A mini split can be painted to improve its aesthetic appeal and sort of hide its presence. The biggest complaint I hear about a mini split unit is how ugly they are, like an eyesore hanging on the wall.
They definitely have no apparent beauty, even though a mini split unit is at the top in terms of energy efficiency. Ductless mini splits are everywhere you look these days, both in a heat pump or just a straight AC unit.
But maybe I just notice all the ductless mini-split systems as I drive around because I’m in the industry.
Even though my wife’s heating bill would go down, she wouldn’t have a mini split unit even if it was the best solution because, in her opinion, they just don’t fit the décor.
So I said, what if the mini-split was painted? Would it go unnoticed? She said, “Can you paint a mini split?” “Why, I most certainly can! All you have to do is pick the color.”
After all, painting plastic is not difficult. The hardest part will be the louvers because I don’t want any paint inside the indoor unit.
So yes, you can paint a mini-split system indoor head, even a DIY ductless mini-split by Mr. Cool, if you’re careful not to get overspray on the inside components.
How To Remove Air Conditioner Front Cover
The covers over the ductless mini-split indoor unit can also be removed with moderate difficulty. Every brand is slightly different, but every brand comes with an installation manual that shows details on where each screw is and how to lift the mini split cover off.
I admit I get slightly hot under the collar whenever I remove one. All the little catches seem to be stubborn, but for the stubborn do-it-yourselfer, it’s a very satisfying task—especially when you consider who you’d be satisfying.
You could paint the indoor or outdoor unit if you mask everything that shouldn’t be painted. However, removing the cover and avoiding the stinky paint fumes in the house seemed a little cleaner.
The only word of caution I can think of is to be aware that the indoor ductless mini split unit is not securely mounted on the plate that is securely mounted on the wall.
In some models, the indoor head is just hung onto the wall plate. So, when struggling to remove the cover, ensure you don’t lift the unit off the two tabs at the top of the wall plate.
If You Paint Mini Split Units, Will They Go Unnoticed?
This is a funny story related to a mini-split system going unnoticed. I started wanting to install a mini split in our mother-in-law’s apartment because it’s heated and cooled by our main first-floor heat pump. It’s a constant struggle to maintain our comfort level and that of those in our apartment.
I had a friend who bought a mini split to install in his saddle shop, but it turned out to be too small. So we made a deal, and I got a one-ton mini split for a good price, thinking it would be the perfect AC unit for our apartment.
You would have laughed if you could have witnessed the whole story of how we finally decided that we could have a mini-split system in the apartment.
But then we had to figure out which wall it would hang on. Of course, I had stubborn moments related to the installation’s difficulty.
There is always that disconnect between an experienced installer who knows what will work and what won’t and an inexperienced layperson who just sees the aesthetics of a job.
Our small 600-square-foot apartment had two choices: on a wall over the end of the sofa or over the bathroom door. But we reconciled, and the easiest location won out.
The funny part is that when she entered the room one day, she sort of chuckled and said, “I didn’t even notice that mini-split.” She didn’t even refer to it as “that ugly thing on the wall.”
I Had To Fudge This Mini Split Unit A Little On The Installation
If you have any experience installing mini split units, you may notice in the image below that I don’t have much room or the required clearance for proper airflow over the top of the head mounted over the bathroom door.
Sometimes, you just have to sacrifice one thing for another. You need proper airflow and enough space over the mini split head to lift the lid and remove the hidden filters. It was a little difficult, but I got it done.
Also, with the head located where it is on the wall, the line set exited right out the exterior wall (notice the hidden line set behind the small cover to the right of the head), near enough to the outdoor unit’s location that I didn’t have to decorate the outdoor siding with a long line set.
How To Hide Mini Split Lines
And finally, I made my own line set cover, which I have yet to paint. (update: I did get it painted)
My Conclusion Regarding My Indoor And Outdoor Unit
Not every satisfactory ending has to be achieved with an argument but with gentleness, meekness, and unfeigned love.
I’ve heard for some time, “When do you think you will get the outdoor unit hooked up?” My response was something like, “When the weather is suitable. You don’t want me outside of the house working in this freezing stuff.”
