MRCOOL Easy Pro 5th Gen 18,000 BTU vs MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 18,000 BTU
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Quick take: The MRCOOL Easy Pro 5th Gen 18,000 BTU costs $803 less; the MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 18,000 BTU is the more efficient unit (22.5 SEER2).
| Spec | MRCOOL Easy Pro 5th Gen 18,000 BTU | MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 18,000 BTU |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,806 | ~$2,609 |
| Type | Single-Zone DIY | Single-Zone DIY |
| Capacity | 18k BTU | 18k BTU |
| Coverage | ~800 sq ft | ~700 sq ft |
| SEER2 (cooling) | 20 | 22.5 |
| HSPF2 (heating) | 8.5 | 11.5 |
| Low-Ambient Heating | to -13°F | to -13°F |
| Max heat at 5°F (NEEP) | 9,800 BTU | 12,800 BTU |
| Heat kept at 5°F | 54% of rated | 71% of rated |
| Refrigerant | R-454B | R-454B |
| Zones | Single zone | Single zone |
| Voltage | 230V | 230V |
| WiFi Control | Built-in | Built-in |
| Install | Self-install: the 11.5 ft Quick Connect lineset is precharged with R-454B, so there is no vacuum pump or gauge set. Outdoor MCA is 15A with a 20A maximum fuse on a 208/230V circuit. At 11.5 ft the included lineset is short, and precharged sets cannot be extended, so the condenser has to sit just outside the wall the head is on. | Precharged 25-ft R-454B Quick Connect lineset (1/4" x 1/2"), no vacuum pump, same as the rest of the DIY line. Power is a dedicated 208/230V circuit; MRCOOL's spec sheet lists an 18A minimum circuit ampacity and 20A maximum fuse, so a 20A double-pole breaker covers it. The condenser is about 93 lb, a two-person carry if stairs are involved. Seal the wall penetration with putty or silicone, not expanding foam: the air handler's R-454B leak sensor can read curing foam as a leak. |
| Warranty | 5-year compressor / 3-year parts per MRCOOL DIY Direct's current EZPRO listing; earlier Easy Pro kits and some resellers list shorter terms, so check the page you buy from. | 7-year compressor / 5-year parts with registration (MRCOOL DIY Direct also offers an optional lifetime-compressor upgrade) |
Pros & cons
MRCOOL Easy Pro 5th Gen 18,000 BTU
- ✓Precharged Quick Connect lineset: no vacuum pump, no gauges, no refrigerant charging
- ✓About $1,806 at MRCOOL's store, well under the DIY 5th Gen 18k
- ✓5-year compressor and 3-year parts on the current listing, better than earlier Easy Pro terms
- ✓Smart controller, Alexa and Google compatibility
- ✗NEEP shows 9,800 BTU/h at 5°F, about 54% of the 18,000 BTU/h rating, and no Energy Star cold-climate listing
- ✗HSPF2 of 8.5 is below every DIY-series MRCOOL 18k
- ✗Included lineset is only 11.5 ft and cannot be lengthened
MRCOOL DIY 5th Gen 18,000 BTU
- ✓11.5 HSPF2 on the certified pairing, up from 9.8 on the 4th Gen
- ✓Holds 12,800 BTU at 5°F at a 2.44 COP, the best 5°F efficiency of any MRCOOL DIY unit
- ✓20A maximum fuse on a 208/230V circuit, a lighter electrical requirement than most 1.5-ton units
- ✓Energy Star certified and NEEP cold-climate listed, which is what most heat-pump rebate programs check
- ✗Still needs a 240V circuit and disconnect, which is the most common surprise cost for DIY buyers
- ✗About $400 more than the 4th Gen 18k's typical price
- ✗Cooling efficiency didn't improve (22.5 SEER2 vs 22.7)
- ✗Too new for any long-term owner history, so reliability past the first couple of years is unknown
- ✗No interchangeability with 4th Gen linesets, couplers, or boards