Location matters when it comes to HVAC placement. Certainly, most of the heating and cooling system including the furnace and air handler will be situated indoors, in a part of the house with direct access to venting and ductwork. However, the condenser/compressor unit for the central air conditioner is another matter.
This large unit imposes different requirements for optimum location. Picking the right place will have an effect on A/C cooling performance, energy efficiency and overall system lifespan. Here are some guidelines for proper HVAC placement.
Put It Outdoors
The condenser half of the central A/C should not be installed indoors, such as in an attic or crawl space. To disperse heat extracted from the house by the evaporator coil, this unit exhausts hot air released by the condenser coil into outdoor air. In the unit is installed indoors, however, released heat energy readily radiates through ceilings or floors, adding extracted heat back into living spaces of the house.
This causes the air conditioner to run extended cycles to compensate for the extra heat, raising operating costs and increasing wear on components. The condenser also requires large volumes of fresh air to disperse heat properly. The enclosed confines of an attic or basement do not provide adequate air circulation.
Keep It Cool
The cooler and more shaded the outdoor location of the condenser unit, the better. It’s a fact of physics that heat flows naturally from a hot zone into a cooler zone. The hot condenser coil disperses extracted heat more efficiently when surrounding outdoor air is cooler. For best performance and energy efficiency, keep the unit out of the hot sun and choose an outdoor location where the unit is shaded by the house for maximum hours per day.
Also be sure to maintain adequate air circulation into and out of the unit. Keep at least two feet of open space on all sides. Trim back any encroaching shrubbery around the unit as well as low overhanging tree limbs.
For more answers about HVAC placement, ask the experts at Ace Hardware Home Services.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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