Mini Splits for Tiny Homes and Small Builds in Austin
Updated September 2026
Tiny homes, ADUs, and other small builds in Central Texas usually have no ducts and not much wall to spare. A ductless mini split is a heat pump that cools through brutal Central Texas summers and handles our mild winters without a furnace. Old West Minisplits installs them at a posted flat price.
One zone is $2,000. Two zones is $3,700. Three zones is $5,400. Equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, and a Home Depot run for touch-up paint are included. No trip fees or surprise add-ons. The same numbers apply along the I-35 corridor from Waco and Killeen down through Austin to San Antonio.
Why a mini split fits a tiny home
Small builds rarely have a place for ductwork. The indoor unit sits high on a wall. The outdoor unit sits on a pad or wall brackets. You keep your windows. You do not listen to a window unit all night. You do not mop condensate. Window units and portable ACs are cheap upfront but cool one room loudly, block a window, drip condensate, and are far less efficient. In a tiny footprint those tradeoffs show up every day.
Flat installed prices, corridor-wide
Ductless installs in Central Texas commonly run $3,000-$6,000 per zone on a custom quote. Most local HVAC contractors are quote-based and require an in-home sales visit. Old West Minisplits posts the number instead: $2,000 for one zone, $3,700 for two, $5,400 for three. That is the installed price, not a starting bid. Same flat pricing from Austin north to Waco and Killeen and south to San Antonio. Use the quote form on this page when you are ready to schedule.
Exceptions we name before we start
A very long line set, a panel upgrade the house already needed, or unusually difficult mounting can change the job. Those are told up front, never after. Standard electrical is already in the flat price. Tiny homes sometimes sit on limited electrical service. If the panel already needed an upgrade, that is separate from the mini split, and we say so before anyone drills a hole. Old West Minisplits does new installation only. There are no trip fees and no surprise add-ons after the work begins.
How we compare
| Factor | Old West Minisplits | The usual |
|---|---|---|
| Installed price | 1 zone $2,000, 2 zones $3,700, 3 zones $5,400 | $3,000-$6,000 per zone on a custom quote |
| How you learn the price | Posted flat price. No in-home sales visit required to know the number. | Most local HVAC contractors require an in-home sales visit first. |
| What is included | Equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, and a Home Depot run for touch-up paint | Quote-based. Line set, electrical, or finish work often show up as extras. |
| Fees and change orders | No trip fees or surprise add-ons. Exceptions named up front. | Trip fees and add-ons after the visit are common with quote-based contractors. |
| Service area pricing | Same flat pricing from Austin north to Waco and Killeen and south to San Antonio | Quote-based pricing that can change by location and by the visit |
Straight answers
How many indoor units does a tiny home need?
Most tiny homes and open-plan ADUs do well with one zone. A closed-off bedroom or loft is the usual reason for a second indoor unit. Three zones is uncommon in a small build.
Can a mini split heat as well as cool a small build?
Yes. Mini splits are heat pumps. They cool through brutal Central Texas summers and handle our mild winters without a furnace.
What would make the price go up?
Old West Minisplits tells exceptions up front, never after. A very long line set, a panel upgrade the house already needed, or unusually difficult mounting. Standard electrical is included. There are no trip fees.
Do you repair a mini split that already failed in my tiny house?
Old West Minisplits's service is flat-price new installation, not appliance repair, warranty service, or maintenance contracts. For a unit that is acting up, check the filter, confirm the outdoor unit has clear airflow, and verify the breaker. A failing, aging, or poorly installed system is often a better candidate for a posted-price new install than for chasing repairs on the old one.
Get the number today
No walkthrough, no sales pitch. Tell us the rooms and we'll tell you the price.
Get My Flat Price