Don't mini splits have a drain system? Or are you referring to a PTAC unit?

I am only beginning to learn about these. I've seen and read online that they're very popular, but have zero technical knowledge about them. I live in a condo where there's no ceiling space for duct work and I have new wood windows that I don't want to damage with an air conditioner and don't want an a/c sleeve, so mini splits seem like the only choice. I don't know but I hope any leakage would be outside near the compressor. I've read that Mitsubishi makes the best units, but I don't know this. I'm really hoping for anyone either with technical/installer experience or who has owned one.

Any appliance that generates condensate waste water can leak water.

A regular forced air split system, in a closet or attic / basement has additional safeties built in to limit the chance of a water leak. But people often times thru negligence of not maintaining or procrastinating or hiring cheap labor can suffer ceiling cave in's as well as other oddities when it comes to water leaks.

A mini split is not immune to any of this, either. Maintenance is far more costly because you need a head in every room of the structure in most cases. (depending on local heat patterns or the lack thereof.)

Thank you very much Austin Air: If it is professionally installed (for eg if you installed it and maintained it yourself in your own home), would you risk installing the indoor unit above a very expensive inherited large piece of wood furniture?

Also, what brand do you most recommend? Mitsubishi or LG or Samsung or Panasonic or something else?

I have a mini split unit in my sun room. It's a Carrier. It doesn't leak at all, ever, and condensation builds up on the outside part but not inside the house. I hope it stays that way!

Austin Air,
It sounds like you'd prefer to not use a mini split in an upscale condo: I said condo to explain that there's no space for ceiling duct work and I said upscale to explain that there's expensive furniture that I don't want to damage from dripping water. Someone mentioned an automatic emptying (I don't know where the collected water would go) drip pan. Central is not possible and I don't want to risk damaging my new wood windows, so I don't want to reinstall my air conditioners next summer. What do you suggest, please?

Thank you very much Sharon. I'll make a note to look into Carrier models.

Does anyone have this? I'd appreciate any comments: Mitsubishi mlz ductless ceiling cassette

Austin Air,
It sounds like you'd prefer to not use a mini split in an upscale condo: I said condo to explain that there's no space for ceiling duct work and I said upscale to explain that there's expensive furniture.

Yeah I know what you said... but it doesn't change what I said. I'm not in this business to tell you what you want to hear. (Salesmanship - soothing things for the ears so you open your wallet.)

As you know what ever unit you place in there will have drainage for condensation. The only time water leaks occur is when that drainage either becomes blocked with gunk. OR something chews a hole in the drain line.

So you can get all the referrals you want... until that day comes (for people using the machine) to have a problem with it...

If you ever run into a proctologist at a party, plant yourself with in ear shot of him. He will tell you some of the most outlandish stories you can imagine. It was a million to one shot doc. A million to one.

Have you ever heard someone tell you their story from the proctologist? Just because you read it on the internet doesn't make it true. Someone trying to sell you. C'mon man.

That said: she said it's out in her sun room. Which ironically would be another good location to put a mini split. However, in the south we have more sun than we know what to do with so they call these enclosed porches.

Sales of homes would drop if they called these sun rooms here. "see how soothing words work?"

Thank you again Austin Air for affirming that I should never put expensive furniture below a cooling unit and that with regular good maintenance there's little chance of problems: Did I understand you correctly? If that's good so far, then assuming this is my best way to cool my home when duct work and window air conditioners aren't an option, is the Mitsubishi çeiling cassette the best choice?

Yeah, I would say so. You understand the risks & you understand what you need to do to limit them.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you too Austin Air.

Have you thought about these. I’m looking into these.

I’m going to maybe put above a small bathroom and drop the ceiling in that room. Same issue. Very upscale waterfront home but long story explaining why no way to get duct work on an addition but there’s no way and I don’t want a hideous wall unit or it to leak. This may work

I see them in lots of high end hotels

That vent you see there is probably not a slim duct mini split, Nikki.

There's a fire sprinkler head that is too close, it would never fit in that spot. Plus someone going to put one of these there with no access to work on it?

Uh, No.

In the words of someone infamous: It's a complete and utter disaster. Complete Disaster.

----- The worker to maintenance lead----

What do you mean the building is flooding?

I was trying to work on this thingy ma bob and I bumped the sprinkler system and now it's flooding the high end hotel.

meanwhile because there is a pressure loss in the sprinkler system pipe it triggers the fire department, turns on sprinkler pumps to pump even more water.

I've seen this first hand where a sprinkler head just broke due to age spewing nasty stagnant water every where. It's beyond what you can even remotely imagine of a mess.

Well whatever this is may work.

Landlord just installed this in my bedroom. It's also the only space where this art will fit. I've had this in every master bedroom since the 90s. Bad idea to have it under the mini? It's a Mirage 12 mini professionally installed but still waiting on the condenser to be hooked up to electric. Guess they are going to upgrade my panel before hooking this new system up. I'm in West Texas so not as much humidity as there is south of me but am worried if those will produce too much condensation and damage in picture (not worried about the frame) Posted pic below as I guess it didn't take with this post.

..

Probably if it was professionally installed and there's regular (2 or 3 times per year) maintenance and your filters are kept clean and there's good outdoor drainage, then it's unlikely that it will leak onto the wall or the painting beneath.

Management is pretty intrusive so I'm sure they'll be maintaining these regularly. I'm compulsive about cleaning the filters (well I have been with my window units) so not worried about the filters on the inside unit. Appreciate your input, Andrew! :)

Your original post was three years ago. Did you go through with installing yours and if so, any problems?