705-794-5176June 19th, 2019
Why Brackets Make More Sense for Mounting an Air Conditioner
Installing a central air conditioner properly requires some careful planning, and not just about where the gasline set will need to go through the wall and in to the house. There are several factors that must be considered when deciding where the air conditioner should be placed on the outside of the home, including whether or not to simply place the unit on the ground, or if it should be raised up off the ground.
It’s certainly not uncommon to see air conditioners placed on top of a large patio stone or on a poured concrete slab, but these days you’ll see more and more air conditioners installed on brackets that are affixed to the side of the home and raise the unit off the ground. There are several reasons why you’d want your installers to put in a little extra effort to use raised brackets instead of placing the unit on a stone or slab. Let’s take a look at why installing your air conditioner on brackets is often the preferred method.
Air Conditioners are meant to be level.
An air conditioner unit is a complex piece of electrical and mechanical equipment, and they are designed and engineered to be operated while level and upright. The reason for this is fairly simple; the greater the angle or tilt that the air conditioner is on, the more pressure and stress will be placed on the nuts, bolts, connections, and fittings inside the unit. Over time, this added stress can cause parts or connections to wear prematurely, crack, or break, causing operational problems or even requiring the unit to be replaced.
If placed on a stone or slab that is not level, the air conditioner will constantly be on an angle, and it’s really hard to make it level once it’s already been installed and all the fittings are connected. In addition, patio stones or concrete slabs may shift as the ground underneath settles or perhaps even erodes with rain and water flow. This could cause the connections running between the unit and the home to become stressed, strained or warped. By installing the main unit on strong steel brackets mounted to the side of the home, the air conditioner will remain completely level, regardless of what happens to the ground underneath.
Avoid water pooling around the unit.
Another common problem that must be dealt with when placing equipment or machinery on the ground is the potential for pooling water. Standing water is extremely detrimental for metal equipment, causing rust, corrosion, and many other types of problems. If an air conditioner is placed on a slab or stone on the ground, you’ll need to take extra care to ensure that drainage is sufficient to avoid pooling water. By installing the unit up on brackets, you’ll avoid the risk of having the unit sit in standing or pooling water at any time, no matter how many unexpected rainstorms come by, or how fast the snow melts in the spring.
Keep them away from animals.
This may seem like a minor problem, but don’t underestimate the potential damage that animals can do! We’ve seen instances where cables and insulation have been gnawed on, nests have been built under or on top of units that have been inactive all winter, and several other types of animal-related problems. The simplest way to keep your AC unit away from little critters is to raise it up off the ground and reduce the chance that they’ll think it’s a good place to hang around.
Shorter connections & easier access for maintenance.
In addition to keeping the unit up off the ground for the advantages mentioned above, another bonus to having your air conditioner mounted on brackets is that it can reduce the length of cords, cables, and conduit needed to run the connections. This results in a faster and more efficient installation. Having the unit raised up also helps make it easier to service when it’s time for a regular inspection and maintenance visit.
Want to learn more?
Read about the Real Costs & Benefits of Installing a New Air Conditioner
A little extra planning before installation provides a lot of benefits!
As you can see, by taking these factors in to consideration before the unit is installed, you can avoid a lot of headaches and hassle down the road. Sure, it may be a few minutes faster to use a patio stone, but raising it up off the ground will provide more peace of mind over the long run. If you have questions about how to best install an air conditioner at your home, give the team at Gaslink a call today. Our home comfort experts will be happy to answer any and all of your concerns.
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Skylar Williams on August 8, 2019 @ 3:52 pm said:
I like that you said that air conditioners are meant to be level. I had an air conditioner installed without a concrete pad to keep it level. I will make sure to keep this tip in mind for next time. http://unitstepjoliet.com/commercial-precast-products/
Eli Richardson on August 21, 2019 @ 11:48 am said:
I'm glad you stated to have the A/C unit raised off the ground tp prevent nests or other animals interact with the unit. My wife and I bought a unit, and the contractor told me to find a place where we want to have it installed. With that set, we will consider the idea of having raised up to prevent any problems.
https://aireone.com/product-groups/cooling/
Abhishek on June 2, 2020 @ 2:25 pm said:
Thank for sharing such a helpful information.Contractor scared me saying keeping on rack will make a noise,I google and found this article and I request him to keep on rack..thanks a lot!
Jan on June 21, 2020 @ 9:37 am said:
AC unit set on steel brackets is a little off level. How can we correct this?
Lisa Roy on July 27, 2020 @ 4:18 pm said:
Need to raise air conditioner off the ground onto bracelets on house
Deanna on September 24, 2020 @ 12:16 pm said:
I prefer mine on the ground. Affixed to the home on brackets causes vibration.
Air Conditioning Hamilton on October 2, 2020 @ 9:20 am said:
I was looking for this information relating to such get your air conditioner off the ground. You have really eased my work by posting this article, loved your writing skill as well. Please keep sharing more, would love to read more from you!This resource Comfortgroup.co.nz i came across recently and is nice too as this particular site.
Air Conditioning Hamilton on October 2, 2020 @ 9:20 am said:
I was looking for this information relating to such get your air conditioner off the ground. You have really eased my work by posting this article, loved your writing skill as well. Please keep sharing more, would love to read more from you!This resource Comfortgroup.co.nz i came across recently and is nice too as this particular site.
