Beam me up engima

[42yrs exp]

I have been in the HVAC businesss since 1960, and no one that I know has used a concrete pad for the last 20 years or more. Concrete pads went out with the metal bumpers
on cars. Do you remember when car bumpers were made of metal
instead of styrofoam?

The Reasons Why stryofoam is used!

Reason #1 - A concrete pad is not necessary,the styrofoam based pads are just as good, and may even be better.They are lighter and easier to handle and last longer. They will not crack like concrete.

Reason #2 - The stytrofoam pads cost less than the concrete pads, which is a savings to you. Of course, if you got a damages one, get another one from the contractor.

Reason #3 every major HVAC manufacturer sells the styrofoam based pad which makes it very convient for the contractor to pick up the pad when they pick up the equipment.

The Styrofoam based pads are the standard in the industry. If one of my customers insist on concrete I charge them tripple the price of a styrofoam pad plus and additional 1/2 hour labor to pick it up and haul it to the location and install it.

Get Real, Get a life. Get some HVAC training and get back to us.

[duct dr]

Down here styrofoam pads are nothing but a new home for bugs and ants which hollow out the stryofoam and make it crack or break up totally. We use high density plastic or carbon fiber pads. Sure they cost a little more, but why would I want to put a low budget pad under a 16 SEER heat pump. Almost like buying a new Lexus then going to Walmart for tires.

[markco]

Funny. I'm going to put in a system for a neighbor. He asked me where I'm going to set the unit, so that he can start to pour a slab. I said, "Ahh, I'll just pick one up when I get the unit. He couldn't believe that you just set one on the ground and put the unit on top. He was going to dig down four feet to make sure it was below the frost line

[junkhound]

This old bird still uses concrete, 2" slump with mesh and 2 rebar squares (or rectangles, corners on concrete piers with tied in rebar going down at least 2 feet. Poured 2 weeks ahead of unit install, 1/2 inch high density closed cell polyurethane foam or EPDM on concrete under unit, even if a Goodman<G>.

Of course, my normal work is commercial, so residential units are only one or 2 every few years for friends or relatives at cost, obviously could not compete in the residential HVAC world with 'antiquated' methods.

[Jultzya]

His contract (if he has one) had stated the pad was a concrete covered Styrofoam molding!

According to his post that he made, it's all about the contractor trying to use something other than what the contract stated in the contract.

I might stand on this issue by myself, but we just need to perform the task that we say we're going to provide!

Right is right, and a signed contract will hold up in the court of law.

The guy MAY be an idiot (I don't know), but that doesn't make it right for someone to not do as they promise.


[Edited by jultzya on 05-04-2005 at 12:14 AM]

[lonnirat]

First choice... pour a pad (correctly). Next choice, high impact plastic pad. Concrete sprayed styrofoam pad... won't use them.