 18K or 24K.

If you have a Goodman quote in hand, price the same size on our single zone systems page and add the accessories above. If you'd like a second opinion on the size, call us at +1 (844) 999-9725, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST, or text 302-385-6142.