Outdoor Air Conditioner Condensers Should be On the Level

Carol and I were visiting her mothers house in Ohio this last summer and when I went outside to the back yard I noticed the outdoor air conditioner condenser was sitting on a concrete pad and the pad and condenser were leaning back towards the house at a very noticeable angle.

I walked closer to the outdoor condenser unit and noticed two problems. One, the condenser was leaning backward whereas the oil within the compressor within the outdoor condenser was not able to flow properly within the compressor which is not the best thing for safe, proper long lasting operation of the compressor which is the heart of the outdoor condenser.

Secondly I noticed the reason the compressor was leaning backwards towards the house because water from snow melt and rain water over time was washing away the dirt from the concrete foundation and basement window area. Earth butting up to the foundation of a house should be built up and the grading should allow for water shed away from the foundation of the house and into the flower bed and or yard.

I went inside the house and down to the basement to where the area of the condenser placement was outside and sure enough I noticed water marks around the basement window and on the inside of the foundation of the house.

Proper grading of the earth around the house to allow for water-runoff away from the home’s foundation is important and making sure your outdoor air conditioner pad the condenser sits on is sitting level is very important for proper operation of your compressor within the outdoor air conditioner condenser.