MRCOOL Targets HVAC Labor Shortage with DIY Select Mini-Split Launch

Managing Member Jason Ingram argues that the rigid, high-cost installation processes of the past no longer serve the modern housing market. By redesigning equipment to prioritize accessibility, the company aims to reduce labor-related barriers while maintaining professional-grade performance. The system features inverter-driven cooling and heating, with efficiency ratings reaching 17.5 SEER2, and transitions to the more environmentally conscious R-454B refrigerant.

The shift toward self-installation is gaining traction across diverse climates. In Patagonia, Arizona, homeowners are using the units to climate-control desert dwellings, while in Spearfish, South Dakota, builder Jared Capp has integrated the systems into specialized greenhouse environments. To support this growth, MRCOOL has invested heavily in technical education, partnering with institutions like SUNY Delhi and the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology to train a new generation of installers. With capacities ranging from 9K to 24K BTU, the DIY Select series functions as a direct response to the industry's struggle to balance quality output with an increasingly constrained workforce.