Hi all, hope your weekend is going well.

We will be new getting new HVAC in our soon-to-be primary to a rental .

Using a gas co. program with a 0% finanvr and hi eff. equipment.

My ? is about a plastic pad/base that the gas co. guy is telling me will be for the condenser. I have to do some grading in the spot.

How level does the spot have to be and is a plastic pad sufficient or should I be getting a concrete pad or at least a gravel one?

Plan on following up with the gas co. contact but thought I should run it by the experts here.

TIa

Frank

Plastic type a/c pads can easily be leveled with gravel, dirt and other materials that you re-trade the area then put the pad on top. However this offers you little protection from the a/c unit getting stolen or moved to be sawed apart of it's copper metal scrap value.

On my last new split system install, I got the Bolt Pattern for the outside condenser unit and then framed in an area and poured concrete with rebar. Thick weighing over 500 pounds.

Then when the system was being installed, we removed the access door and the top cover, giving access to mounting holes in the bottom of the unit. I marked with a marker, moved the unit off the pad and installed Wedge anchor bolts.

We put the a/c condenser back on the pad and bolted it to the concrete pad. I used locking washers and nuts with a plastic ring so it wouldn't unscrew with the vibration.

We located the unit near to two walls an "L" share to restrict access to people trying to cut the unit apart. But enough area for air to flow.

Many thanks

New system, not prexisting

The plastic pad will outlast the life of the condenser but you will be replacing the pad at the next condenser replacement. Concrete (or precast aircrete) pad will last for decades. They need to be reasonably level but it will settle over time so you don't have to get down to putting a level on it.

I have a bunch of the plastic pads. They arrive here used. I would guess that many of them are 15 plus years old at this point. They are still holding together well.

If you get a plastic pad, it will more than likely work well for you.

If theft is a possibility, then perhaps concrete would be better ; as long as you bolt the unit into the concrete.

The plastic, look-like-concrete pads are common here. Easy to handle & durable. The unit is very light. Use a fence to keep people away. Of course - as others have said - bolting to concrete can deter thieves.

One key to longevity of the system is it MUST be level.

the plastic ones have Styrofoam inside-- they break. Look like junk in 3 or 4 years.

For years we have built block stands to keep our condensers up off the ground and safe from weedeaters.

We level the ground using 1" base rock material or dirt and use 4x8x16 cement cap blocks to form a base that extends from the house, then 2 layers of split faced blocks for height and cap them with cap blocks and put a plastic ac stand on top of this. There is and example on my picture page here on Mr. Landlord.

Last time I checked we spend about $200 material and labor.

My "go to" pad:

Level the ground.

Lay out cinder blocks in a pattern larger than the unit itself.

Lay a plastic pad on top of the cinder blocks.

If you want to get fancy you can pour quikrete in the blocks before slapping the pad on top.

Here's what you get:

An elevated unit that will likely never be damaged by mowers or weed wackers, and high enough it will not clog with weeds or vines.