A minimum clearance of 18” is required for service at
the control panel access. A 12” clearance is required
for the air inlet to the outdoor coil around the perimeter
of the unit. The air discharge of the unit requires a 60”
clearance between the top of the unit and any obstruction.
See Pictorial below.
The length of the refrigerant tubing, between the outdoor
unit and indoor coil, should be as short as possible to
avoid capacity and efficiency loss. Excessive spacing of
the outdoor unit from the home can lead to the refrigerant
lines being restricted by trampling or by being punctured
by lawn mowers. Locate the outdoor unit away from
bedroom windows or other rooms where sound might
not be desirable.
Provide sufficient clearance from shrubs to allow adequate
air to pass across the outdoor coil without leaves or branches
being pulled into the coil.
Consideration should be given to the distance and routing of
electrical service that would have to be run to connect the
outdoor unit.
The outdoor unit may be installed at ground level on a solid
base that will not shift or settle, causing strain on the refrigerant
lines and possible leaks. Isolate the base from the structure
to avoid noise or vibration transmission. When installing
units on a roof, a structure should be used to minimize the
transmission of sound or vibration into the conditioned space.
Thought should be give to water drainage away from the
outdoor unit. Drain holes in the base pan must be kept clear.
SECTION 4. REFRIGERANT PIPING
CONNECTIONS
Undersized line sets will increase the refrigerant pressure
drop between the indoor evaporator and outdoor unit,
resulting in a decrease in system capacity. Over sizing
the line sets may result in excessive refrigerant charge,
thereby making the system more susceptible to liquid
migration. Slope horizontal vapor lines at least 1” every
20 feet toward the outdoor unit to facilitate proper oil
return.
Use only refrigerant grade (dehydrated and sealed)
copper tubing of the size indicated in Table 1 to
interconnect the condensing unit with the indoor
evaporator. Take extreme care to keep refrigerant
tubing clean and dry prior to and during installation.
All outdoor unit and evaporator coil connections are copper to
copper and should be brazed with a copper alloy material such
as Silfos-5 or equivalent instead of soft solder. The outdoor
units have re-usable service valves on both the liquid and
vapor connections. Precautions should be taken to prevent
heat damage to the valve by wrapping a wet rag around it
when brazing. Do not remove plugs from ends of tubing
until connection is ready to be made. Suction line insulation
is necessary to prevent condensation from forming on and
dropping from suction line. Apply suction line insulation by
sliding it on the sealed tubing before cutting and making
connections. See Table 1 for correct vapor line size.
Installer’s Information Manual
Page 4
Figure 2. Typical Location and Clearances