3rdgendslmech
Well-known member
Ordered a mini split and should be here some time next week. Which do you guys prefer to set condensing units on?
Concrete or plastic pad
- Thread starter 3rdgendslmech
- Start date
I pour my own pads. I can't stand it when a pad/unit becomes not level. So when I pour the pad, I dig down about 36" for a building tube with rebar and concrete tied to the pad. I've poured about 7 pads this way and all of them stayed true and level.
Tom
Tom
OP
3rdgendslmech
Well-known member
Yeah I wish the condensing unit on the side of my house was on concrete....actually it would probably have okay if some idiot didn't plant a maple tree 4 feet from it a long time ago.
in frost zones you would run a high risk of pad lift from the frost heave
Jim greengo
Well-known member
I like to set the plastic pads on existing concrete,keeps them from settling and quieter than concrete.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
It's your choice but there's nothing wrong with the composite pads. My A/C condensing unit has been sitting on one for 13 years now without any issues.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I mounted mine on wall brackets to get it off the ground. Allows it to be closer to the house, plus less leaves and other garbage getting pulled in. Added benefit of it not getting buried in the winter.
I've started to see that in new developments. In 1 development it looked good, 2 other developments were poorly done.
I like concrete pads b/c you can add protection from getting hit by mowers by over-sizing the pad.
If the pad is close to the house, I will make it big enough to reach the foundation. It makes for a clean install and eliminates misc. yard maintenance.
Also nice to work off of - no more kneeing in mud,mulch, grass.
I add dowels into the foundation to help minimize settling around recent excavations/backfill.
If the pad is close to the house, I will make it big enough to reach the foundation. It makes for a clean install and eliminates misc. yard maintenance.
Also nice to work off of - no more kneeing in mud,mulch, grass.
I add dowels into the foundation to help minimize settling around recent excavations/backfill.
Bigblockyeti
Banned
When I was doing residential HVAC in northern Ohio, we always used plastic pads. If on a new build, it was the builders responsibility to give us a level place to set the pad, we occasionally had to break out a shovel and do a little hand work. On retrofits, we usually dug out the old pad, went a little deeper and dropped a few hundred pounds of screenings, leveled, tamped then set a plastic pad on top. The only problems we ever had were when units would get severely out of level or it got bumped and kinked or otherwise damaged the line set.
I pour concrete, right up to the house. I watch people set those plastic pads 6" from the house and think for the next 10 years every time they mow they will have to weed wack that spot. One opps with the wacker would ruin my day. I am in Florida so mow all year.
At least put some ceramic tile or some such under the pad and to the house and caulk the joint.
At least put some ceramic tile or some such under the pad and to the house and caulk the joint.
BD1
Well-known member
Wall brackets or a angle iron frame with legs in concrete.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
chrispyny
Well-known member
How i did mine on one side, the other mini on the other side of the house that does the bedrooms is hung on the house due to a sidewalk. I just dug down a solid 6’’ and put down pea gravel. Good drainage makes for no heaves. That pad has gone thru 3 upstate NY winters and looks exactly like that picture when i first did it. Hasn’t moved a bit.
My pool filter and pump are also on a poured concrete pad. Those plastic pads may be ‘fine’ like others have said, but NOTHING looks as good as a well poured concrete pad.
My pool filter and pump are also on a poured concrete pad. Those plastic pads may be ‘fine’ like others have said, but NOTHING looks as good as a well poured concrete pad.
Attachments
OP
3rdgendslmech
Well-known member
I think I'm just gonna do concrete....I've already got 5 bags taking up space in the barn now, 7 more should do a 3.5" pad.....I live In Md. so far the only frost heave I've seen is less than an inch. The lines are flexible so if it moves more than a foot or so in any direction I've got bigger things to worry about.