Where Should You Store Your HVAC Equipment in Your Home?

Are you building a house or planning a major renovation? Don’t wait to the last minute to make plans for installing HVAC equipment. Plans should integrate the equipment properly so that it works with maximum efficiency.

Your HVAC has many parts, and it matters where they are placed. Here’s a rundown of where some of the major parts should be located.

Condenser.

The condenser is the outdoor unit of the central air conditioner or the heat pump. It should be located a few feet from the home and connected to the indoor evaporator coils by refrigerant and other tubing. The unit should be at least 2 feet away from the house or any other structure, as well as shrubbery, so that airflow is not impeded.

Evaporator Coils.

These coils are where the refrigerant goes once it’s pumped inside from the outdoors. In a central AC, the refrigerant picks up heat in the home and moves it outdoors, while the air from the air handler blows over the coils for cooling. This part is usually located in a cabinet on the ground floor, but it also may be in an attic or in a basement.

Air Handler.

The air handler comprises the blower and a fan. It is used to disperse warm air from a furnace or a heat pump, or cold air from a central AC or a heat pump. It’s located in a cabinet with the furnace and/or evaporator coils, and it could be on the main floor or in the basement or attic. Air handlers with ductless mini splits are smaller, more compact units, and they may be mounted on walls, floors, ceilings, or be standing alone.

Ductwork.

This network of ducts is the means by which the conditioned air is sent through the home. The ductwork might be in the attic, in a basement, or in a dropped chase from the ceiling.

Furnace.

The furnace basically consists of burners and a heat exchanger. In most homes, it is located in a cabinet with the air handler.

To learn more about installing HVAC equipment, contact CCAC, which serves the Coastal Bend.