The Norbord BlogReturn to blog homepage  /  View the latest post  /  Tips from the Ol' Sage Builder Heat Pump and Air Conditioner Condenser Locations Matter Posted in Builders, Dealers, DIY on May 5, 2016 Does your heat pump or air conditioner condenser need to be installed outdoors? Some installers believe that placing these systems in a garage or attic space may make the system more efficient by decreasing the difference in temperature. But it’s precisely because of these disparate temperatures that you should place your heat pump and air conditioner condenser outside. These systems work when the condenser exchanges heat with the surrounding air. If placed outside, the condenser has an ever-changing supply of fresh air to utilize for cooling or heating. In a closed space, the limited amount of air reduces the efficiency of the condenser. If you put a condenser in the attic or garage space, it will cause that space to heat up in the summer and that heat will radiate back inside the home.

In the winter, these spaces will cool down and, because heat moves to colder spaces, this can work against you. Installing these systems in a garage or attic will reduce efficiency and may void the manufacturer’s warranty. Placement of the condenser systems is important. Ensure that they are placed in areas which enjoy a good air flow and are shielded from hot afternoon sun. Avoid planting vegetation around units or installing too many units close together where air circulation will be negatively affected. The east or north sides of the home are preferable. Placing them in preferred places may extend the life of the equipment and make your home more comfortable.Try exploring these tags Tags: A Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, air conditioner condenser, air conditioner condenser installation, Attic Space, Attics, Condenser, efficiency, Heat pump, Heat pump installation, Installing A Heat Pump These guidelines say their unit only needs 10" of clearance Gary, as I believe the send the hot air up and away.

Phoenix Home Inspections Phoenix Home InspectorArizona Property Inspections Those units will run like any other setting where they are but you will be decreasing the life expectancy considerable as there are no prevailing winds to carry the heat away operating those unit in that box is not the smartest thing to do. harga ac portable oktober 2012Heat is what kills the largest % of A/C units and those two unit will be operating at a higher head pressure when it really gets hot. depreciation for hvac unitJust the reflection of the sun off of the two structures will be tremendous. daikin split ac dealers in hyderabadI see folks build fences, plant all kinds of crazy bushes around the units because they think they are not pretty.

They are just shooting themselves in the foot. My personal opinion about the location bad choice. Master HVAC Mechanic Retired Level III Thermographer # 8486 Infraspection Institute CMI Certified Master Inspector Moisture Intrusion Expert Witness And what do you offer if NOT your Opinion?There is just not much thought put into what some folks do when installing equipment yes there is not anything that can generally be done about things such as this one. I would of just made a comment on it and moved on. I have a infamous saying about proper cooling of these units. I look the owner in the eye and ask. If you owned a new Caddy would you place a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator in July and make a long drive. I just get this glazed over look and usually no comment. Bruce how could you fail it. I operate on the theory does the unit perform its intended function at the time of inspection.Bob Elliott here and my first time posting on the NACHI board.

Just a quick intro.If you fall in love you can check me out at one of my sites (lol) It's getting to be around 12:30am here in Chicago.I am a local NACHI chicago member,and since we had an HVAC expert at the meeting last night just thought I would check out the board. Can not resist commenting that you guys are disagreeing as you agree at the same time. If you want to get sued or bad rapped go ahead and fail the thing ,but the obvious answer would come in the way of FACTGUIDANCE. Fact:The unit meets manufacturers specs Opinion:I feel that there is a chance the unit may not run up to specs due to the fact that even though the manufacture has determined 10"to be enough clearance they may be refering only to a minimum standard reguarding one side and not two so I recommend you have a qualified mechanical contractor certifiy it"s placement.You said your piece and covered your ***.A/C or heat pump compressor/condenser unit installation mistakes: installation errors in air conditioning compressor and condensing units such as improper location, blocked air flow, out of level, or not properly supported.

We discuss required equipment clearance distances, refrigerant line piping support and routing, and problems with shrubbery or other air flow blockages that can cause overheating, higher operating costs, and reduced compressor motor life. A/C and heat pump compressor/condenser installation, location, and maintenance tips provided here include attention to compressor support pads and avoiding air conditioning refrigerant leaks are addressed. If readers return to the first chapter or view the A/C chapter index, the major components of an air conditioning system are described, sketches and photographs are provided, and common defects for each component are listed along with visual or other clues that may suggest a problem or probable failure of A/C components. Sketch at left provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates. See HOW TO DETERMINE COOLING CAPACITY of air conditioning equipment if the system seems to be working but is inadequate to cool your building.

