Have you ever noticed that sometimes your outdoor AC unit is on the ground, but other people have theirs on the roof? Oftentimes, I have noticed that businesses, especially, will have their HVAC unit up on the roof.
My church’s HVAC unit is housed on the roof.
This has always seemed really strange to me because if somebody has to go up there for maintenance or repair, it seems like it would just be easier to have the unit on the ground. That made me try to figure out what could be the advantages of having your HVAC unit installed on your roof. Well, first off, I will say that it does give you more space in your yard. I have a very tiny backyard because I live in a townhouse. if I did not have the AC unit sitting right there on the ground, that would give me about four square feet extra of space where I could either plant flowers or let my dog run free. I suppose that is an advantage, but I don’t know how significant it really is. So then I thought, well, I have noticed that one of the things you really have to do if you have Central Heating and Cooling is make sure that that outside unit does not get overgrown with grasses or leaves or any kind of bushes that grow around it. In other words, your HVAC unit needs room to breathe. There must be air flow in order to be healthy. so, I guess, having your HVAC unit on the roof will mean that you don’t have to worry about bushes being planted around the edges too close or things of that nature. The last time the AC guy came for my regular maintenance call, I decided to ask him, and it turns out the number one reason for putting the HVAC unit on the roof is to avoid theft! I found that shocking and also a sad commentary on the state of affairs.