Your installers are mistaken IMO. The manufacturer could legitimately void the warranty if a problem occurs that requires their intervention and they claim it was caused by impaired airflow. It seems unlikely that the manufacturer will accept that local city code for less clearance supersedes their stated larger clearance.

How much clearance is *between* the two units? Photo?

Thanks so much for your reply. I hadn't thought about voiding the warranty, that is an important consideration.

I don't live at the house where the units were installed, so unfortunately don't have a great photo at hand. The two units are pretty far apart, maybe 4 feet. The only photo I have is one showing the short clearance to the wall.

Are the sides of the units facing the wall a solid panel such as for service access, or a coil through which airflow is pulled in (or blown out)? I am reasonably assuming it's *not* a service panel being that 6" of space beside a wall doesn't provide sufficient working space to access the electrical components. Insufficient airflow ("breathing") space can affect/impair unit operation.

I wouldn't want my condenser 6" from a wall and can't think of any reason unless another obstruction or property line leaves no choice . It's mind boggling how far out of their way some contractors go to screw things up.

Typically, building codes defer to manufacturer's installation instructions. I suspect that's the case in your locale and that the HVAC contractor is blowing smoke, so to speak.

I wouldn’t just assume that they’ve telling you correct information about your city’s code. I’d call both the city and the manufacturer to double check.

Thanks for your advice, everyone! You've given me courage to push back on the HVAC installer.

I had a call with them yesterday that was unsatisfying. They reiterated that code is 5" from the wall. They said it would not void the warranty (but who can believe them at face value). Oh, and if we wanted to move them to 12", it would cost $800 per unit. Ridiculous.

We are using these guys through our general contractor (it's a house remodel) so I am pushing back on the GC to get involved and sort out this mess. The GC actually tried to pawn us off to the HVAC guys, saying we should talk to them directly. But clearly we're at an impasse.

We have final inspections by the city coming up. After that I have a final payment to the GC due. I'm going to hold this payment until we sort this out. And I've told the GC we want to be present at final inspection to ask the inspector ourselves (something I know he probably does not want).

Wish me luck! I'll report back.

PS: I've tried calling the mfg (LG in this case) but there is no phone number that I can find for HVAC because their HVAC units are sold through distributors and installers. It does say clearly in the installation manual 12" minimum. We'll try to call our city as well.

If you've hired a general contractor they own the issue. Work through them to an acceptable resolution.

I would give inspector heads up well in advance of final. Reason being inspector likly never had this happen before and needs to refresh on code so he isn't blindsided day of inspection while everyone is looking over his shoulder. As Chas said , code often defers to mfgr's instructions and this is almost certain to be the case here.

In the municipalities in which we work, the HVAC manufacturer's installation instructions need to be at the equipment and available for the inspector's review at the time of the inspection.

Don't waste your time calling LG. Even if someone answered the phone the standard reply would be to speak with your HVAC installer.

The story about the code requirement of 5 inches and the manufacturer quoting suggestions instead or requirements is laughable in my opinion. I would be worried about what other liberties the HVAC contractor took for this installation. I suggest the distance be more than the minimum of 12 inches. No reason to have the condensers that close to the house if space is available.

Your final payment gives you leverage with the General Contractor. Please provide an update after the inspection is completed. This may be a good lesson for others on how to resolve problems involving a general contractor, HVAC installer, and a code official.

This is becoming increasingly typical behavior by contractors,installers,workers,builders ,public servants and everyone else customers/taxpayers pay for services. If people expect to get their money's worth they need to learn to stand on their own two feet and demand accountability. I can't recall the last time someone came here with a question not oozing incompetence and/or ambiguity. What happened to diyers asking questions like: besides special cleaners that hvac supply houses refuse to sell homeowners, what can I use while cleaning coils?

They placed the units 6 inches from the wall of the house. The manufacturer's instructions in the installation manual says to have 12 inches. We told the HVAC contractors this, but they said 6 inches is compliant with code in our city, and that manufacturers' recs are just "suggestions."

The common error people make is the hunt for a deal a bargain for HVAC equipment.

(Before you flame me for my opinion, realize I actually have done this job for over 30 years and of those years I have owned my own company for over 15 years. My opinion is based upon my experience actually doing the job we are talking of here.) Does this mean all people do it this way? no. I am talking of the jobs I don't get and for good reasons.

1 guy -- a skilled guy. No differences of opinion among the same people from the same company. If you don't like seeing the same guy then use a bigger company in which you may not see the same guy even 2 times in your life.

