Mini Splits for Your Shop, Barn, or Detached Workspace
Updated September 2026
If you work out of a shop, keep tools in a barn, or have a detached garage you’d like to use year-round, you already know the problem: Central Texas heat turns any uninsulated metal or wood building into an oven by 10 a.m. from May through October. Most contractors will tell you ducted HVAC is the only option, but that means cutting into walls, running ductwork through trusses, and paying for a system sized for a house, not a workspace.
Old West Minisplits installs ductless mini split heat pumps in these spaces for a flat $2,000 per zone, with no required in-home sales visit. You get cooling in the summer and heating in the winter, all from a single outdoor unit connected to a compact indoor head mounted high on the wall. We handle everything from equipment and line set to electrical hookup, refrigerant, and testing. The price is the price.
Why a Mini Split Works Better in a Shop or Barn
A ductless mini split is a heat pump. That means it provides both air conditioning and heat. For a workshop or barn, you don’t need central air, you need to keep a specific area comfortable while you work. Mini splits mount directly on the wall and blow conditioned air right where you need it. They don’t require ductwork, which is usually impractical in a metal building or a space with open trusses. The indoor unit takes up about 12 inches of wall space and connects to an outdoor condenser via a small line set run through a 3-inch hole. Installation is clean, fast, and doesn’t require structural changes.
Flat Price, No Sales Visit, No Hidden Charges
Our pricing is simple: one zone is $2,000, two zones $3,700, three zones $5,400. That includes equipment, labor, line set up to 25 feet, standard electrical connection, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, and a trip to Home Depot for touch-up paint. We cover the entire I-35 corridor from Waco/Killeen down to San Antonio at the same flat rate. Most local HVAC contractors work on a quote basis that requires an in-home visit and often lands between $3,000 and $6,000 per zone. We tell you the honest price up front, and the only exceptions are a very long line set, a panel upgrade your building already needed, or an unusually difficult mounting surface, and we raise those before the install, not after.
No More Loud Window Units or Portable ACs
Window units and portable air conditioners are cheap at the store, but they cool one room loudly, block a window or vent, drip condensate onto the floor, and cycle on and off constantly in a battle against 100-degree attic heat. They also don’t provide reliable heat in the winter. A mini split is quieter, mounts out of the way, has no exposed hose or bucket, and uses inverter technology to run continuously at low speed, which keeps temperature steady and cuts your electric bill compared to a window unit. For a workspace you use daily, the mini split pays for itself in comfort and durability within a season or two.
How we compare
| Factor | Old West Minisplits | The usual |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat $2,000/one zone, $3,700/two zones, $5,400/three zones. No sales visit required. | Quote-based: $3,700–$6,000 per zone, requires in-home estimate, often includes trip fees. |
| Installation time | Usually one day for single zone, two days for multi-zone. Prep and cleanup included. | Often 1–2 days, with follow-up for adjustments; schedule may depend on sales visit availability. |
| Heating & cooling | Heat pump provides both. Cools through Central Texas summers, heats through mild winters without a furnace. | Most quote-based contractors also offer heat pumps, but price varies widely; some push separate furnace systems. |
| Suitability for shops/barns | Ductless wall mount. No ductwork needed. Works in metal buildings, garages, and open-truss spaces. | Many contractors prefer ducted systems for shops, which require cutting walls and installing ducts, expensive and invasive. |
| Surprise fees | Exceptions named before install: long line set, needed panel upgrade, tricky mounting. No add-ons after. | Common to encounter upcharges for line set over 15 feet, electrical work, or difficult access after the quote is accepted. |
Straight answers
What if my barn or shop isn’t insulated?
Mini splits can still work, but they’ll run longer and may struggle to maintain temperature in extreme heat or cold. For best performance, we recommend at least basic insulation (R-13 walls, R-19 ceiling). We’ll give you an honest assessment when you reach out.
Do I need a dedicated electrical circuit?
Most single-zone mini splits require a 15- or 20-amp 240V circuit. Our price includes running standard electrical from your existing panel, as long as the panel has a free slot and the run is within 50 feet. If your panel needs an upgrade, we tell you before the install.
Can you install in a metal building?
Yes. We mount the indoor unit to the wall structure using appropriate brackets. The outdoor unit can sit on a pad or be mounted to the metal frame. We handle the line set through the wall with proper sealing.
How long does the install take?
A single-zone install usually takes one day. Two-zone systems take one to two days. We set a window and stick to it, no waiting around for a salesperson first.
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