Air conditioning installation involves placing a new condenser in your yard and connecting it to parts indoors in the air handler. You can put the condenser in the exact spot as the old one when the old condenser is removed, or you can move the condenser to a new spot. Here are things to consider when installing a new condenser.

The Amount Of Sun Exposure The Condenser Gets

Condensers are made to be outdoors, so being in the sun all day isn't necessarily bad, but since the sun heats up the equipment, it can create stress and strain on very hot days. If your area experiences heatwaves occasionally, your AC might even malfunction or break down during a heatwave if the condenser is also sitting in full sun.

A condenser needs to be close to your house to hook it up to electricity, so it may be difficult to find a shady spot. However, if shade is available, you might want to move the condenser to a new location. Talk to the air conditioning installation contractor to see if the added expense involved with moving the condenser is worth it just to have shade.

The Condition Of The Old Pad

The condenser has to be level to operate properly. This usually requires placing the equipment on a foundation rather than soil. This prevents the condenser from sinking into the soil and getting out of level. If the old pad is cracked or out of level, the air conditioning installation contractor may want to put in a new pad.

When the pad is installed and level, the new condenser is placed on it and the feet on the bottom are adjusted if necessary to get the condenser level. If the condenser gets out of level in the future, you can just adjust the feet and make it level again.

The Noise Issue

Condensers are noisy. If one is placed right next to your bedroom wall, it might keep you awake when it cycles on and off at night. If your current AC makes you miserable due to noise, let your installation contractor know. They might have ways to make your new condenser less noisy, or they may advise moving the condenser to a new wall so it doesn't bother you.

Safety Concerns Around Pets And Kids

If you have young kids or pets, you may want to keep them away from the air conditioner since the equipment might be a safety hazard for them. Keeping the AC separate could even be safer for the air conditioner.

If a dog urinates on the condenser all the time, they might cause damage to the fins, and urine can get inside the condenser since the fins open to the outside. Kids might throw a towel or blanket on the condenser and block the airflow, leading to a breakdown.

A possible solution is to put a lattice fence around the condenser that keeps kids and pets away but still allows plenty of airflow. However, you might also move the condenser to a side yard that's on the other side of the backyard fence so it's out of the play area of your yard.

Share