Can I put gravel around an HVAC unit?

Answer by  thelostone (1457)

Yes you can. typically they are on top of a concrete pad. you can put gravel around the pad. you jsut want to be sure that it isn't a very small sized gravel as the big fan in the unit can actually pick up smaller things. I would recomend washing the gravel first to eliminate some of the dust.

Answer by  eyeguy (3760)

Yes make sure the gravel is of a large size no smaller than the diameter of a dime. This keeps weeds from growing into the unit. Most HVAC units are sitting atop a concrete slab but this often does not prevent weeds and grass from growing into the sides which cause major damage.

Answer by  scwriter007 (254)

Yes, but gravel alone isn't sufficent--it will just hide standing water. You need to grade underneath the gravel so that it carries water away from the foundation. A PVC drain pipe can also be placed underneath the gravel to carry away water.

Answer by  kipcat (1964)

The condensing unit, or your HVAC unit, only needs free air flow to the exposed coils. Unless, for some reason, you feel you need to bury your condensing unit in gravel, there should not be any problems with completing your landscaping. You should avoid gravel too close, so that the weedeater does not sling rocks into the condensor.