Air conditioning unit placement--please help!!!

14 years ago

We are building a large historic-style home and are having a tough time deciding where to put one of the air conditioning units (we need two). this unit will handle the second floor's air conditioning and our options for its placement are in the front of the house (which i strongly do not want) or in the back next to the patio. We have family and friends whose units are next to their patio and it can be really noisy and annoying. Our land is incredibly peaceful and we don't envision hearing our unit while relaxing on the patio. But, the thought of this in the front of our pretty house is rather irritating, too. The only other option is the other side of the house, but the HVAC man says the distance the cold air will have to travel will render it less than optimal (over 80 ft. i guess) compared to the short distance of piping if it's in front of or in back of the house. any advice would be very helpful, thank you!

Also, I posted this on the HVAC board, too. thanks.

Featured Answer

crazy_in_mason

14 years ago

Don't do it near the patio. The noise is horrible. Make them do a longer run. My geothermal run for my second floor in my house is close to 90 feet. There should not be much difference for air conditioner.

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Comments (14)

david_cary
14 years ago
Best bet is HVAC forum. But the cold air comment is just plain wrong.
threeapples
Original Author
14 years ago
thanks, David. i posted on the HVAC forum, but was hoping to get a comment here since we need to decide by tomorrow and we were just made aware of the issue today.
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lyfia
14 years ago
It's just the compressor right that they are putting out there? Where is the internal unit?
brickeyee
14 years ago
Unless you are using a 'packaged' unit and not a 'split system' with a separate evaporator coil in the furnace plenum and a compressor with condenser outside the distance is made up with copper tubing and extra refrigerant.

If it gets very long it can affect unit performance, especially if the lines are not sized up for the distance correctly (longer distances need larger lines and more refrigerant).

80 feet should be possible with a little adjustment of the line set.
athensmomof3
14 years ago
We have 4 units. 3 would go beside the house. The 4th had to go fairly close to our downstairs patio (walkout basement). I would say within 20 feet. There was simply no other choice. The distance was too far for that unit. It is only one unit, though, so how loud can it be ;)? White noise, right??

I am concerned about hearing it on the screened in porch (20 feet over and a story up), but we really had no choice. I definitely would not do it in front of your house, but double check the distance run issue. I know we had the same one but I think it was longer than 80 feet (we have a very long but not deep house).
suzyqtexas
14 years ago
You are right to be concerned. Also if you are doing a septic system, be sure the aerator motor is far from windows and the patio also.
threeapples
Original Author
14 years ago
We were able to put the unit in the attic and the air conditioning fan unit on the side of the house with the other one. We just need to get the hvac on board. we're doing a perimeter line in the attic instead of a trunk line down the middle and this now allows (hopefully) the air conditioning units to not have to be in the front of the house or next to the back patio. thanks everyone for your help.
User
14 years ago
The cold air comment suggests you need to describe the system.
User
14 years ago
We had a similar decision. I placed it in the front of the house and landscaped around it. I wouldn't want it in the back if I were planning on spending time outside.

Here is a pic...the unit isn't very visible. It is on the left side by the secondary entry behind the tree/shrubs. I wouldn't want it near the front door however.
From dba_pics
buckheadhillbilly
14 years ago
I hesitate to make this comment, since it sounds like you are too far along, but perhaps it will help someone else. This problem is one of the reasons that we decided to do a geothermal system.

I know of a historic style house (a Deerfield house to be exact) that was built in the 80's with a geothermal system. When the well went dry during a drought (it was an open loop system), the homeowners put in AC condensers. It totally ruined the look of the house. There was no good place to put it and it was noisy. Their experience made me think about the placement of units and ultimately decide against them.

My story does have a happy ending. Incorporating geothermal into my new build inspired the owners of the Deerfield house to redo their geothermal system and the ugly units are gone! They are back to beauty on all sides and no racket.
brickeyee
14 years ago
"This problem is one of the reasons that we decided to do a geothermal system. "

While there is not a condenser coil outside, there is still a compressor (and some have small cooling fans) and they can also make noise when running.
Gene Dryden
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
do not talk to this guy about air conditioner placement
millworkman
4 years ago
"do not talk to this guy about air conditioner placement"

I doubt anyone is since it is a 9 year old post.............