From The Homeowners Perspective….
Garage is the answer. Here’s why;
- Technician never needs to go inside the home
- Any water or debris never affects the home
- Any noise stays outside of the home
From A Professional’s Perspective….
Garage is the answer. Here’s why;
1. Easier access
Lugging tools, motors and equipment into attics is never easy, sometimes even larger items like condensate pans have a hard time fitting in scuttle holes. In a garage, you can even back your truck right up to the unit and have everything there.
2. Heat
Do you want the HVAC technician to be calm, taking his time diagnosing and troubleshooting your system? or do you want him to think someone invoked the “flames of Hades”?? 😉
Attics in South Florida get to 120 Degrees easily. You try sitting up there for an hour replacing a part…or even worse, welding. He/she will be in a BIG hurry to get out of there… I promise you.
Example of an attic A/C unit
3. Water (condensate)
Drains can be tricky, units in high humidity climates make a lot of condensate. If a drain pan overflows or a unit support gives way, you will have several gallons of water following the laws of gravity. Goodbye ceilings, and anything underneath…It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
4. Room to work
Attics can be tight, every movement is a “watch your head” moment, nails in beams, other hazards…. not to mention one false step and someone’s leg might come crashing down through your ceiling…I’ve seen it happen…
5. Less Mess
We have often gone behind other companies to find some technicians don’t even remove trash and older parts from attics because they know no one is going up there to check. In a garage, all trash and parts are easily visible and easily removed.
6. Filter changes
Filters in attic machines NEVER get changed, it’s our experience. In the garage, you can have the box of filters next to the unit and both changing them and remembering to do so is much easier.
7. Unit “SWEATING”
Temperature differences between inside of Air Handler and outside of the box is higher in the attic and unit will be more prone to “sweating,” or condensation.
8. Insulation
We often find that in attic machines, attic insulation can get aspirated into the supply ducts, especially if install crews are running the machines to keep themselves cool in the attics before finishing the ductwork, (an old installer trick – believe me… it happens).
