Ductless Mini Splits for Casitas, ADUs, and Guest Houses in Austin
Updated September 2026
A casita, ADU, or guest house in Central Texas has its own cooling load, often no attic for ductwork, and no reason to overspend on a complicated system. A ductless mini split is a heat pump that cools through brutal Texas summers and handles our mild winters without a furnace. That makes it a practical fit for a converted garage, backyard casita, or guest suite.
Old West Minisplits posts flat installed pricing for the Austin area and the I-35 corridor. One zone is $2,000, two zones are $3,700, and three zones are $5,400. That includes equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, and a Home Depot run for touch-up paint.
Why a mini split fits a casita or ADU
Ductless mini splits do not rely on ductwork, so you are not cutting open ceilings or building soffits in a small living space. They are heat pumps, which means they cool through brutal Central Texas summers and handle mild winters without a furnace. One outdoor unit can serve one or more indoor zones, which works well for a casita with a main living area and a bedroom. Compared with window units or portable ACs, a ductless system does not block a window and is a far more efficient permanent solution.
What the flat price includes
Old West Minisplits quotes flat installed prices instead of making you sit through a custom bid: one zone $2,000, two zones $3,700, and three zones $5,400. The price includes equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, and a Home Depot run for touch-up paint. There are no trip fees or surprise add-ons. Exceptions are told up front: a very long line set, a panel upgrade the house already needed, or unusually difficult mounting.
How that compares in Central Texas
Most local HVAC contractors are quote-based and require an in-home sales visit. Ductless installs in Central Texas commonly run $3,000 to $6,000 per zone on a custom quote. Old West Minisplits keeps the same flat pricing corridor-wide, from Austin north to Waco/Killeen and south to San Antonio.
How we compare
| Factor | Old West Minisplits | The usual |
|---|---|---|
| One-zone installed price | Flat $2,000, posted online | Central Texas ductless installs commonly run $3,000-$6,000 per zone on custom quote |
| Pricing process | Flat pricing for 1, 2, or 3 zones posted before you call | Quote-based, usually after an in-home sales visit |
| Included scope | Equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, and a touch-up paint run | Scope varies by contractor and quote; line items must be confirmed |
| Exceptions | Told up front: very long line set, existing panel upgrade, or unusually difficult mounting | Typically addressed during the quote process or as add-ons after assessment |
| Service and pricing area | Austin and the I-35 corridor north to Waco/Killeen and south to San Antonio, same flat pricing | Service area and travel pricing vary by contractor |
Straight answers
Is a mini split enough to cool a casita through a Texas summer?
Yes. Mini splits are heat pumps built to cool through brutal Central Texas summers and handle our mild winters without a furnace. Proper sizing and placement for the space still matter.
What does the one-zone $2,000 price include?
It includes equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, and a Home Depot run for touch-up paint. There are no trip fees or surprise add-ons. Exceptions are told up front: a very long line set, a panel upgrade the house already needed, or unusually difficult mounting.
Do I need ductwork or a furnace in a guest house?
No. A ductless mini split does not use ductwork, and because it is a heat pump, it can heat and cool. In Central Texas, that handles our mild winters without a furnace.
Where does Old West Minisplits install at these flat prices?
Old West Minisplits serves Austin and the I-35 corridor, north to Waco/Killeen and south to San Antonio. The same flat installed pricing applies corridor-wide.
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