Just finished my first Midea U-shape install — a few observations

I’ve had the 10,000 BTU version of that Midea U for two summers now in my bedroom, and the noise level is defintely what sold me. Like you, I was worried about the drainage at first. These units acutally use a "slinger ring" on the fan to pick up the condensate and splash it onto the condenser coils. It helps with efficiency and keeps the unit from dripping constantly unless the humidity gets realy high, like over 60% in my area. One thing I found out the hard way was making sure the tilt is just right. If it’s too flat, you might hear a bit of a gurgling sound when the fan hits the water. I ended up putting a small shim under the indoor side of the bracket just to ensure the back was lower. It stopped the sloshing sound immediatly.

The inverter tech is what really keeps it so quiet during those long work calls. Instead of that loud clunk when the compressor starts up, it just ramps up slowly. I keep mine on the "Eco" mode most of the time, and it maintains a steady 70 degrees without ever feeling like a blast of arctic air. It’s a huge step up from the old Frigidaire unit I replaced.

I actually had a bit of a struggle with my 8000 BTU Midea U when I put it in my sunroom last June. While the noise reduction is incredible, the installation was way more involved than I anticipated. Getting that support bracket leveled perfectly on an older wooden sill took me nearly two hours because the included spacers didn't quite line up with my window's trim. One thing I’ve noticed after a full season is that the side foam blocks they provide aren't the best for long-term sealing. I ended up buying some heavy-duty pipe insulation from the hardware store to stuff into the gaps because the factory foam started to compress and let in a draft. If you live in a place with lots of bugs, I’d suggest double-checking those side seals every few weeks.

Also, keep an eye on the Midea Air app. It’s convenient for setting schedules, but mine used to disconnect from the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi whenever the power flickered. I ended up just sticking with the physical remote most of the time to avoid the frustration. It’s a solid cooler, but the smart side and the physical weather stripping could definitely be better.

I am so pumped to finally have this thing running in my apartment! It looks so high-tech compared to the literal brick I had before. Since the window closes right into that middle slot, has anyone found a specific type of blackout curtain that fits well around the sides? I’m super worried about the morning sun peeking trough those foam side panels and ruining my sleep. Also, does the app actualy work for everyone else? I’m dying to try the scheduling feature!

I had the same issue with light thru those side foam pieces. I ended up getting some 1-inch thick pipe insulation from the hardware store and jamming it into the gaps between the window frame and the unit. It blocked the light way better than the stuff in the box and cut down street noise even more. As for the app, the setup was finicky on my 5GHz Wi-Fi, but it’s solid on the 2.4GHz band. I just use the scheduling feature to precool the room before I get home so it doesn't have to work as hard when I'm actualy in there. Works way better than the remote.

While the inverter technology is indeed superior for acoustic management, I've found that the most significant advantage of this 8000 BTU model lies in its ability to modulate the compressor frequency down to a mere 150-200 watts once the latent heat load has been addressed, wich effectively prevents the short-cycling issues inherent in traditional rotary compressors that lack variable-speed drives. If you find the humidity creeping up despite the 72-degree setpoint, I strongly suggest verifying that you haven't inadvertently engaged the 'Auto' fan setting, as keeping the fan on a fixed low or medium speed ensures a consistent laminar airflow over those evaporator coils, maintaining a more stable dew point across the fins than the intermittent bursts of the automated logic.