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Old 03-08-15, 06:51 PM   #605
ctgottapee
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Central IL
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Those are nice looking shelters but they have a serious problems as the restrict the air flow. With the ground plane and wall plane so close, the primary inlet is open air above now restricted by the roof.

I wouldn't worry about isolators when mounting to the home, although it can't hurt. You already have two hard copper pipes mounted directly between the compressor and indoor unit.

@Xringer One note about the fan keeping out snow. The fan doesn't run during defrost cycles, which can add up if a lot of blowing snow makes it towards the coil. So at just the time you need the fan running to keep out the snow, it may not be running.
I experienced a freak occurrence during freezing rain; it blew icicles into the front and forming on the front as the fan didn't run full time as outdoor temps were not low and then the frequent defrost cycles.

Probably the best solution is a snow roof higher up and extending out over the unit, and then some vegetation or fencing serving as a snow fence several feet from the sides. It won't prevent everything, but will handle the big events. As you noticed, your side lattice is a snow fence that is just too close. Of course this solution has some eye sore problems.
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