(Feb 19, 2015) Chuck said:Are there any clearance requirements for condensing units and entrances?

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly. Are there any codes or standards for the foundation for a heat pump?

Lennox® typical compressor condenser installation instructions (see REFERENCES) include these additional bits of advice about the outdoor condensing coil and compressor unit: M1305.1 Appliance access for inspection service, repair and replacement.

I have a two ton round condensing unit which does not have near the recommended clearance on two sides (house wall on one side and a fence consisting of horizontal 1'' x 6" boards with 1" gaps on the opposite side). Have sufficient wood on hand to eliminate the need to leave your campsite to restock. Mike, Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electrical equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment.

My Carrier compressor/condensing unit is installed about 2.5 feet from the wall however there is a gas fireplace exhaust pointed right at the unit. Permits are required to have campfire or portable gas stoves on public lands. Obviously still not an ideal situation, but it seems to me this would be a worthwhile improvement. Your condenser location 3 ft out from the wall and presumably not blocked for working space nor air movement can be acceptable, for condenser unit operation and maintenance, I'd attach a picture if I could. Be aware that rocks obtained from the river may explode due to moisture in the rock becoming superheated by the campfire. Use crumpled paper and/or kindling to start a fire rather than using flammable liquids. Teach children to cool a burn with cool running water for 3 – 5 minutes.

Never use gasoline as an aid to starting a campfire. Ensure that a responsible adult is monitoring the campfire at all times. For the installation I see in your photos, the possible effects are not from CO in the exhaust since the compressor/condenser does not involve drawing in combustion air.

As little as 1 second contact with a 70°C (158°F) campfire can cause 3rd degree, full thickness burns.

My contractor said not a big deal if not level and through som pea gravel underneath unit. COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER INSPECTION CHECKLIST, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER LEVELING REQUIREMENTS, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER REPAIR - topic home, CLOTHES DRYER VENT CLEARANCES & TERMINATION. Clearance distances for outdoor HVAC compressor/condenser units: This article describes the recommended minimum (and maximum) distances to separate an air conditioner or heat pump outdoor compressor/condenser unit from building walls, other equipment, fences, shrubs, etc. Some air conditioner manufacturers such as McQuay provide a refrigeration piping guide that gives complete, detailed guidance and charts on refrigerant line sizing (diameter) as a function of length of run. The majority of children are burned the morning after a fire from coming into contact with hot ashes or embers. (609.6 mm) between units. However, the side of the house is several windows. You should find the installation instructions for your specific brand and model gas fireplace and therein you should find the specific clearance distances given by the manufacturer.

If a fire starter is required, use only proper lighting fluid and use the lighting fluid sparingly. Access and download campaign materials. Also, keep a shovel and bucket of water nearby at all times. During periods of high fire danger, campfires may be restricted. In sum, I agree that there is a potential impact between the gas vent and the condenser unit, particularly if they can run simultaneously, such as if the condenser unit is for a heat pump and the gas vent is for a space heater.

together will probably not receive enough cool air flow to function properly. Be aware that rocks obtained from the river may explode due to moisture in the rock becoming superheated by the campfire. These four air conditioner compressors were found jammed into a wall niche along a street in Queretero, Mexico. Secure all lighters and matches and keep them out of children’s reach. Always keep a shovel and bucket of water nearby at all times. Where either these conditions are possible I'd increase the clearance distance to 10 feet or 3 meters. Do not allow children to run around near a campfire. 2015/11/06 Tom said: what is the minimum required distance between a home A/C condenser unit and a fill valve for a home heating oil tank? Never build a campfire on a windy day. Apologies for the delay.

Be sure to build your campfire in a way that does not endanger anyone or the surrounding forest. Your question is a good one but I'd be surprised if we could see an indoor effect from air exiting the heat pump. Click to Show or Hide Citations & References, HVAC spacing rules between system components and other building features or mechanicals, GAS FIREPLACE VENT CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER INSTALLATION ERRORS, ARTICLE INDEX to AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMPS, INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, 13 SEER Split System Air Conditioner 1.5-5 Tons R410A, ELITE® Series R-410A AIR CONDITIONERS INSTALLATION & OPERATION MANUAL, INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, Elite® Series XC13 Units, Condensing Units 506635-01, CONDENSING UNIT INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, Split System Performance Line AC & HP Condensers, HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURESES (Canada), HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION: HOME STUDY COURSES. I found the reference below about a fence clearance, and also the one side of the air conditioner could be at 6in respecting the clearance on the other 3 sides. In our photo (left) from a home in New York, the compressor/condenser unit actually leaning against the house wall (its support pad tipped). Watch out: Separately, if a different compressure unit desigh caused the unit's exhaust to blow into the gas heater exhaust vent, that could prevent safe venting of exhaust gases.

The installation is nice-looking and neat though. Loose clothing can easily catch fire. - AC Unit Clearance space to a fence: Tuti Beyond that, leaves are going to fall onto the unit and some may be sucked against the air intake areas of the condenser unit even if a tree is quite distant, if leaves are falling onto the lawn, so you'll want to keep the area clean and to inspect it regularly during leaf-fall season where you live. Thanks!

Once the lighting fluid has been applied to the firewood, allow a few minutes for the explosive vapours to disperse before lighting. I would like to install a removable vertical discharge cylindrical sheet metal duct the same diameter as the unit OD and about 36" long to get the discharge to just above the top of the fence. a 4" fence post could be 4" from the wall-side of the compressor/condenser unit. If there are multiple air conditioner or heat pumps installed in the same area, and following the sense of the rule above, I'd keep the units at least 4 ft. apart from one another as well. OPINION: While we can't anticipate every crazy installation of stuff on or around buildings (people are very creative), there are possible hazards that I can imagine, so I'd like to see 48", principally because I don't want kitchen grease accumulating on the top of the condenser; Watch out: there could be a more subtle hazard, even a fire hazard: if the compressor/condenser unit's exhaust is upwards out of the top of the unit (as is often the case) and if it blows up into the air intake of the kitchen exhaust fan while that fan is "on" (such that that fan's outlet baffle is normally blown-open by the kitchen fan) the strong blast of upwards air out of the A/C condenser unit may either close off the kitchen exhaust fan outlet baffle or it might even blow backwards back into the kitchen, risking grease accumulation in the kitchen exhaust, backdrafts, odors, even a fire. This will allow for plenty of room for furniture and traffic space.

Maintain a 2 to 3.5 metre (6 – 10 foot) clearance around your campfire. The article above gives typical condenser clearance distances,

In our photo at page top these two compressor/condenser units are too close together as well as too close to the building walls.

see the paragraph titled

However it's rather likely that the manufacturer's instructions and do require that the pad be level and that the condenser unit be installed with sufficient slack or extra material in wiring and refrigerant piping that shukd the unit move slightly the wiring and refrigerant piping will not be disturbed, broken, or made to leak or made unsafe. You'll see in both our article ccited just above and in the manufacturer's instructions for a gas fireplace, that typical gas fireplace vent instructions specify that the termination cap on the outside wall must be. Sparks or embers from the fire could travel quite a distance setting an unintentional fire. The safest way to extinguish a campfire is with water. CLEARANCE DISTANCE, HVAC at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. A solid fence? Scoop a depression in the center of the cleared area in which to build the fire and put a ring of rocks around it. Lennox Elite® IOM (2017) requires 36" (91.4 cm) clearance on one of the unit's other three sides (after excluding the side closest to the control box) and permits 12" (30.5cm) on one of the remaining two sides