Where Do You Put An Exterior Air Conditioning Unit?

When you replace your air conditioning unit, there's a reason for it. If you're replacing it due to it failing sooner than it should have, it's possible that it was placed in a bad location. Here, you'll learn a little about selecting the placement of your exterior air conditioning unit.

Overhead Hazards

Go out to where your air conditioning unit is located. Look up. Do you see clear skies? If your air conditioning unit was positioned under a tree, too close to your home, or has other overhead hazards that could come crashing down on it at any given time, it's time to rethink where the unit is positioned.

Never place a central air conditioning unit under a pine tree or other bushes or shrubs that will drop lots of debris into the unit.

Position the unit far enough away from the house that snow and ice won't slide off of the roof and damage the unit.

Flooding Issues

If the area in which your air conditioning unit is tends to get flooded or the ground becomes over-saturated with water, you need to find somewhere else to put it. If you don't have any options but to install it at this location, build a pedestal high enough to keep the unit out of the water.

If the ground is very soft in the area, dig about 6-inches of soil up and fill it with gravel. This will help to promote drainage and decrease the likelihood of damage caused by water submersion.

Interior Component Location

The exterior unit needs the interior furnace to push the air through your home. If the air conditioning unit is located too far from the furnace, the air could increase in temperature before it even reaches the blower that's pushing it through the ductwork into the home.

The shorter the distance between the air conditioning unit and the blower, the cooler the air will be as it enters your home. This will reduce the energy costs for the year and keep your home at a much more comfortable temperature.

If you are unsure of where to place your new air conditioning unit, discuss the options with a professional HVAC technician. He or she will look inside and out of your home to find the right spot to keep the unit safe from damage, as well as keep it functioning properly for as long as it possibly can run. Companies like Master Service Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration can help you.


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