A/C Compressor in basement
Is it possible to place my A/C compressor in the basement of the brownstone instead of in the back yard?
Is it possible to place my A/C compressor in the basement of the brownstone instead of in the back yard?
rfr — if you didn’t build a steel platform — then what are the units sitting on? I’m in the process of trying to site our 3 units (200 lbs each) and the dunnage prices (and rigging to get it onto the roof) are exhorbitant. Any more specific suggestions for options for a roof platform would be greatly appreciate.
Last year, we installed a split unit air conditioner to cool our parlor floor. The compressor sits on the side of the garden apartment’s terrace. It’s very, very quiet with no noticeable breeze. Our tenant has never complained and entertains on the terrace. And the unit cools our 1000 square feet easily. Best investment I ever made.
Can you sit those things on a parlor floor deck? Are they just too loud/hot to live with them there?
Not all roof top a/c units need their own separate steel support framing (which is called dunnage, btw). We have two “package” units on the roof of our rowhouse. We were dubious about not needing dunnage too, but after triple-checking with architect, structural engineer, mechanical engineer, expediter, ac contractor, and the city, everything went through. Building inspector came, saw, and approved, and the units have their own DoB permits to show for it. This was all wrapped up last year. It may have to do with weight/size of units. Each one cools half the house (ca. 1500 sq feet each).
Steve, the building we are buying has it in the backyard. We do have a short roof on top of the extention which doesn’t hit any neighbor’s property. Could we put it on that shorter roof without signoff? Does it need DOB sign off and/or permit to do?
Steve is correct. I’m doing this right now with two compressors (one for each of two floors) and it’s costing me 5 grand. I don’t have shared walls. But I’ll have gained the space in the yard and kept the sound out.
Ever been in the basement of a bodega? It’s like the surface of the sun down there. They stick all their compressors for the coolers down in the basement. Before water meters they would use cold water to cool them. The water would run 24/7 through the compressor and then down the drain. A huge waste of water.
You can mount the compressor on the roof but fire code requires that the unit be suspended, not sitting on the roof itself. That usually means running steel I-beams between the parapet walls, which are shared walls, which means you’ll need to get your neighbors to sign off on it.
Our A/C units are on the roof.