50 guys at 1 company. It may take you 50 years or more to meet everyone at the company you chose?

code versus manufacturer recommendations versus common sense?

6 inches versus 12 inches? If you can't clean the coil and perform maintenance properly the life of the equipment is not likely to be long or prosperous. (live long and prosper)

The other is serviceablity and repair... 6 inches or even 12 inches is not enough room period.

(In some cases to do it properly may require relocating the outdoor unit at additional cost, but if you looked for a deal that is not likely to be presented as it's only about giving you a deal to get the job.)

I don't get every job I quote. I had one a few years back run to Sears if you can imagine that. A year later they called me with a broken AC. I take notes I asked them who they chose to install the new AC unit I quoted them the previous year is how I know it was Sears.

They were adamant that they wanted me to come look at it. I told them no, you made your choice you need to call Sears. Now had it been 3 years or longer I probably would have went out there without much controversy. Think for a moment why I have this policy in place.

There's only 1 Ray Austin. I don't believe the world could handle any more. LOL.

I service the Katy, Texas area.

While i agree with most of what you just said Ray I'm not sure it is relevant to op's situation. The units were installed by the gc's sub so I doubt op had any say in what company installed them. If GC referred op to installer ,op might have been lax in vetting GC.

Klem, yeah I only know what people tell me. So the story I tell may be completely different to what happened to the OP as to how this situation happened.

Even so 12 inches is not enough room to service the equipment properly. The manufacturer is there to sell new equipment as that is their primary motivation in my experience. The manufacture responsiblity isn't to help you fix your AC unit for 30 years.

@netizenq

Did the HVAC contractor replace the line set as part of the new condenser installation? If not then that would explain why the condensers as so close to the wall. The installer may have cut the line set back during the installation of the new condensers. The estimate to move the condensers away from the house probably has the cost of two new line sets. Old line sets can be reused if they the correct diameter and properly flushed. This is something which should have been stated on the original quote.

As the OP has a general contractor, I'm guessing this is a new build or add-on/renovation. As such, I would think the lines would be new.

There's no getting around idiots, incompetents, and/or crooks in this business!

It's a house remodel. The general contractor likely hired the lowest bidder and that usually means reusing the line set.

New or existing doesn't preclude installer adding additional line if that's what it takes to do it right. I anticipate someone asking one of these days if having to spend $1500 for new line set was necessary because contractor said old lines were 6" too short.

Yeah Klem is right, reusing a line set isn't a reason or excuse to not install a condenser adequately with room around it for future service & repair. If the area is the problem, then pay more to relocate it some where else with more room.

Any skilled person could add to a line set to extend the length thereof. I've probably done it a 100,000 times or more in my +30 year long HVAC career.

When I quote a job I don't extend the quote into every finer detail of what I am going to do. I believe it's common sense that because I've been doing this job for so long that it should be understood I know what I am doing by now. If there's trouble with the install I am the one who will fix it if it's me who installed it. So why would I not use my wisdom to install it right the first time?

Remember these words the next time you "shop" for a new one. Most intelligent people "without an agenda to sell you something for the sake of selling it" will tell you that the installation of the equipment is the most important part of the job. It's either that or "high pressure sales" 9 times out of 10.

Putting brand names over other names when they are comparable equipment (known as brand bashing to sell their brand) -If their brand was so good why do they need to bash other brands? They all break < words of wisdom from someone who repairs them 10 months out of the year. No such thing as an AC brand that doesn't break. Service issues like room only exponentially expand on your repair / service troubles. (Known as the finer details of the job -- your system configuration)

If at any time excuses are made, it's not a good situation to put yourself in.

I service the Katy, Texas area.

The HVAC contractor doesn't work for the OP; they work for the general contractor. The general contractor needs to deal with the consequences of their poor choice of HVAC contractor and not ask the homeowner to deal directly with them nor to accept substandard work. Fortunately, the OP's project is subject to code compliance inspections. If the installation doesn't comply with the manufacturer's instructions it would be rejected in any of the municipalities in which we work. It should be fixed without weeping and gnashing of teeth. And, not on the OP's dime.

The HVAC contractor doesn't work for the OP; they work for the general contractor.

I don't know why games like this are played within the "new construction realm" of the housing industry. To me it sounds like their priorities are less than what they should be and built around the fact that it's always about the next job not going back to the one they just slammed in.

