Base for Outdoor AC Unit

[susans]

Hi, everyone !

I am in the process of replacing my outdoor AC unit and most of the bids
are for a plastic/aluminum base. My current unit has a concrete base and
this seems much preferable. I have only had one contractor to offer a concrete base. He tells me that plastic/aluminum bases disintegrate with the weather in a couple of years and draw water under the unit, which rusts out the bottom. Since the plastic/aluminum bases promoted with contractors
such as Trane, American Standard and Bryant, I am wondering how important
this is ?

Opinions ? Thanks.

[iheatncoolinnc]

I have bought both. The plastic that we have used has a UV resistant coating. It is lightweight and my installers like it for that reason. They dislike it because it does not hold level as well. We have went back to the precast concrete pads. They are heavier. They are easy to level. Washed stone works well up under these pads for leveling them.

[rclaoac]

Dosen't matter too much, just make sure that the pad is on solid ground and level. Plastic won't break down in a couple of years as one of your contractors suggested.

[waynesrefrigeration]

I would be more concerned about the weight of the outdoor unit. If it's really heavy, 300 to 400# i would have a concrete slab poured. If not, the lightweight plastic or precast concrete pads are fine. If you're worried about looks, the precast pad might be more eye appealing.

[dna]

we install any outdoor unit, whether it be straight air or heat pump, we use pump ups to get the unit off the plastic pad, concrete etc. This keeps the unit off the ground, and keeps it cleaner and less likely to rust.

[Ron]

Plastic is not going to breakdown in a couple years.
It's heavy duty stuff, not like milk jugs.
Even milk jugs are 150 thousand years old before they get harvested out of the ground. hehehe

hvac guys who give a damn lift the unit off the plastic or whatever pad with hard rubber pads to provide better drainage.

[Mr Bill]

Originally posted by Ron
Plastic is not going to breakdown in a couple years.
It's heavy duty stuff, not like milk jugs.
Even milk jugs are 150 thousand years old before they get harvested out of the ground. hehehe

hvac guys who give a damn lift the unit off the plastic or whatever pad with hard rubber pads to provide better drainage.

Ron, scare tactics can make you an extra dollar you did not know that? we don't use them I am to scared. :D

[t527ed]

we have been using plastic pads for the last 8-10 yrs. have not seen any signs of plastic breaking down. pretty sure pad will outlast unit if it is a quality pad. have seen the crappy cement over styrofoam pads fail pretty fast.

[seatonheating]

Originally posted by Ron
Plastic is not going to breakdown in a couple years.
It's heavy duty stuff, not like milk jugs.
Even milk jugs are 150 thousand years old before they get harvested out of the ground. hehehe

hvac guys who give a damn lift the unit off the plastic or whatever pad with hard rubber pads to provide better drainage.


Better drainage and can actually lower the dbz of the unit too!