Woodcrafter74

I'm building a deck on a new home and there's two air conditioning units that were very poorly placed--right next the french doors. I'm suggesting to the HO to move them both about 10' out of the way.

The units are Trane, I'm not sure of the size, but the dimensions are about 2.5' square and 3' high (there are a total of four units for a 5000 sq/ft house, if that helps at all). Are there issues with extending the electrical and copper piping on the outside of the house and running them about 10' away? Any idea how much that might cost the HO?

Thanks.

mdshunk

It's no big deal, particularly if you want to extend the electricals and the refrigerant lineset on the exterior. Expect to pay about 125-175 for the electrical work for both units, and about 250-300 per unit for refrigerant recovery, extend lineset, and recharge units. You're looking at 625-775 for both units if done in my area. Your area, maybe less, maybe more. If you wait until the spring slow times hit for an HVAC man (no furnace service calls, no a/c units being fired up yet), you might be able to get a better deal.

cdac

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ContractorSon

I would have placed a "hatch door" over those units. The "view" out of the windows behind the rails is anything but...

Man that is A LOT of Vinyl siding!

cdac

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logical

Sorry, but that is not what I'd call a very elegant solution.

HVAC Doc

I personally wouldn't want the units enclosed like that for 2 reasons:

1. If it were my deck I would be entertaining on, I would not want the noise of those units right there at my deck.

2. Servicability. Tight quarters make it tough to properly service the units not to mention future changeouts (having to watch what size/type of unit has to be put back). And depending on your local codes, it wouldn't be a "legal" install due to space requirements around the units and for the disconnect boxes. And for sure, no hatch over the top. Covering the top = short unit life.

mdshunk

HVAC Doc is right. The pictures posted by cdac do create a code violation. The zone described in �§110.26 is to be free from architectural appurtenances and other non related equipment, vegitation or structures.

Woodcrafter74

Thanks for the information y'all.
If for some reason the a/c units couldn't be moved, I did have a back up design somewhat similar to CDAC's. I don't have the windows to deal with, so I was going to do a 1/2 wall around the units, but use solid material, not railing. I would then have run 2x2 baluster material across the top, spaced 3-4", to further conceal the units. It was still going to be open at one end for service access--that's where we were stopping the deck.
In case I ever run into this again, what are the space requirements around a/c units.

Thanks again!

locofoco

If I were going to move the units, I'd move them more than 10'. Can you move them around the corner of the house, away from the deck.? This would alleviate a lot of the noise. Refer to the installation manual for maximum refrigerant line lengths.

HVAC Doc

The space required around each unit may vary some depending on manufacture. Most ask for 36" (3 ft.) of space for airflow around the unit. That means "ideally" 2 units should have 6 ft. between them. Local codes may also have requirements as well so be sure and check those as well.

ContractorSon

Did not say a closed hatch....Just something that can be walked upon WITH airflow from the top.

747

5000 square feet. Thats the size of MD SHUNK HOUSE. Actually i think his is 5500. Electric work pays real good in the Tri State Area.

Bone Saw

You mean something like this

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