Space Limitations
The existing concrete chiller pad had three 5-ton condensing units on it and was screened from the house with trees and shrubs. We proposed the expansion of the pad to accommodate four 5-ton chillers, two circulators, and a buffer tank.
We would dig up the 150-foot copper line sets that ran between the pad and basement and replace them with two 2” poly supply pipes and two 2” poly return pipes.
We quickly realized that we would have to fight for every inch of concrete pad as the homeowner would not permit relocating of any of the trees and shrubs around the existing pad. We had to mockup all of the equipment, piping, fittings, and access space for future maintenance to arrive at the absolute minimum pad size that would work.
The contractor poured the concrete extension of the existing pad, the landscaper dug a 150-foot long trench to expose and remove the lines sets, and we installed our poly pipes between the pad and the basement mechanical space.
We chose to run two supplies and two returns so that our pressure drop between the pad and house would be reduced.
Once inside the basement, we joined the two supplies and two returns and transitioned to 2” copper.