Temporarily Moving Compressor For Yard Work

D107

Hi we have this old compressor unit that will have to be moved about 5ft forward to accommodate brick removal from the ground. Easiest way would be have AC guy and detach the power and refrigeration lines for a few months; then I thought perhaps —since hot season's coming on—the lines could be extended a few feet to keep the AC running. Not sure about the safety issues possibly posed by this.

pecmsg

Not cheap but it can be done.

D107

Yeah I figured—probably best to pick the time to move the unit as close to the time of the yard work as possible and then re-install. We can do without AC for a few weeks if we have to. As old as the unit is don't want to throw good money after bad. I think the detaching and re-attaching should be done by AC pro given the high voltage and potential refrigerant leakage.

mattmia2

looks like you have a lot of slack in the refrigerant lines if you unscrew then from the house and carefully flex them

or you can pump it down, install flare fittings to extend it, then evacuate it and release the charge

another 10' of lineset isn't likely to make a difference in the charge.

mattmia2

could also install a bracket on the wall and set it on a bracket.

ratio

Don't count on it working after it's been disturbed like that. It may be fine, but it may crap out when they restart it, or next week, or on the hottest day of the year.

mattmia2

It is a hermetic compressor, not nitroglycerine. It gets disturbed a lot more while it is running than moving it will. The biggest risk is having to fix a lineset leak.

ratio

I haven't had super fantastic luck reusing old equipment like this, and that's with taking very good care & using best practices. Once something's past EOL, I make my pitch for new.

EdTheHeaterMan

How extensive is the yard work? Let me Guess…. you want to remove the old pavers that have that "old town" look that other folks would kill for, right?

Can you do the yard work up to the location of the condensing unit then move it about 3 feet without disturbing the line-set, then placing it back in the same location when the yard work is completed?

If it is going to be concrete work BE SURE TO COVER THE UNIT WITH A TARP OR CONSTRUCTION PLASTIC. Wrap it up like a Christmas present so the concrete does not splash on the fins. You will never get that stuff off once it dries up and sets.

pecmsg

Just keep in mind if a line breaks you will lose the entire R-22 Charge. R-22 is not Cheap if available at all!

offdutytech

It's a crap shoot moving an old unit like that. Even using best practices with evacuation, etc some units just don't last long after. I've had some work just fine while others had sort lives after. I always quote the removal and the replacement price to give the customer all the information. Another gotcha this yeah is new equipment with 454B. Make sure the contractor has 454B on hand to adjust the charge as needed if you go for a replacement. There's somewhat of a shortage on that right now. I've been waiting over a month for it come back in stock

D107

Thanks all. Some great constructive ideas there and warnings. The paver area nearby will be returned to dirt for planting but the AC will always have to sit atop a hard surface, pavers or concrete. So now as I think about it seems wiser to leave it alone right now and still have AC for summer, replace it when it dies, reframe with new pavers and THEN put a concrete pad for the new compressor. Thanks all for the input.