Mini Split Condenser Location

[muk]

I bought a 18k BTU mini split and have been trying to think of the best place for the condenser, this side is the best location due to the other side either having the emerald green arborvitae close to the wall on two sides and the front is all garage doors.

The inside is Closed cell spray foamed and drywalled up to 8'. I was thinking about attaching unistrut to the uprights which are 58.5" on center with a Rivet nut. Would a rivet nut be sufficient? and is 58.5" too much to span for the unistrut?

The ground is sloped pretty good and I was thinking about mounting the condenser up high just for clearance. I have included a few pics showing what the inside corner looks like, the slope of the ground and the outside with a green box outlining where I was thinking of mounting it the exterior walls are 12' and my reasoning for the height was just to keep kids off of it.

 

[fitter30]

Most have a minimum 10' line set. Wouldn't set the condenser up high just above the snow line. Easier to clean and work on.

 

[Notgrownup]

Me I would build a wooden frame with 4x4‘s about 5’ off the ground but with the 4x4 in the ground with sakrete bracing them and make a nice platform for it. This way you are assured no vibrating noises will transfer to the wall. This way you ban position it where you want while using all the lineset without coiling it and enclose it nicely in a cover

 

[chinboys]

I have seen mini split condensers mount as high as two stories in townhouses, apartment buildings, etc.
Purchase a universal mini-split condenser wall mount that is rated for the weight of your unit.
Use your method or any sound method to mount the wall mount.
Make sure you have an electrical disconnect with a line surge protector installed.

 

[ALinCarolina]

I wouldn't put the condenser up that high either. I have one mini split with condenser mounted on the wall brackets but at about chest high. I don't even like that since it is too close to the wall to get behind. The other 3 condensers I built stands out of pressure treated wood and placed them at least 3 feet from the buildings and I like that much better. I just got through cleaning all the HVAC units outside coils and it made it easier.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The inside is closed cell spray foamed and drywalled up to 8'. I was thinking about attaching unistrut to the uprights which are 58.5" on center with a Rivet nut. Would a Rivet nut be sufficient? and is 58.5" too much to span for the unistrut?

First, understand that anyone servicing that might require scaffolding, at additional cost !

Second, what are the "uprights" made out of ? If wood, then a Rivnut is a no go ! Through bolt !

Those unit do not weigh a lot, but I would use 2 unistruts because that is such a long span. Put some kind of rubber isolation pad between the unistrut and the metal siding to reduce vibration.

 

[muk]

All of the uprights are steel, here is an image before the spray foam

 

[WildBill]

I think that it would vibrate pretty bad up there. And be hard to clean. I would build a platform for it off the ground. I've done a couple both ways and the ones mounted to metal building walls always resonate.

Also what is growing out of the door handles on that chevy, looks wild. I bet the inside is a terrarium.

 

[muk]

The trailblazer was parked there 5 years ago by my nephew and he has never been back, I have tried for years to get him to get me the title so I can have it hauled away with no success.

 

[pcmeiners]

MUK, If you mount a minisplit on your metal building wall you will be sorry unless you like vibration noise. Make a cement slab with a platform at least 8-12" off the slab for the split ( helps prevent dirt and snow issues), not touching the metal wall. Have my minisplits perpendicular to a predominate winter wind.

 

[PCustoms]

That's going to vibrate everything off your walls....

Form a small pad and mount it at ground level.

 

[Raisedonadeere]

With great trepidation because of stuff I read and my own intuition based on a lot of mechanical engineering experience I mounted 18k Senville condenser 6' off the ground onto my 2x4 vinyl sided shop and there is no sound transmission. I have to put my ear to the wall to even know if it is running. Used the cheap metal kits they sell with the units. Very pleased that with a little step stool I can service what ever part of the unit I want to get to. My take is that any vibration that might occurr could probably be corrected with some kind of dampening or isolation technique. Metal siding might require some experimentation with placement of solid materials or rubber.

That unit stays much cleaner than my two house units which are about 1 foot off the ground. When I replace them, I am going for higher up.

 

[PCustoms]

My take is that any vibration that might occurr could probably be corrected with some kind of dampening or isolation technique.

How is getting an AC wet going to help vibration?

 

[racecougar]

How is getting an AC wet going to help vibration?

You're being obtuse.

 

[PCustoms]

You're being obtuse.

I've been called worse

 

[racecougar]

EDIT: Eh, it's not worth it.

 

[Steve W.]

 

[racecougar]

Yes, as shown above, the dictionary allows for both. By all means, let's derail the thread over the fact that the dictionary has two means of describing the same thing.

 

[mike93lx]

I agree, high enough to keep it out of snow but low enough to easily access for cleaning without a ladder

 

[muk]

Thanks for all the advice. I am debating on pouring a pad and getting one of the stands for the condenser that will raise it off he pad or building a treated wood framework to raise the condenser.

 

[85TA406]

Thanks for all the advice. I am debating on pouring a pad and getting one of the stands for the condenser that will raise it off he pad or building a treated wood framework to raise the condenser.

I mounted mine on the side of my metal tube shop. My building is spray foamed, and I can barely notice the vibration noise, and there is nothing that I have mounted to the walls that vibrates noticably. I am going to sheetrock some of my walls, including the one it is mounted on, and I suspect that once it has the 5/8 drywall on it, I will likely have to try hard just to notice any vibration. I didn't want to ground mount mine because my shop is backed up against my property line, and the woods and such grow so fast it would be hard to keep clear if it was on the ground.