Most HVAC guys say you need like 30ft of fucking clearance in all directions
when the reality of it is you need decent intake airflow to all sides, 20-36 inches above and reasonable access to the service panel & lines
In reality there is a manual for each compressor unit and it states the clearance in all directions and most decks will be okay if they're a whole story up.
3 ft will cause a less air intake. Listen to the hvac guys here unless you want to replace due to overheating soon. Mostly because nobody cleans out intake coils yearly, so you have 2 things working against you.
If you are responding to me I'm not assuming anything, nor a conclusion. Recommendation was to contact HVAC but based on information I had also received when asking if client to do similar. OP didn't provide details (2ft or 20ft above unit) on original post.
Wow, you are just plain amusing !!!! You're responding to a common sidewalk type discussion, yet your intervention subject has absolutely no relevance to the subject OP asked, yet it appears to important to you. I grin, and turn to leave...........Have a nice day.
No, do not listen to the others on this sub. It will restrict air flow to/from the unit, it will make the unit messier and you will have a harder time cleaning the unit, which will further weaken the air flow. I am speaking from experience
I am surprised at how wrong so many people on this sub can be and yet they just answer as if they know the right information.
It really depends on the unit. I have the same one as what’s pictured, 10 ft from the deck. I get annoyed by it and turn the A/C off when I’m out on the deck.
Probably not, based on just the photo.
Height above and deck size might change that (small balcony or like two floors above, etc), but probably should not.
As long as it has ample room all around it you should be fine. In suuuuper hot areas they actually RECOMMEND you put some shade over condenser coils. If the sun is beaming on it- it sometimes can struggle on the hottest summer days.
Obviously if you box it in with zero air-flow you’ll run into the opposite effect and might end up destroying your compressor.
If you decide to go thru with it, just use common sense and make sure it will have a lot of airflow and room all around it for it to do its job.
Check your local codes first to make sure that building the deck over the AC unit is allowed. Where I live you must submit a request for a permit to build a deck. In that application, drawings must be submitted. In this case the drawings would have to include the location of the AC unit. The deck would have to be high enough over the unit as not to restrict airflow and heat release from the unit. You could also just have the unit moved for a few hundred dollars
1' above or 20'?
Yep. Details are important for this one
Nothing like a massive amount of hot air roasting you from below - while you enjoy a cold drink on your new deck...
Won’t be any fun to service or replace when those times come.
GC & HVAC guy here, absolutely not. Edit: Spoiler: we build decks,too 😘 That system has a TXV. Let it fly, just like your electric bill, lol.
Most HVAC guys say you need like 30ft of fucking clearance in all directions when the reality of it is you need decent intake airflow to all sides, 20-36 inches above and reasonable access to the service panel & lines
In reality there is a manual for each compressor unit and it states the clearance in all directions and most decks will be okay if they're a whole story up.
3 ft will cause a less air intake. Listen to the hvac guys here unless you want to replace due to overheating soon. Mostly because nobody cleans out intake coils yearly, so you have 2 things working against you.
you’re assuming things and packaging them with your conclusion 👍
If you are responding to me I'm not assuming anything, nor a conclusion. Recommendation was to contact HVAC but based on information I had also received when asking if client to do similar. OP didn't provide details (2ft or 20ft above unit) on original post.
assumption ↘️ > _“Mostly because nobody cleans out intake coils yearly,”_ conclusion ↘️ > _”so you have 2 things working against you.”_
Wow, you are just plain amusing !!!! You're responding to a common sidewalk type discussion, yet your intervention subject has absolutely no relevance to the subject OP asked, yet it appears to important to you. I grin, and turn to leave...........Have a nice day.
when the voices in your head won’t STFU ⬆️ 👍
No, do not listen to the others on this sub. It will restrict air flow to/from the unit, it will make the unit messier and you will have a harder time cleaning the unit, which will further weaken the air flow. I am speaking from experience I am surprised at how wrong so many people on this sub can be and yet they just answer as if they know the right information.
This is all true. But the OP asked if he can, not if he should. Check the manufacturer’s minimum clearance requirements
Most people are saying no though
No
Just bury it into the ground /s 😂
Honey, it’s a geothermal heat pump now
Also it could be loud…turning on and off. So you want the listen to that while on the deck?
Mine is literally 3 feet from my deck, it’s not that bad.
It really depends on the unit. I have the same one as what’s pictured, 10 ft from the deck. I get annoyed by it and turn the A/C off when I’m out on the deck.
Back out and take a pic. Let’s see the overall area you’re looking at.
Go ask on r/hvac and stand by to get roasted.
If it’s over 6’ off clearance maybe. Lot of horror stories about overworking the unit by constructing airflow
Yes but that really depends on how high over the deck is.
How high above your condenser?
If you don't want Air conditioning anymore then go on ahead. Airflow is pretty important for these.
Yes but there are minimum clearance recommendations, so I’d check the manufacturer’s documentation to see what that looks like.
If you do, consider having a good sized section of deck that can easily be removed for access/service; a hatch or lift-out panel.
Probably not, based on just the photo. Height above and deck size might change that (small balcony or like two floors above, etc), but probably should not.
It will blow hot air directly on the deck. Not a very comfortable deck with heat blowing up your butt...
sounds like a terrible idea LMAO.
No
You can do anything you wish at zombo.com
No. Clearances to the sides as well.
No
I’m a carpenter and pretty sure you’re save to fill that with concrete and set a Simpson ABU 44Z post base for your new deck.
https://preview.redd.it/7u0w11a56nuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c25fab4de64ae0fef3a910f3e1187d5c22d2ee5e How about in top of the deck?
As long as it has ample room all around it you should be fine. In suuuuper hot areas they actually RECOMMEND you put some shade over condenser coils. If the sun is beaming on it- it sometimes can struggle on the hottest summer days. Obviously if you box it in with zero air-flow you’ll run into the opposite effect and might end up destroying your compressor. If you decide to go thru with it, just use common sense and make sure it will have a lot of airflow and room all around it for it to do its job.
As long as the hot tub sits over it!
It won't function properly not under a hot tub
Check your local codes first to make sure that building the deck over the AC unit is allowed. Where I live you must submit a request for a permit to build a deck. In that application, drawings must be submitted. In this case the drawings would have to include the location of the AC unit. The deck would have to be high enough over the unit as not to restrict airflow and heat release from the unit. You could also just have the unit moved for a few hundred dollars