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@TechConnectify Can't speak for the general case, but in ours (heat pump, Nova Scotia, ftr):

• We have two closet upstairs, they're in use: one laundry, one storage
• We got an attic unit specifically to run vents to each room upstairs
• The attic unit needs an intake, 20"x20", because it moves a lot of volume; infeasible for a closet
• It also needs to run refrigerant and drainage to the exterior (and then down to the ground); also not closet-compatible
• That's the unit for just the top floor

@delta_vee An important consideration here is that I'm mainly talking about home design. If you're retrofitting stuff, convention flies out the norm.

We would /never/ design a home from scratch where any of the HVAC stuff is in an unconditioned space like an attic. They may go in basements, but those need some heat, too, so it all works out. And we design return ducting in, too.

But, circling back to retrofits, this is a key reason I expect mini-splits to become a lot more common soon

@kazriko @TechConnectify Well mine are heat pumps, so they have indoor and outdoor portions, connected by refrigerant and power lines - it's the placement of the indoor part we're talking about

@kazriko @delta_vee I just saw you post elsewhere you have a gas-fired furnace.

So, around here, that doubles as the air handler. You stick an evaporator coil above it and hook it up to an outdoor condensing unit, and that's how we do central air conditioning.