Typical outside air-cooled A/C compressors require a minimal clearance around the unit to provide adequate air flow so that the condenser coils will be cooled efficiently. air conditioning installations shown above are tipping and the left hand compressor/condenser unit was actually leaning on the house wall! Air conditioning compressor/condenser units mounted too close to a wall, surrounded by shrubs, or multiple units located too closely together may not receive enough cool air flow to function properly. The result can be a shorter compressor life (expensive) and/or less efficient cooling operation (higher These four air conditioner compressors were found jammed into a wall niche along a street in Queretero, Mexico. These units may have a short life before needing replacement. Where there simply is not adequate space to provide proper air circulation around an air conditioning compressor or multiple compressors, it may be a good idea to let the building owner know that the units won't have a long life.

This collection of air conditioning compressors are too many too close together - they will be fighting for cooling air around the condenser unit, increasing operating cost and shortening air conditioner compressor life. Adding to this scene is the overgrowth of shrubs along the compressor/condenser units. The owner didn't want to see these "ugly" devices but she should have kept the plants trimmed off of the units themselves to allow airflow. The shade was a great idea however, so long as these are just air conditioning units and not heat pumps that want warmth in winter. One of our clients was "punished" by their air conditioner installer when she said that she didn't want to see or hear the compressor/condenser units, and when she was installing nine of them at her large home. The installer built a rack allowing the units to be stacked on top of one another, three across and three high, with very little air space between. Then the installer put up a stockade fence just a few inches away from the compressor/condenser units.

hard to see, it was true, and hard to service. But as the property manager confirmed, they were having to replace several of these units every few years. I believe it was because the units ran excessively hot all the time, lacking adequate air and clearance. Photo withheld for privacy. Please see our detailed article about refrigerant line piping installation, inspection, defects, repairs, found at REFRIGERANT PIPING INSTALLATION. Absence of slack in the coolant lines at the compressor units can cause leaks: should the compressor move, perhaps because its supporting pads settle, there will be likely leaks at these lines. this question with your HVAC service person. This item may be deferred until next maintenance or service. Protection from mechanical damage on all refrigerant lines is important to prevent leaks. CarsonDunlop Associates' sketch (left) shows the indoor air handler unit, not the outside compressor/condenser unit, but the illustration makes clear that the refrigerant piping loop needs to be properly placed and the piping slope should be downwards from the evaporator unit towards the compressor/condenser unit.

Also, referring lines should not be buried underground. Details are at REFRIGERANT PIPING INSTALLATION. Missing insulation on the refrigerant lines, particularly on the larger suction line, will cause condensation and drips from the lines in humid areas. I've seen very costly building damage where lines were not properly insulated indoors: condensate drips wet gypsum board walls, leading to a costly mold remediation project. Missing insulation on the refrigerant piping also probably increases system operating Details are at REFRIGERANT PIPING INSTALLATION and at REFRIGERANT PIPING INSULATION. Blocking air flow through the outdoor A/C or heat pump compressor/condenser unit is a really bad idea that shortens equipment life (as the equipment runs hotter) and increases system operasting costs (for the same reason - hotter opeating temperature means lower efficiency during the cooling season). Air conditioning or heat pump compressor/condenser units mounted too close to a wall, surrounded by shrubs, or multiple units located too closely

together will probably not receive enough cool air flow to function properly. And even worse, compressor/condenser units that are too close together not only have to fight for their incoming cooling air, but they may veed hot exhaust air to one another, increasing their operating temperatures still further. Details about the recommended clearance distances for A/C or heat pump compressor/condenser outdoor units are found at CLEARANCE DISTANCE, HVAC Outside A/C compressors are typically supported on a concrete pad, concrete blocks, or a vinyl pad such as the one shown in the photo at page top. The air conditioner compressor support pad should be level and secure against movement. Compressors which are badly out of level may fail to function properly and need adjustment. Tipping and moving compressors can also cause can cause leaks in refrigerant lines, leading to costly air conditioning service calls to evacuate and recharge the system after repairing the

Do not try to move your A/C compressor yourself as you might cause a refrigerant leak or may otherwise damage the equipment. Ask your A/C service technician to evaluate the effects of any out-of-level conditions of the compressor as well as to comment on the available slack in the refrigerant lines that may be needed to reposition the unit. For slightly-tipped air conditioning compressors we generally leave them alone but we add support as needed to avoid further movement. Tipping or leaning air conditioner compressors can lead to so much movement that the refrigerant lines crack and leak, leading to loss of cooling ability. In extreme cases, a tipped condenser unit may fail to operate properly. In the first photo above the compressor is leaning and creeping away from the building and has pulled its connecting wiring and refrigerant line taut. I expect a problem soon with this unit. In the second photo everything looks awful: the two compressors are too close together