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Is the MRCOOL DIY Select any good?
Short answer: The DIY Select is the lowest-cost MRCOOL DIY system, from $1,249 for a 9K (prices as of November 2026), with the same Quick Connect install, Wi-Fi app and heating to −13°F as the pricier lines. In exchange you give up some efficiency, leak detection, Follow Me, the coated outdoor coil and warranty years: 1 year on parts, 2 on the compressor. It suits garages, rentals and mild climates, and it's a poor fit for coastal homes or rooms you'll heat hard for a decade.
The MRCOOL DIY Select is the system people find when they sort by price. This review covers what that price buys, what it leaves out and who should spend a little more.
What do you get with a MRCOOL DIY Select?
Each DIY Select single zone system pairs one indoor wall unit with one outdoor unit and an 11.5 ft pre-charged Quick Connect line set. You screw the line set onto both units, open the valves, and the refrigerant side is done, with no vacuum pump, gauges or HVAC tech.
It's an inverter heat pump charged with R-454B. It cools, heats down to −13°F, dehumidifies, connects to the MRCOOL app over Wi-Fi and answers to Alexa or Google Assistant. In silent mode the indoor unit runs at 18 dB(A), and outside you'll hear 54 to 61 dB(A) depending on size.
| Size | Power | Price, from | Typical space |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9K | 115V | $1,249 | Small bedroom, home office, workshop corner |
| 12K | 115V | $1,399 | Large bedroom, one-car garage, studio |
| 18K | 230V | $1,690 | Two-car garage, big living room |
| 24K | 230V | $1,899 | Open living area, larger shop |
The indoor unit comes in white or black at the same price. Some buyers pick the Select for the black alone, since it disappears on a dark accent wall, in a media room or in a shop with dark paneling.
What's not in the box
Like every MRCOOL DIY system, the Select doesn't include the disconnect switch, the whip, a pad or wall bracket, a line set cover, or the wire and breaker from your panel. Plan on about $59 for the switch, $72 for the whip and $127 to $172 for a bracket or pad from our accessories.
Who is the DIY Select a good fit for?
The Select makes sense when low upfront cost matters more than features you'd rarely use. These are the buyers we see it suit best.
- Garages and workshops that get heated and cooled on weekends, not around the clock.
- Rentals, guest houses and ADUs, where a landlord fitting three units saves up to $714 against three EasyPros.
- Mild climates across the Southeast, Texas and much of California, where heating is a few chilly months.
- Sunrooms and enclosed porches that need cooling in July and only a little heat in January.
- Any room where you want a black indoor unit.
In all of these, the short warranty matters less because the system works fewer hours, or because you'd rather keep the $116 to $238 per unit that the EasyPro costs over it.
What do you give up compared with the EasyPro?
The EasyPro is the next step up and the fair comparison, since sizes and power match.
| DIY Select | DIY EasyPro | |
|---|---|---|
| SEER2 (cooling) | 16.5 to 17.5 | 18.9 to 20.2 |
| HSPF2 Region 4 (heating) | 8.3 to 9.0 | 8.5 to 9.3 |
| Leak detection | No | Yes |
| Follow Me | No | Yes |
| Gold Fin coil coating | No | Yes |
| ENERGY STAR | No | 12K, 18K, 24K |
| Warranty, parts / compressor | 1 yr / 2 yr | 3 yr / 5 yr, lifetime option |
| Indoor unit color | White or black | White |
Leak detection
EasyPro and 5th Gen units flag a refrigerant leak. On a Select, you usually find out when the room stops getting as cool as it used to.
Follow Me
Follow Me lets the unit read the temperature at the remote, wherever you set it. Without it, the Select reads its own sensor up near the ceiling, where warm air collects, so in heat mode the couch can feel cooler than the setpoint says.
Gold Fin coating
Gold Fin is a corrosion coating on the outdoor coil. Far inland it matters less. Near the coast, salt air eats at bare aluminum fins, and the coating is what slows that down.
ENERGY STAR
The Select isn't ENERGY STAR certified. Many utility rebates ask for that label, so check your utility's program before you buy, since a rebate can close the price gap to the EasyPro.
Warranty
One year on parts and two on the compressor is the shortest coverage in the MRCOOL DIY family. The EasyPro gives you 3 and 5, plus a lifetime option through registration and MRCOOL's paid Care program.
Next: What does the EasyPro add for about $200 more?
How far can the outdoor unit sit from the indoor unit?
The Select ships with an 11.5 ft line set, measured from where it leaves the indoor unit to the service valves on the outdoor unit.
In practice that covers an indoor unit on an outside wall with the outdoor unit right below it or a few feet to one side. Before you order, run a tape along the real path: out the back of the unit, through the wall, down the siding and over to the outdoor spot.
If the shortest path is longer than 11.5 ft, you can still use the Select. MRCOOL sells separate pre-charged line sets in the matching pipe size, plus coupler kits for long runs; check the line set chart in your Select manual for the exact part.
That adds a few hundred dollars and trims the Select's price edge. The DIY 5th Gen includes 25 ft in the box, so for a 20 ft run, price both setups before you decide. Our line set length guide walks through the measuring.
Watch where the line set leaves the indoor unit and how far it travels to the outdoor valves, since that is the run your 11.5 ft has to cover.
The 9K and 12K run on 115V and the 18K and 24K on 230V. Either way the unit needs its own circuit; see the installation manual for your size for breaker and wire size.
Who should skip the DIY Select?
We'd steer you to the EasyPro or 5th Gen if any of these describe your room.
- You live within reach of salt air and want the outdoor coil to last.
- The mini split will be the main heat in a place with long, cold winters.
- You plan to stay put for ten years and want the warranty to cover more of them.
- One open space needs more than 24K, or you want several rooms on one outdoor unit.
- Your utility pays a rebate only for ENERGY STAR equipment.
What if the Select almost fits?
What if my garage drops below −13°F?
The Select isn't rated to heat below −13°F, and neither is the EasyPro. In a garage that sees those nights, keep a backup heater for them, or call us for cold-climate sizing.
What if I want a second room later?
Buy another Select. Each one is a complete system with its own outdoor unit, so two rooms means two outdoor units on the wall or pad. For three or more rooms, a 5th Gen multi-zone is usually tidier.
What if I'm between 12K and 18K?
Garages and sunrooms with thin insulation and big windows often need the bigger unit. Keep in mind the 18K needs 230V while the 12K runs on 115V, which can change the electrical cost.
What to do before you order a Select
Measure the room and check it against our sizing guide. Then measure the line set path, and if it comes in under 11.5 ft, the included set covers it. Longer than that, add a longer line set from the chart in the manual.
If you're torn between the Select and the EasyPro, the three-line buying guide lays out every difference. You can also call us at +1 (844) 999-9725, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST, and we'll help you pick the size.
