But here are some general rules of thumb for air conditioner or heat pump clearances that we will cite here. The final authority on proper HVAC equipment clearance distances is the manufacturer's installation instruction manual. Together will probably not receive enough cool air flow to function properly.Īnd even worse, compressor/condenser units that are too close together not only have to fight for their incoming cooling air, but they may feed hot exhaust air to one another, increasing their operating temperatures still further. Air Conditioning & Heat Pump Equipment: Minimum Clearance Distances from Building Walls, Shrubs, Other Equipmentīlocking air flow through the outdoor A/C or heat pump compressor/condenser unit is a really bad idea that shortens equipment life (as the equipment runs hotter) and increases system operating costs (for the same reason - hotter operating temperature means lower efficiency during the cooling season).Īir conditioning or heat pump compressor/condenser units mounted too close to a wall, surrounded by shrubs, or multiple units located too closely We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need. In our photo at page top these two compressor/condenser units are too close together as well as too close to the building walls. This article describes the recommended minimum (and maximum) distances to separate HVAC components from other building features, such as the distance required between an air conditioner or heat pump outdoor compressor/condenser or from a heating boiler or furnace to building walls, wiring, piping, other equipment, fences, shrubs, etc. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.Ĭlearance distances for outdoor HVAC compressor/condenser units: InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest.

Lattice fence around ac unit