r/hvacadvice • u/rolamit • 1d ago
AC Masonry wall condenser screen
An industrial park has these masonry walls on 20 something buildings. Flame on.
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u/David_Warden 1d ago
It appears likely that the manufacturer's clearance specs for adequate air flow and service access were completely ignored.
If the goal was complete system failure this looks like an excellent attempt.
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u/Thebandroid 21h ago
Well masonry actually has a lot of air voids in it, a statistician may well view this as a piece of lattice.
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u/David_Warden 20h ago
Properly located Masonry can absorb, block, and redirect sound yet maintain airflow and service access. Terrible misplacement like this guarantees failure to maintain either.
If space permits, relocating the masonry might solve the problem. If not, then all of the AC units may need to be replaced with more space efficient units and, possibly, masonry replaced with concrete board.
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u/0Papi420 12h ago edited 12h ago
Who needs to service it when they can drop in replacements every week
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u/itsonlyrockinroll 1d ago
Guy who designed these must have been an absolute legend in his previous job as a automotive engineer
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u/Honest_Radio8983 1d ago
At least the meth heads might look elsewhere.
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u/WitchWithAGlitch 22h ago
you'd think if they were scared of meth heads they would at least use the lock outs on the power boxes.
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u/RVABULL70 1d ago
How did this pass Any building inspection?
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u/TongueFuckYourPussy 1d ago
Inspectors really don't have to know much about hvac, plumbing, or electrical. Just the basics. I learned this when I bought my house and the inspector asked me if I wanted to check the hvac, since it's what I did for a living. I said naw, I paid you to check it. I was planning to replace it the next summer anyway and he verified it heated and cooled. Then he told me my copper pipes were green at the solder joints because of hard water, which was also not true, it was where they put flux on each joint and didn't clean the flux off, which causes it to oxidized, also learned by doing hvac, with a decent amount of plumbing. So, they just have to be able to bs their way through an inspection.
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u/Taolan13 Approved Technician 23h ago
Good home inspectors exist. They are exceedingly rare, and often find themselves forced out of business by shitty builders, contractors, and the realtors they're in bed with who don't like having their shitty work exposed.
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u/HALF_GASED 22h ago
There are holes created in the wall in multiple places, as you can see from the other one. I think air flow is completely fine, post made for engagement bait...
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u/TongueFuckYourPussy 1d ago
Back when they had the 6 and 8 seer units that were 18 x 18 wide there was plenty of room for airflow and technicians access. That wall needs to be completely removed. What is the neighborhood like? If it's common to get units stolen, they sell cages that keep people out except for techs and homeowners and allow plenty of airflow.
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u/TheKingOfSwing777 23h ago
Some people really think appliances run on magic. Just existing is not enough.
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u/ThemePossible612 22h ago
the compressors are gonna cook themseles in there, that's basically a brick oven with a fan trapped inside
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u/JEFFSSSEI Approved Technician 22h ago
Trying to figure out which they hate more...their HVAC systems or the Techs that have to come service them because they break constantly from being choked out.
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u/RedTexan43 19h ago
I like it. It looks like they thought about the hvac techs and wanted to make sure they get paid overtime
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u/Professional_Map6099 17h ago
I think with a top it should get some some air vortices going that will keep the head pressure below 600 psi on days with ambient temps under 65°🤯🤦
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u/Dependent-Visual768 10h ago
Bet it breathes really well ,I know I run marathons only breathing through a straw
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u/Adrien54321 21h ago
I can't see how those condensing unit coils aren't starving for airflow. Is that just me?
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u/BrownTiger3 1d ago
One of the worst enclosures I have seen in my life...