Another day of **DEATH TRAP ROOF TOPS!**

[PaysonHVAC]

The first one wasn't the worst. It was the SAFEST rooftop I could see in the caldisac I was working in!

These were in Glendale, AZ






Although still stupid as shown here.





Besides the lack of air flow for the new Trane (another co. installed), they really should have ditched the evap cooler or used a diff unit for more clearance!

Good luck EVER getting into this evap's electrical controls, etc!






Ok. Not the tour of nearby rooftops!


Next door. Look at the awesome access to them units...




Just what I would want to do. Climb up a two story, and worry about tripping over the obstacle course and falling to my death!!! Deitz Crane builder's do this sh*t but with LESS access on NEW homes to this day!!!





Maybe they leave this trailer full of sod to soften your landing???





And looking thoe other way, here's another fine one.
Note that directly under the rooftop access (where standard shingles are used) there is a porch on the first level of the home? Yeah. You are expected to bring your ladder up onto the porch, to reach that second level!!!!








And on the very next call, here I am doing a PM on one of them scary rooftops!


And for an additional laugh. I have NEVER seen this done. But that is a standard side by side roof jack through the roof. But then a transition to use the over/under Trane package heat pump. WEIRD! There are a lot more side by sides to choose from. And these are the ORIGINAL units for the house! I wonder why they had done it this way. But at least it will be easy to install a new side by side when the customer (who has a HOME WARRANTY) ever replaces these units.

[kristoferb]

Might I ask what is it about some of these areas in the United States that compels people to stick A/C's on their roof-tops? I've never seen such a thing done in Québec or elsewhere in Canada -- except in commercial or industrial applications. Mind you, most houses here have basements (but generally not much usable attic space).

[tpa-fl]

It comes from the days when all they used in the desert southwest were swamp (evaporative) coolers. Those were commonly mounted on the roof, so the "natural" progression was to replace those units with air cons. For some reason, some of the builders still think this is where air cons belong and build 1,000s of houses a year, continuing this unattractive, and unservicable design. We certainly don't do this in Florida. They'd make great hurricane toys at that point.

[thoglow]

Thank god theres no woodshake up there but barrel tile is slick enough.Freaking builders!They should have to do time when someone gets hurt.chit they sould have to do time just for being stupid.

[psychometric]

Lucky for you it doesn't snow there....yet!

[hackramento]

I live in Cali and we do not get snow on the roofs so we do not have to worry about the weight on the roofs. In Phoenix they do it so we can get cool pictures and stories from Payson. Yes that is right they do it for one guy. Hey if there is no RCB were he works we have to at least get something.

[Shophound]

What I don't get...oh I suppose I *do* get it...is why builders insist on putting HVAC equipment in non-conditioned spaces. It's STUPID.

I *do* get it in that the builders don't want that stuff taking up square footage on the slab that they're trying to get the potential homeowner to spring for. That does not negate how DUMB it is. Ductwork and air handlers in attics, residential package units on a ROOF in the DESERT.

No, it just makes too much sense to have the air handler in a closet, ductwork in a drop ceiling below the attic ceiling and insulation, and NOTHING on the roof or in the attic.
No, let's just make life for that unsightly HVAC equipment as miserable as possible by sticking it in the most ungodly locations imaginable. Poorly ventilated attics with no radiant barrier and marginal ductwork, or scorching hot rooftops where the equipment is subject to hailstones and blistering heat. NOT TO MENTION the technicians who must service this mistreated stuff.

[kristoferb]

I wonder what the HO's are smoking so that faced with the decision of losing maybe 1.5 sq. meters of floor space to a properly situated AC loses out to strapping it precariously and very viably to the roof.

[PaysonHVAC]

I'm not as worried about most of the rooftops as I am the attics. Most new homes have all of the ductwork and the air handler up in the attic! And usually with improper access as if no one ever needs to service it.


I want to know where the f**k OASHA is in this town?
Or the intelligent and non corrupt city building inspectors or the idiots who issue the permits in the first place!!!!

[kristoferb]

Must be an American thing. Never heard of an AH installed in an attic here - new or old. Old style french homes have nearly no attic space and new homes have plenty of basement to fit any system. Also, duct work is installed in the floor - not ceiling.

[Shophound]

Originally posted by kristoferb
Must be an American thing. Never heard of an AH installed in an attic here - new or old. Old style french homes have nearly no attic space and new homes have plenty of basement to fit any system. Also, duct work is installed in the floor - not ceiling.

Most of the newer houses in my area are built similar as in Payson's territory...no basements, no crawl spaces. Slab foundations, house shoehorned onto small lots and interior space maximized by keeping mechanicals either in the garage or attic, or in Payson's case, on the roof (haven't seen any RTU's on residential roofs here in TX, at least not widespread like in AZ or CA).

Many of these newer houses have voluminous attics; cavernous spaces you can stand up in. Fine for walking over to the AHU, but all that much more enclosed area that gets superhot on a summer day. Other houses have attics that force one to crawl; they're the worst IMO. Crawling over itchy inso to get to the air handler just plain sucks. At least where I work now the worst crawling I have to do is in a semi-air conditioned subbasement to get to a process chiller and/or AHU's. Sure beats those attic monkey days!

[TMH58]

I would charge for a crane service and strap myself into a bucket to work on some of those.

[stubbornincanada]

With all those "death traps" do you not just get out your P.P.E. (personal protection equipment) harness and rope to tie off.
And if there is any other concerns about working up in the air wouldn't the boss send you with an apprentice or helper to help you.
I don't have problems with these types of jobs but some of the other techs are still uneasy with them, if they arrive to one of these and are uncomfortable, the just call in for assistance.