How well you place your air conditioner unit goes a long way in determining the efficiency of your air conditioner unit.
There are different models of air conditioners with varying shapes, sizes, and cooling capabilities.
But ultimately, every air conditioner unit requires a good amount of clearance above and on each side to function at a maximum level and for safety reasons.
You should position your air conditioner unit at least one foot away from the house, with two to three feet of space being better. Each air conditioner unit has its maximum and minimum approved installation distance from the house. While one foot is the absolute minimum for most air conditioner units, two to three feet ensure proper airflow.
How Far Away From the House Should My Air Conditioner Condenser Be?
The condenser of an air conditioner unit depends heavily on a decent amount of airflow to function effectively.
The reason is that the air conditioner draws in the fresh air and then directs air to the condenser coils for cooling.
Therefore placing your air conditioner condenser in the wrong position will hinder adequate airflow.
It would help if you placed your air conditioner at an optimal spot to enable its high-performance level.
For example, horizontally, the minimum distance for an air conditioner condenser is 12 inches. However, 24 to 36 inches is optimal.
Vertically, the minimum distance of an air conditioner condenser is about 60 inches which are 5 feet.
It would be best to look for other factors when placing your air conditioner. For example, the condenser of your air conditioner unit will perform more efficiently when placed in a shady place.
Conversely, placing your air conditioner condenser in the sun will have a high electricity consumption rate and result in a high energy cost.
Also, you must ensure the surrounding plants are the right ones, as plant leaves can get into your air conditioner unit and cause damage.
You can as well cover your air conditioner unit with a paver border to prevent mud splashes and grasses from getting into the condenser of your air conditioner unit.
Mud splashes make the condenser of an air conditioner work harder. Aside from that, your air conditioner unit’s condenser depends on the airflow to function more effectively.
Therefore, you should leave reasonable space around your unit to make it accessible during supervision.
With this in mind, ensure your air conditioner unit has enough room to breathe and is easily accessible when needed.
How Far Can I Run My Air Conditioner Line Set?
Line sets are semi-flexible copper pipes that link the outdoor unit to the indoor unit, which connects the compressor outside your home with the evaporator inside.
For example, the line set of an air conditioner unit consists of two pipes, the suction or vapor line, and the liquid line.
Running an air conditioner line set will interfere with the overall performance of your air conditioner unit.
Generally, you should run your air conditioner line set within 50 feet for maximum unit performance.
You will require additional refrigeration specialty materials when you use longer lines on your air conditioner unit.
You should also note that longer lines will need to carry a significant amount of refrigerant, consequently increasing expenses.
Also, depending on the model of the air conditioner unit, the regular length of a mini split line is about 25 feet and sometimes double the length.
Finally, you need to know that you should not cover refrigeration lines in the ground except if you insulate or waterproof the lines.
Line sets covered up in the ground without insulation will cause profound capacity loss over time.
Also, corrosion will lead to an early failure of the unit. Having your air conditioner unit performing at the best level gives endless satisfaction.
Therefore, if the high cost of installation and usage that comes with more extended line sets will give you the satisfaction you desire, you should go for it.
Also, an upward fluid movement adds more to your air conditioner unit, which equals more energy consumption.
For most air conditioner units, the manufacturer’s manual carries information regarding the recommended line set lengths that will give off the optimal performance of the particular unit.
However, if you find it difficult to determine the length of your air conditioner unit’s line set, do not hesitate to call professional technicians to help with the correct line length.
What Is the Best Location For My Outdoor Air Conditioner Unit?
When installing an air conditioner, one of the most fundamental questions is where to place the outdoor air conditioner unit.
Placing the outdoor unit in the most appropriate spot will enable your air conditioner to function at the highest level.
One needs to know how refrigeration works to understand how well your air conditioner will function if adequately positioned. The best location for your outdoor air conditioner unit is a shaded spot.
In a suitable condition, your outdoor air conditioner unit should be installed on the north or the east side of your home to enable your house to naturally cover the air conditioner unit from the sun.
However, it would be best if you remembered that wrongly placing your air conditioner unit will affect the cooling effects and general service life.
Typically, an air conditioner unit requires unrestricted airflow to function efficiently. Therefore, if factors hinder airflow around your air conditioner unit, you should expect your air conditioner unit to be less efficient.
Aside from performing at a lesser level, your air conditioner unit will require more energy to function, which will inevitably affect the lifespan of your unit.
Generally, when choosing a location to install your outdoor air conditioner unit, you should consider the following factors.
- Look out for a shaded location to place your air conditioner unit.
- Place air conditioner units near deciduous trees. Although it will increase your unit maintenance level, you can always check around for leave droplets around your unit.
- Check out a location surrounded by grass or mulch.
- Before choosing a location for your air conditioner unit, you should consider the type of outdoor activities in your surroundings.
- The outdoor air conditioner unit is called an outdoor unit for a reason. It would be best if you did not place it in an attic or a garage.
- Choose a place free from water runoff from your roof, and you wouldn’t want the condenser of your air conditioner unit to be in a pool of water during the rainy season, as rain or excessive water will affect the electrical components of your cooling process.
To get the best out of your air conditioner unit, you must properly maintain your air conditioner, and there are some do’s and don’ts for air conditioner maintenance.
Some of which are in the table below.
| Things to Do | Things to Avoid Doing |
|---|---|
| Clean your air conditioner filter every month. | Do not use an extension cord to run your air conditioner unit. |
| Replace old units with new ones that have the energy star efficiency mark. | Do not set your thermostat to the most relaxed setting. |
| Check the air ducts for leakage when installing a new cooling system. | Do not let anything cover the vents in your air conditioner unit. |
| Keep your unit a few feet away from your building for maximum performance. | Do not place your air conditioner units on wood or bricks. |
What Is the Safe Distance Between An Outdoor Air Conditioner Unit And a Window?
The safe distance between an outdoor air conditioner unit and a window following the rule of thumb is at least two feet from the window.
Air conditioner units usually give out hot air to the surrounding environment, so when installing an air conditioner unit adjacent to a window, you must ensure to place the unit safely.
The endless hours of usage of your air conditioner unit will cause the air conditioner exhaust to impact the quality of air and temperature entering through the window.
In addition, your health is at risk if you place the air conditioner too close to your window.
Therefore, it is proper to go through the installation manual to confirm the recommended distance you are to install your air conditioner unit from your window.
Most of the new air conditioner units are quiet compared to the older models of air conditioner units.
Nevertheless, when an air conditioner is faulty, you will have to deal with the noise if you place the unit close to your window.
In another light, others think there is no reason to mandate that the same air conditioner is cooling a certain distance from a window in the building.
Final Thoughts
Placing your air conditioner unit in the most appropriate spot will cause the unit to perform more efficiently.
And different models of air conditioner units bear varying recommended clearance distances recorded in the installation manuals.
When you encounter difficulties deciding on the clearance distance of your unit, do not hesitate to contact a professional technician.
