Did I suggest as much? My point was that we had an agreed place for the heat pump to go (my back patio), and that if they were planning to change it, especially by placing it in my neighbor's backyard, they should have asked me first. I was speculating that they *probably* can just extend the refrigerant lines, but regardless, it was wrong for them to do without asking.

Why bother "responding" if you're going to be exceedingly unhelpful? Go be miserable elsewhere. They don't make "block" features on this sites for nuthin'.

"You don't communicate with a contractor"

It seems you lack reading comprehension skills. LOL. You should probably practice some comprehension strategies before responding to people looking for advice. See ya!

Confusing thread - was there a deleted comment before the OP's first comment?

I agree the contractor should have called you and asked if they could install the condenser in a location other than the one you discussed. It appears the installation was to cone for the contractor's convenience and not yours.

It is hard to say without knowing model of your mini split how difficult it would be to lengthen the refrigerant lines. There are limits how long the lines can be made. If the contractor had any concerns about this then he should have discussed this with you prior to the installation.

My suggestion is to find out if you are legally allowed to have the condenser where it is. If you have to move it, then one option could be to place it high on the wall. This is very common in townhouse installations. I would suggest at least 8 feet off the ground so you a vehicle can drive past it with no problem. This would shorten the refrigerant line which is more efficient than making them longer.

I also don't an outside circuit breaker and disconnect box. Did the contractor apply for a permit and if so has the final inspection been performed?

Wow, Stax is really trolling here, considering he replied only to insult and dismiss my concerns, and then has the nerve to say I met him with nastiness. Yes, posts were deleted because they were simply OT or purposefully unhelpful.

Mike_home, thank you. You're suggesting they could possibly move the exterior pump higher (at least 8 feet) up the wall? I suppose that's a good compromise *if* necessary, but I would assume it'd still technically count as encroachment. But, I would guess the property owners and renters would have less problems with it if it were completely out of the way. Hopefully it is possible to just get it back behind my patio after all...

I'm with Stax on this one. It seems like the OP has an issue to deal with but sometimes people lash out at comments people make they don't want to hear. Whether a result of limited information or not doesn't matter.

Experience has taught me that you can't turnkey home trade services, especially not expensive major projects. I learned the hard way to only schedule such items when someone could be home. And "being home" for us meant checking in periodically, maybe even hourly, with the conduct of the work, no matter what or where.

As just one example, for our last exterior repainting job a few years ago, the painting contractor came to me to say they could "catch up" with their "schedule" by working during the coming weekend. I told him we wouldn't be home and I preferred they not do so. He insisted. I said fine but I would go over their work afterwards very carefully. Not surprisingly, I came home on Monday to find they'd done a poor job, the paint applied had been thinned out too much and it was sloppily done. I insisted that the entire side of the house be redone, at his expense for time and paint. They fell behind rather than moved ahead on the "schedule", it was a fixed bid and it was his problem.

Elmer, he deleted his posts for a reason. They were inappropriate, mocked my concern, and so I guess he later decided he didn't want to look bad and deleted them. I just clapped back is all.

Yeah, I think this is definitely a "learning" experience. I should have just put off the project, since I really couldn't take off work that day. But regardless, the onus is on the contractors to do right by their word. Still to be seen how the installation manager responds.

Fair enough. He's often one with useful comments.

I'm sure it's true in all areas, there are honest and reasonable contractors and there are scoundrels. Probably more of the latter type than should be the case. Good ones are worth paying more to work with. Other than personal referrals from friends, it can be hard to discern which is which.

Yes it is common to see outdoor condensers attached to townhouses installed several feet off the ground. Your installation as sitting on bracket attached to the side of the house. It would not have been too difficult to raise the height.

Update: the manager of installations acknowledged the problem with the placement of the exterior condenser and agreed to come move it to my back patio. They also acknowledged that it had been previously agreed where the condenser would go. So yes, I did communicate with the workers: they just did not do a great job of making sure the installer listened to my request.

I am glad the manager of installations understood and took my concern seriously. Thank you to everyone who submitted serious replies and advice. :)