Mitsubishi Mini-Split decision?

[gspren]

I am getting a Mitsubishi M-S to heat-cool a 12' x 20' room in my pole building, the two options from my local hvac dude are;
MUZ WR09A at 16 SEER
    Or
MUZ GL09A at 24.6 SEER
With the GL series costing about $800. more, any experienced people here?

[peakbagger]

Pay me now or pay me later. The higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) means less power for the same amount of heating or cooling so it costs less to run in the long run.

I would not pull the trigger on a minisplit now as there are new incentives for units that congress just passed. The problem is the details are not yet in place and what you buy now may not meet the requirements for the incentive. The incentive is supposed to be only units on the top end of the efficiency scale so if you have to buy one buy the most efficient one. 

BTW, if you want to go DIY for far less up front cost, Mr Cool brand units can be installed DIY as they have precharged lines. Costco sells them or any number of places on the web. They are not particularly efficient, but the dealers tend to mark up the high end units and the install costs. Note most units that do not work out of the box are usually the owners fault (non-warrantee) usually the outdoor unit or the line set gets physically damaged. I have not looked at prices lately but I think a Mr Cool unit will cost about 1/3 less than an install Mitsubishi or Fujitsu. Typically the only maintence required is clean the coild and blower in the inside unit (videos on You Tube on how to do it). If the outdoor unit is in dusty area it too may need to be cleaned on occasion. 

[Tom King]

I looked at them online, and looks like $600 difference.  Either way, with a space that small, if it was really well insulated, it seems like it would take a Long time to recoup that difference.  If not so well insulated, I'd go with the higher SEER unit.

I bought all the equipment, and have learned to work on, and install our own.  We are proud owners of seven heat pumps, and the 3 grand of equipment has almost paid for itself just this Winter with three repairs needed, all caused by poor installations by "pros".