Max on October 6, 2020 @ 3:01 pm said:
I have an off the ground (brackets) and sitting on a hard surface faux concrete slab Which after rains is partly green instead of regular grey colour. Any suggestions on keeping this part clean and not mildew looking?
Install Mart on October 13, 2020 @ 12:27 pm said:
Nice blog if you want good home products just check installmart. Installmart is Home Base Product Company in Vaughan. They are selling very reliable Home Appliances and they give Repair services also.
Sharyl on January 17, 2021 @ 4:43 am said:
I need advice. A contractor that did new cement to my AC unit lifted the AC unit then placed it on wet cement. I contacted them right away as I thought for sure this was a mistake after seeing this when I got home from work. They notified me and said it’s for extra securement.
Simcoe Asphalt Paving on March 11, 2021 @ 7:54 pm said:
If you are planning to have a new paved area in your home or business, it is very important to know the advantages of this pavement option. Asphalt Paving is cost-efficient, durable, and long-lasting as compared to other options that are available on the market. Moreover, it is also easy to maintain, which means that there are no worries about maintenance when it comes to asphalt pavements. Call us today for any size of residential or commercial property you may have. https://www.simcoepaving.ca
Judy on April 17, 2021 @ 5:24 pm said:
Animals nesting underneath in winter. Can I put gravel underneath the unit?
Gorete Rebelo on April 19, 2021 @ 9:08 am said:
My ac unit is on brackets but its falling from one side ,in order to keep it from falling I had to put a 2by4 standing up underneath .
Karen Seiferling on May 14, 2021 @ 9:45 am said:
My male dog has peed on the air conditioner and the acidity of the urine has actually eaten a hole in the coils! What would you use to elevate the unit at least 2 feet above ground level? Do you think our air conditioner will still work? Thanks, Karen.
AJITKUMAR kapadia on May 25, 2021 @ 7:21 pm said:
Need to raise at least 6 feet above the ground. It's 2.0 ton capacity.
Debra Fisher on May 27, 2021 @ 1:11 pm said:
I have an American Standard 3.5 ton heat pump that was installed a few years ago on pump blocks. In the past two years, I've had rats get inside the unit from the drain holes on the bottom and chew my wires which caused the unit to fail. My contractor has no solution how to keep these rats out but having it up on the blocks is the problem since it allows the rats to get into those nice round holes on the bottom pan. Has anyone had to deal with this? How did you stop it?
Kathleen Weitzel on June 3, 2021 @ 2:33 pm said:
Can you lift your air conditioner lifted after it’s been installed I’d like to do this but mine has been on the ground since the house was build but I want to pave the patio but can’t because it’s in the way
Joseph Ruiz on August 17, 2021 @ 3:23 pm said:
Can you put my condenser on a pad after it's been installed? Currently the slab it's on it sinking and crooked and it's feet are not secured.
Sahil on September 1, 2021 @ 6:48 am said:
What about the condenser? Can i put condenser on a pad after it's been installed?
Access Doors and Panels on September 2, 2021 @ 6:24 am said:
Thanks, what an informative post! Everything we need to know are found in this article. We hope you keep posting quality articles.
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David Smith on December 1, 2021 @ 10:05 pm said:
My air conditioner was bracketed to the cinder block wall between my basement and bedroom. Every time it turns on the entire wall vibrates, it sounds like a muffled small engine plane outside. mall engine airplane out
G. Alexander on January 11, 2022 @ 11:09 pm said:
I need to question any company that would recommend bolting an HVAC/heat-pump unit onto the side of a house, at least if the house is constructed with poured concrete or concrete block and brick. Vibration is transferred directly throughout the house making the interior space unpleasant to be in when the unit is running. It might work with a wood frame house but we are in the process of rejecting a brand new installation for this very reason. It needs to be isolated from the structure of the house on a separate stand or taken away.
Kevin on February 6, 2022 @ 6:01 am said:
I am getting a 5 ton modulating ac installed and hvac contractor wants to mount it to the foundation of the house with brackets. I a basement but also recently dealt with water main leak. So groundnis extremely soft in some areas. Basically we got front yard. Infront of wife's work office. Side house between 3 window wells. Ad if backyard its either beside stairs for deck or living room window. Got a 4 year old so backyard sucks. And side of house... well u cannot walk around that side it blocked...
Access Doors and Panels on February 28, 2022 @ 4:46 am said:
This is a very helpful post! It's wonderful to have this information at your fingertips at all times. You have my undivided attention!
Ted on April 27, 2022 @ 8:11 am said:
We have a neighbor with a very loud pool heater..our new central gas heat and air is on rocks from installet... we feel this is allowing noise and vibrations in our house from the pool noise..
Best Access Doors on June 1, 2022 @ 6:36 am said:
Thank you for sharing a blog emphasizing why air conditioners should be at a higher level. Let us know if you need more information about AC installation for upcoming articles.
Rose on June 6, 2022 @ 10:42 am said:
Understanding the reasons for mounting a new residential HVAC system brackets; the resulting vibrations to the structure of the house can be more than a nuisance. What should a contractor consider during installation to minimize the vibrations?
Thaddeus Raines on July 7, 2022 @ 5:05 pm said:
One of My AC unit is on the ground and the other one is on two cheap plastic rods
