Creating dead zone around AC unit

Posted by JoeSpareBedroom on July 3, 2009, 9:38 pm

>> Art Todesco wrote:

>>> brooklyn1 wrote:
>>>>> My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves
>>>>> are so
>>>>> deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed
>>>>> finds
>>>>> the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
>>>>> covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones
>>>>> right
>>>>> up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
>>>>> uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
>>>>> melts,
>>>>> I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and
>>>>> overflowing
>>>>> along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry,
>>>>> but
>>>>> still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
>>>>> landscape fabric seems like a better option.
>>>>> Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
>>>>> buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.
>>>>> Comments?
>>> Landscaping fabric allows water to go through and inhibits weed growth.
>>> It
>>> can be put under a layer of gravel instead of plastic.

>> Why not a precast concrete or recycled pop bottle AC pad, tilted slightly
>> away from the house to prevent ponding? They come in several sizes, and
>> can pretty easily be slipped under the AC unit without disconnecting it.
>> May need a few shims under the coil box to keep it level, but that is
>> easy enough. If there is slack in the cables and hoses, also a good idea
>> to raise the box up a few inches.

> That's what I have, one of those cast fiberglass like pads, I always
> thought that was the manditory default, had one at my last house too. I'm
> sure it would require a few strong backs to insert a pad after the fact:
> http://i39.tinypic.com/m75dhc.jpg

I've got the same type of pad, but still, I'd like a barren area for a foot
or two around the thing.

Posted by brooklyn1 on July 4, 2009, 8:41 am

>>> Art Todesco wrote:
>>>> brooklyn1 wrote:
>>>>>> My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves
>>>>>> are so
>>>>>> deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed
>>>>>> finds
>>>>>> the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
>>>>>> covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones
>>>>>> right
>>>>>> up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
>>>>>> uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
>>>>>> melts,
>>>>>> I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and
>>>>>> overflowing
>>>>>> along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been
>>>>>> dry, but
>>>>>> still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
>>>>>> landscape fabric seems like a better option.
>>>>>> Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with
>>>>>> Trex buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of
>>>>>> stones.
>>>>>> Comments?
>>>> Landscaping fabric allows water to go through and inhibits weed growth.
>>>> It
>>>> can be put under a layer of gravel instead of plastic.
>>> Why not a precast concrete or recycled pop bottle AC pad, tilted
>>> slightly away from the house to prevent ponding? They come in several
>>> sizes, and can pretty easily be slipped under the AC unit without
>>> disconnecting it. May need a few shims under the coil box to keep it
>>> level, but that is easy enough. If there is slack in the cables and
>>> hoses, also a good idea to raise the box up a few inches.

>> That's what I have, one of those cast fiberglass like pads, I always
>> thought that was the manditory default, had one at my last house too.
>> I'm sure it would require a few strong backs to insert a pad after the
>> fact:
>> http://i39.tinypic.com/m75dhc.jpg

> I've got the same type of pad, but still, I'd like a barren area for a
> foot or two around the thing.

Then I think the patio pavers would be the best solution. I just string
trim, would still need to edge around patio blocks or anything else, but
I've no idea if you have lawn. I'd choose most anything before small
stones... a plastic edging filled with pine bark nuggets like I have
prevents weeds (I have barrier cloth under the nuggets). I had to install
the fence as that is the third shrub, deer got the previous two... nothing
else works other than fencing.

Originally I had no fence, a week later I had no shrub, that little cyprus
is long gone:
http://i39.tinypic.com/2pzf8yd.jpg

You can use 6X6 landscape ties too... one morning I woke up to shrubs
munched down to nubs, so that's why I now have fence all around:
http://i44.tinypic.com/119qjya.jpg

Once the shrubs grow and the galvanized wire fencing dulls it's not very
noticeable:
http://i43.tinypic.com/zsscw1.jpg

I learned long ago not to skimp on landscaping lumber/materials, I hate do
overs.

I spent a fortune on every deer repellant on the market, spent many, many
hours spraying, even in fridgid winter weather, and then having to wash the
stink off my clothes and myself... all to no avail... only a fence works.

Posted by skeeter on July 4, 2009, 6:11 am

> http://i39.tinypic.com/m75dhc.jpg

whose that pussy in the window?

Posted by brooklyn1 on July 4, 2009, 8:54 am

"skeeter" wrote

> "brooklyn1" wrote:

>> http://i39.tinypic.com/m75dhc.jpg

> whose that pussy in the window?

Finally someone perceptive.
That's The Jilly, the world's only MENSA cat:
http://i44.tinypic.com/2j28col.jpg

Posted by JoeSpareBedroom on July 3, 2009, 6:35 pm

>> My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are
>> so
>> deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed
>> finds
>> the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
>> covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones
>> right
>> up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
>> uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
>> melts,
>> I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and
>> overflowing
>> along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry,
>> but
>> still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
>> landscape fabric seems like a better option.
>> Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
>> buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.
>> Comments?

> A course or three of paver blocks is a zillion times better than spending
> your life cussing small stones.

That's an interesting idea. Could be disassembled like Legos if necessary,
too.

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Creating dead zone around AC unit - Page 4