Mini splits for she-sheds, studios and backyard flex space
Updated September 2026
A backyard she-shed, art studio or flex office is the kind of space a ductless mini split was made for. One indoor unit on the wall, one outdoor condenser, and you have quiet cooling through brutal Central Texas summers plus heat for our mild winters, no furnace required.
Old West Minisplits charges a flat $2,000 for a one-zone install. Equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup and a Home Depot run for touch-up paint are all included. No trip fees or surprise add-ons. The same price holds from Austin north to Waco and Killeen and south to San Antonio.
Why a window unit or portable AC falls short in a she-shed
Window units and portable ACs are cheap to buy. They cool one room loudly, block a window, drip condensate, and are far less efficient. A mini split heat pump cools the same space quietly, leaves the windows free, and also heats through mild winters. For a studio or flex space you spend real time in, the installed mini split is the more honest long-term choice.
The $2,000 one-zone price and the exceptions we name first
One zone is $2,000, two zones $3,700, three zones $5,400. That figure includes equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup and a Home Depot run for touch-up paint. No trip fees. The three exceptions we tell you up front are a very long line set, a panel upgrade the house already needed, or unusually difficult mounting. Ductless work from most local HVAC contractors commonly runs $3,000-$6,000 per zone on a custom quote after an in-home sales visit.
What a backyard install actually looks like
Most she-sheds and studios take a single indoor head mounted high on a wall and an outdoor condenser on a pad or bracket. Line set and standard electrical are in the $2,000. A failing, aging window unit or a portable that never quite did the job is often a good reason to get a flat-price new install quote instead of chasing another cheap appliance.
How we compare
| Factor | Old West Minisplits | The usual |
|---|---|---|
| Installed price, one zone | $2,000 flat, listed items included | $3,000-$6,000 per zone from most quote-based contractors |
| How pricing is given | Posted price, identical from Austin to Waco, Killeen and San Antonio | Custom quote after an in-home sales visit |
| Surprise charges | None. Long line set, needed panel upgrade or difficult mounting named first | Add-ons often appear after the visit |
| Heating | Heat pump, no furnace needed for mild winters | Window and portable units usually cool only |
| Comfort and windows | Quiet wall unit, windows stay usable | Loud, blocks a window, condensate drip |
Straight answers
Can a mini split heat a she-shed during a Central Texas winter?
Yes. Mini splits are heat pumps. They provide cooling in summer and heat in winter without a furnace. Our winters are mild enough that this is the normal way to condition a backyard studio or flex space.
What if the shed sits far from the house?
A very long line set is one of the exceptions we name before any work is scheduled, never as a surprise after. A normal run is already inside the $2,000 one-zone price.
Will I need a new electrical panel for a backyard mini split?
Standard electrical is included in the flat price. A panel upgrade is extra only when the house already needed one. We disclose that before you commit, the same as a very long line set or unusually difficult mounting.
Is a mini split worth it compared with another window unit?
Window units and portable ACs cost less at purchase but they are loud, they occupy a window, they drip, and they are far less efficient. A one-zone mini split at the posted $2,000 installed price gives quiet year-round comfort and leaves the shed looking finished, including the Home Depot paint touch-up.
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