This isn't to suggest the builder never goes back, but in my experience (as well as illustrated in this thread) it's often only to provide excuses like "oh it's fine the way we did it." (and / or it's going to cost more to redo this because it's a change order or some other fine print excuse to charge more money.)

The OP owns the house, not the general contractor. This sounds absurd to me.

Ray,

You've clearly misunderstood content in this thread, but that hasn't kept you from twisting it into a self-aggrandizing commercial. It's not about you.

My intent is being twisted by you Charles. Not me.

I service the Katy, Texas area

(Is provided not as a commercial, but for context of who I want calling me. I only service the Katy, Texas area. But yet to this day I get waste of time calls from all over the country. I shouldn't have to explain that should I?)

Valid reasons for everything I do here as well as elsewhere.

"The OP owns the house, not the general contractor. This sounds absurd to me."

So what are you saying?

"(Is provided not as a commercial, but for context of who I want calling me. I only service the Katy, Texas area." Advertising your service area to your target audience is a commercial advertisement, Ray.

Hello all, I have an update. As I said, we pushed the GC on this issue and stated we'd like to be present at inspection. The inspection happened yesterday and we were present. The GC made a point of asking the inspector about the clearance to the wall. The inspector said it should be to manufacturer instructions. GC then asked inspector to write it up in the inspection (i.e. fail inspection), so that he can take this to his sub and demand rework. He has already paid the sub for the work at our house, but he has leverage through another means -- they are working with him on another project, so he'll hold the second project's payment until they finish ours.

A few things to note:

1) If GC had not made a point to ask inspector, inspector would have passed our inspection without noting the issue. This is because some HVAC manufacturers allow closer placement to the wall, so it depends on the manufacturer. So it was only when we stated explicitly that this unit requires 12" per manufacturer, that inspector saw the issue.

2) We did not have to explicitly threaten not to pay the GC his final payment, which is good. However, we will retain this item on the punch list until the work is redone to our satisfaction.

3) I believe our GC is a bit conflict-averse, and he needed to find a diplomatic way to confront the sub without him being the bad guy. Putting it on the inspector gave him that out. I don't know if he has always been like this, or if it's because in the current economy it is hard to find a good sub to work with so he doesn't want to rock the boat now.

4) While all this happened, the HVAC contractor contacted me and wrote me an email "guarantee" that their 5" clearance was code compliant, would not reduce the unit's efficiency or lifespan, and would not void the warranty. I think they were just blowing smoke, so I responded demanding to see the actual text of the code, and an actual statement *from LG* that it wouldn't reduce efficiency. They didn't reply after that so I think they were blowing smoke.

In summary, the lesson we learned is to be polite but firm in advocating for ourselves, insist on going through the GC, figure out where our leverage is, and use it when we need to. Oh, and we learned how helpful the Houzz community is. Thanks so much for all your comments! Especially the builders on this thread like Charles Ross, who gave us confidence our position was credible. I hope this is the end of our HVAC drama.

" Advertising your service area to your target audience is a commercial advertisement, Ray."

This guy has been spamming here for years!

"While all this happened, the HVAC contractor contacted me and wrote me an email "guarantee" that their 5" clearance was code compliant, would not reduce the unit's efficiency or lifespan, and would not void the warranty."

Irrelevant now. Bottom line is it failed inspection.

It's nice to have an opinion. It's nice to agree with people, when your opinions match up with what you think is right. (You know it's right because it screams at you in contempt. (disregard for something that should be taken into account.)

However, future service is going to involve a HVAC contractor and his opinion that is probably not going to align with what is being said here.

If you want to take those chances, the new construction industry was built upon... who am I to say anything about it? This sort of thing has been going on for longer than I've been in HVAC and will continue on into the future.

Service of that equipment even at 12 inches from the wall isn't enough room to properly service it in my opinion. Why would I have such an opinion? Not from arguing in a forum board trying to be different from everyone else? uh no. Because I have actually been to machines installed this way.

Just as much to believe me posting my location is an advertisement and not information due to calls I get that are essentially a waste of my time. Everyone is allowed to have their opinion here, but for me amongst those chiming it for what purpose? I am not allowed to have my own opinion EVEN if I have a good reason for such.

I service the Katy, Texas area. ( self aggrandizing again to explain my position. Like or lump it doesn't matter a bit to me. I let you have your opinion, the least I ask for is that you let me have mine.)

Thanks for the compliment, klem1. Your last sentence made me laugh!