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Message
Thinking About Putting a Mini Split in my Garage
Posted on 9/30/25 at 8:58 am
Posted on 9/30/25 at 8:58 am
Anything of note that I should be aware/careful about when doing this?
8
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:06 am to DVinBR
I think most of the talking points have been discussed here, but mini splits are not entirely serviceable. Hard to find parts for them when they break and HVAC guys don't generally service them unless they're one of the better/more expensive brand models. And even the guys who service the better brands are sometimes hard to find.
I don't think they're entirely unreliable, but when they break, it's a replacement job for the most part. Buy one that fits the sq footage for what you got.
I don't think they're entirely unreliable, but when they break, it's a replacement job for the most part. Buy one that fits the sq footage for what you got.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:20 am to DVinBR
make sure you have a good location to drain the condensate. If there’s a vent pipe in there already for a sink, use that. If not you can dump on the ground but preferably on a slope where it won’t just puddle up and get saturated
run a dedicated circuit to it if you have room in the panel
run a dedicated circuit to it if you have room in the panel
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:20 am to DVinBR
Get a good one and keep it clean. They usually only have mesh screens and they can load up with dust and grime pretty quickly.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:28 am to cgrand
I added one to my garage at the beginning of the summer. The amount of condensation has been pretty surprising. I'm on a slope, but the ground in the area where it drains is constantly saturated. I'm going to have to lengthen my drain line to get it away from the house. The only other negative is when it's really hot, my windows fog up when I pull out of the garage 
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:40 am to DVinBR
Had one installed last July by a legit HVAC tech, a Pioneer. Developed a leak and no longer works a year later. I know others have had much better luck than me, but I'm not overly happy with this outcome
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:44 am to LNCHBOX
Where was the leak? Mine had a slow leak at the valve on the outside unit where the lines connect. The actual valve was leaking by.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 10:19 am to DVinBR
Unless you have a very large garage, you may be able to go with just a window unit.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 10:33 am to baldona
quote:
Unless you have a very large garage, you may be able to go with just a window unit.
Part of the appeal to mini splits is that they're aesthetically more appealing than window units. Window units look like garbage.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 10:37 am to Fachie
quote:
Where was the leak?
No idea. I only had $1700 invested between the unit and install and tracking a leak down will cost a good chunk of that before a repair is then factored in.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 10:45 am to baldona
another option instead of a window unit, and again depends on the size of your garage, would be a stand alone portable air conditioner and it would be less expensive than mini split. A friend of mine uses this in his garage and I was surprised at how effective it is.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 10:50 am to Don Quixote
quote:
another option instead of a window unit, and again depends on the size of your garage, would be a stand alone portable air conditioner and it would be less expensive than mini split. A friend of mine uses this in his garage and I was surprised at how effective it is.
I was coming to say exactly this. A window unit is the next, most economical, option
Posted on 9/30/25 at 11:41 am to jmarto1
I installed a Mitsubishi last year and it is a game changer. Garage stays cool and I can work on my cars in the garage in the summer without getting soaked with sweat. Little impact on our utility bill is the most pleasant surprise. You do have to keep the filters clean. I also insulated our garage doors so that helped as well.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 12:08 pm to LNCHBOX
quote:
Had one installed last July by a legit HVAC tech, a Pioneer. Developed a leak and no longer works a year later. I know others have had much better luck than me, but I'm not overly happy with this outcome
I've had mixed feelings with my Pioneer. Currently broken. Has broken before (leak in the coils) They absolutely stand behind their warranty if you register it. So I've been out a labor charge to swap the coils out once before, and I am hoping the current issue is the coils. I called and verified it is under warranty. Luckily I have a great AC guy who doesn't rape me for work.
Now, if the leak is in the outside unit I'm screwed since they are out of 410 outside units.
I've had it since 2017. Whisper quiet, cools the exterior office comfortably and heats well in the winter. Leaky arse coils though, but I think that is a univeral AC issue nowdays.
Zero hassle warranty.
"whats the issue? What's the serial? Ok, we'll get the replacement shipped out today"
Posted on 9/30/25 at 12:16 pm to DVinBR
Put an 18k Mitsubishi in mine over the summer. It's been fantastic. Wish i had done it sooner.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 7:54 pm to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
Part of the appeal to mini splits is that they're aesthetically more appealing than window units. Window units look like garbage.
I’m well aware of what people think they look like. But if you think a mini split looks any better from the outside then you are full of crap.
If it’s in your master bedroom or somewhere that can be seen from the street, then sure. But most people have a garage that has a side hidden from view.
Window units are cheap and work extremely well. There’s no reason to hate on them and prefer a mini split so much in a garage/ shed/ etc. situation. Window units also don’t have to be put in a window. You can put them in a wall and they look almost no different on the inside then a mini split.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:34 pm to baldona
quote:
Window units are cheap and work extremely well. There’s no reason to hate on them and prefer a mini split so much in a garage/ shed/ etc. situation. Window units also don’t have to be put in a window. You can put them in a wall and they look almost no different on the inside then a mini split.
Yeah but they really don't work all that well though.
-Little separation between return air and supply air.
-Very noisy in comparison.
-Don't dehumidify as well since the coils don't drain as well and there is communication between the supply and return air.
-Poor sealing between conditioned space and outside due to accordion closures which are thin plastic crap.
Granted, mini-spilts are not without fault, but window shakers have pretty significant problems also.
The only upside to window shakers, is they are cheap and disposable.
Posted on 10/1/25 at 7:52 am to AndyCBR
I have a Midea U window unit in bedroom (hidden by outdoor shrubbery thankfully) and it works very well. It uses inverter tech like a mini split. I get what you're saying about poor insulation, but it's been fine in my bedroom. In a garage it wouldn't matter one bit. My garage didn't have a window or I would've just done that.
Posted on 10/1/25 at 11:03 am to AndyCBR
quote:
Yeah but they really don't work all that well though.
-Little separation between return air and supply air.
-Very noisy in comparison.
-Don't dehumidify as well since the coils don't drain as well and there is communication between the supply and return air.
-Poor sealing between conditioned space and outside due to accordion closures which are thin plastic crap.
Granted, mini-spilts are not without fault, but window shakers have pretty significant problems also.
The only upside to window shakers, is they are cheap and disposable.
If you do a half arse window install, sure. Have you used one recently? They are quiet as hell. I'm not where you are getting that from?
They are also VERY efficient.
Again this is for a garage or work space. I'm not suggesting living room or master bedroom.
I don't know about the humidty levels to be honest, you maybe right.
They can be sealed permanently. I've seen this on numerous occasions. They are called window units but that's not the best name. You can build a custom framed in box for them and they are insulated no different than anything else.
My only point here is that for $500-600 if you have it available, its a great option for a garage or shed compared to $1500+ for a mini split.
ETA: The main benefits to a mini split are:
1.) Small hole in the side of your exterior wall
2.) Flexible mounting locations
3) Larger than most 115V window units for larger spaces and can do multiple rooms with better units.
This post was edited on 10/1/25 at 11:05 am
Posted on 10/2/25 at 4:36 pm to DVinBR
I’d been considering this, but now we may replace our water heater that’s in the garage with a heat pump hybrid. They apparently keep it fairly tolerable in that size space. Like a reverse AC.
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