We are having a new house built with three Trane 13 seer condenser units. These are arranged in a row and are 2 tons, 4 tons and 5 tons, with the 4 ton in the middle. The outdoor units were just installed and are located roughly 3 to 4 inches apart. This seems a tad close to me, especially for the middle 4 ton unit. I am curious what the minimum clearance recommended by Trane is and what the practial separation distance should be. I am going to try calling Trand tomorrow to see what they have to say. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. George
Separation between condenser units
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gstein
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We are having a new house built with three Trane 13 seer condenser units. These are arranged in a row and are 2 tons, 4 tons and 5 tons, with the 4 ton in the middle. The outdoor units were just installed and are located roughly 3 to 4 inches apart. This seems a tad close to me, especially for the middle 4 ton unit. I am curious what the minimum clearance recommended by Trane is and what the practial separation distance should be. I am going to try calling Trand tomorrow to see what they have to say. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. George
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For sevicabilty, 24" is ok for spacing condensing units apart, no less for sure.
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imo 12inches is about as close as you should go but every manufactor has thier own clearences
24 to 36 if the service access is between the units so a tech can safely work on them
24 to 36 if the service access is between the units so a tech can safely work on them
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I was just thinking the same thing but more is better right? I'm kidding of course.
Condensers too close together
It is 5600 SF with huge ceilings, zoned upstairs, downstairs and MBR. Hopefully we won't actually need the full 12 tons running at one time. Anyhow, pretty much what I figured. Looks like they screwed up and installed a concrete pad for two units, then the installer just crammed all three onto the pad since the end units are sort of hanging over the edge. Oh well, one more for the punchlist. Wonder what the world record is for the longest punchlist? Thanks for the advice. George.
It is 5600 SF with huge ceilings, zoned upstairs, downstairs and MBR. Hopefully we won't actually need the full 12 tons running at one time. Anyhow, pretty much what I figured. Looks like they screwed up and installed a concrete pad for two units, then the installer just crammed all three onto the pad since the end units are sort of hanging over the edge. Oh well, one more for the punchlist. Wonder what the world record is for the longest punchlist? Thanks for the advice. George.
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i 100% agree with this. however, ive got a suspicion that the manufacturers install recommendations are going to allow for the units to be closer together (at least under 'special circumstances' - which may or may not apply here). any space limitations outdoors? i'm curious too, where are the airhandlers being located indoors?
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Spacing of Condensers
Two Items:
1) Ask to see the installation manual - it will detail min. clearances to walls & between products. Most mfg specify min. 6" on one side ONLY (typically rear) and min 24" between units + min. 36" to service side.
2) Ask your code enforcement official. They are required to ensure units are installed to meet mfg specs + various local codes IE: clearance to property lines, working platforms for air handlers, roof barriers etc.
*** just a note - be sure the clearance above the cond. meets mfg specs as well.
Two Items:
1) Ask to see the installation manual - it will detail min. clearances to walls & between products. Most mfg specify min. 6" on one side ONLY (typically rear) and min 24" between units + min. 36" to service side.
2) Ask your code enforcement official. They are required to ensure units are installed to meet mfg specs + various local codes IE: clearance to property lines, working platforms for air handlers, roof barriers etc.
*** just a note - be sure the clearance above the cond. meets mfg specs as well.
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George, that's way to close together, I don't know if I have ever seen condensers that close together 3 to 4 inches? that is way to dang close I would not let that fly.
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to close, they will end up recirculating air (not good)
to close, they will end up recirculating air (not good)
Condenser Units Too Close
Holy Guacamole, the installation instructions would appear to say that as long as they are 12" from the house and nothing is in front, the side spacing is "unrestricted" and units can be crammed as close together as possible. I guess that is why they installed them 12" from the house and as close together as possible. I think I will phone Trane to verify this next week. Anyhow, there is infinite room next to the house to install these, so I told the construction manager that if they want me sign off on the house they will need to move them farther from the house and a minumum of 24" apart. I suspect the increased electric bill on the center unit would probably pay for a new outside unit within the lifetime of the compressor, which would probably be somewhat shortened, so if they don't move them I will have them moved later. Thanks for the help. George.
Holy Guacamole, the installation instructions would appear to say that as long as they are 12" from the house and nothing is in front, the side spacing is "unrestricted" and units can be crammed as close together as possible. I guess that is why they installed them 12" from the house and as close together as possible. I think I will phone Trane to verify this next week. Anyhow, there is infinite room next to the house to install these, so I told the construction manager that if they want me sign off on the house they will need to move them farther from the house and a minumum of 24" apart. I suspect the increased electric bill on the center unit would probably pay for a new outside unit within the lifetime of the compressor, which would probably be somewhat shortened, so if they don't move them I will have them moved later. Thanks for the help. George.
distance
Yes, but a foot of free space is very hard to come by. That means no disconnects, piping, other stuff.
We add when several units are placed. 1 foot unit A plus 1 foot for unit B results in 2 feet. Those unit have been place too close. I would not pay them unit it is fixed.
Note the pad should be several inches larger than the foot print of the units. This revent weedwacker damage.
Yes, but a foot of free space is very hard to come by. That means no disconnects, piping, other stuff.
We add when several units are placed. 1 foot unit A plus 1 foot for unit B results in 2 feet. Those unit have been place too close. I would not pay them unit it is fixed.
Note the pad should be several inches larger than the foot print of the units. This revent weedwacker damage.Skinny HVAC Tech needed
My first thought when I looked at those units was an image of the tech laying on top and hanging upside down trying to squeeze into that 12" wall spacing to hook up his guage set to the middle unit. I'm not the one who will have to do it, so it made me chuckle.
My first thought when I looked at those units was an image of the tech laying on top and hanging upside down trying to squeeze into that 12" wall spacing to hook up his guage set to the middle unit. I'm not the one who will have to do it, so it made me chuckle.
I have had to do that before and it's no fun especially when there is that extra thick layer of mulch and it's 90+ outside.
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Serviceablity is nice but that one in the middle basically won't work at all. The whole premise of air conditioning is based on heat transfer. If you didn't install them, then you shouldn't have to pay a dime for the company to make it right. Tell them to read their installation manual, it's clearly explained in there. Good luck.
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