The air conditioner allows you to create a comfortable microclimate in a room for any purpose: a country house, office, apartment, shopping center, supermarket. The cost of the equipment is by no means small - it's a shame if the external unit is damaged due to an accidental fall of bricks, icicles from a crash, don't you agree?
In order not to find yourself in a similar situation, you can take care of the protection of the outdoor unit in advance by installing a special device - a basket. But what is it and how to put it correctly?
This is what we will talk about in our material - we will deal with the types of existing protective structures, their pros and cons. We will give recommendations for choosing a suitable option, as well as tell you how the basket for the air conditioner is installed and whether it can be done on your own.
We will supplement the presented material with visual photos and useful video tips for installation.
The content of the article:
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Features of baskets and selection rules
- Varieties of boxes for the air conditioner
- What to look for when choosing?
- Step-by-step installation instructions
- Soundproofing recommendations
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Features of baskets and selection rules
What is a basket or box? It is a metal structure that covers the outdoor unit from all sides.
Its main functions:
- Decorative. So that air conditioner units of different sizes look harmoniously on the facade of the building.
- Protective - fragments of bricks and tiles falling from the roof and walls, cigarette butts thrown by residents from windows, icicles and other debris can damage the outdoor unit.
- Anti-vandal protection - this function is very relevant for the first floors. The design of such a basket is heavy-duty, it covers the unit from all sides.
Anti-vandal structures can be additionally equipped with an alarm. This is a great option for office premises, where security guards can react to vandals at any time of the day.
Many developers provide for the location of air conditioners in newly constructed buildings even at the design stage. With this approach, you can order baskets in the same style and the architectural line of the facade of the building will not be disturbed.
Varieties of boxes for the air conditioner
The owners of apartments in the old housing stock are faced with the issue of independent choosing a place for installing an air conditioner and protecting it from precipitation and mechanical damage (accidental or deliberate). Therefore, simultaneously with the purchase of split systems, it is advisable to choose and order the installation of baskets for outdoor units of air conditioners on the facade.
But there are many offers on the market. To choose a worthy option, first you need to get acquainted with the existing species in general terms.
By manufacturing method baskets are assembled at a specialized enterprise and homemade. The first ones are distinguished by greater reliability and durability, stylish appearance, and the ability to withstand significant loads. But this is subject to the availability of a quality certificate, documents confirming the calculations and testing of products, which is typical for responsible manufacturers with a good reputation.
Homemade boxes can be made from scrap materials. This design will be simple, but its cost will be minimal.
The simplest box can be made on your own using rods and metal corners. Assemble the structure by welding. But such a basket requires maintenance (regular tinting) - rust can appear in the places of welded seams from exposure to atmospheric precipitation.
Also, the boxes can be classified according to the following parameters:
- ontype of construction - solid and collapsible;
- by appointment - decorative and protective;
- to size - standard and non-standard (custom made);
- by design - depends on the imagination of the designer or the wishes of the customer.
More baskets are different material of manufacture. It can be perforated galvanized sheet, metal rods, forged elements and more.
It is important that the material used is reliable and durable, and is also resistant to atmospheric precipitation.
What to look for when choosing?
When choosing a basket, it should be borne in mind that there are standard boxes and non-standard ones, made according to the customer's measurements.
Most often, the option of a non-standard basket is relevant when it is required to protect several blocks installed in a row or above each other with one grill.
When choosing a basket, a number of parameters are taken into account:
- dimensions - take into account the dimensions of the external unit and the required gap of 10 cm between the walls of the unit and the box;
- cladding option - anti-vandal, protective or decorative;
- filling - metal rods, blinds, forged elements, perforated sheet, lamellar perforation, individual perforation pattern (at the request of the customer);
- type of construction - ready-made or collapsible version;
- specific features - painting in a certain color, the presence of a door with a built-in or padlock (to access block), an additional visor, installation of an alarm that notifies of harm caused by third parties by persons.
All these parameters, in particular dimensions, design complexity and specific features, significantly affect the cost - the more complex and larger, the more expensive.
It is also important when choosing the appropriate option to pay attention to the access to the outdoor unit of the air conditioner - so that it is easy to carry out regular cleaning and maintenance.
Image gallery
Photo from
A basket of forged metal elements looks stylish and weightless. But this design is durable and resistant to mechanical damage.
A heavy-duty metal bar grill, a closed structure on all sides, and a padlock on the door are a classic example of an anti-vandal air conditioner basket.
Perforated sheet is used in the manufacture of decorative baskets. It can be geometric shapes, various drawings or an individual sketch, made at the request of the customer.
Blinds provide protection from the sun's rays and allow air to pass through well. They will also protect against falling leaves, butterflies and other large debris on the air conditioner unit. This version of the box looks stylish
Forged elements
Vandal-proof metal bars
Perforated sheet
Basket with louvers
Step-by-step installation instructions
All work on the installation of the basket for the air conditioner can be done on your own or you can invite specialists. The first option is relevant for owners of private one-story houses, apartments located on the first and second floors. Also, there will be no difficulties if the outdoor unit of the air conditioner installed on a loggia or unglazed balcony.
For the first and second floors, all work on the installation of the basket can be performed using an extension ladder
In all other cases, the help of industrial climbers will be needed to mount the box.
Together with the installation of the air conditioner, it is advisable to immediately order the installation of a protective box. Especially when it comes to high-altitude work (from the third to the ninth floor and above) - you don't have to pay twice for the climbers
The order of installing the basket is as follows:
- Marking of attachment points - using a building level and a plumb line, you need to mark the points for fastening the structure.
- Hole punching - using a puncher, carefully make holes in the wall of the building.
- Installing Mounts - screw the fasteners into the holes made earlier, install the brackets and tighten the flare nut with a wrench.
- Fixing the basket - using fasteners (bolts and nuts), attach the protective box to the bracket.
If climbers carry out the installation, then the first step will be to fix the rope and descend to the installation site, and the last step is to raise the "high-altitude" and dismantle the rope.
It is important to take into account the type of facade when choosing fasteners: for a foam block, gypsum concrete and hollow bricks, it is better to use a dowel + screw, and for a brick and concrete wall - anchor bolts. Facade brackets must be made without welding, so that the protective layer is not broken. Otherwise, the welded places will suffer from the effects of precipitation.
Many companies specializing in the manufacture of baskets are developing types of fasteners that are suitable for mounting on various types of facades. The necessary calculations, tests are carried out to ensure the reliability and durability of the finished product.
Soundproofing recommendations
In addition to installing the basket, the owners of the air conditioner take other additional measures to protect the outdoor unit from falling icicles and accidental mechanical damage. One of the popular solutions is installation visor. But this option becomes a source of increased noise at the first rain.
To avoid the sad development of events when it rains all night and you cannot sleep to the sound drumming streams of water on the visor, you need to immediately after installing the visor take care of noise insulation. Why you can stick roofing material on top, a piece of rubber or several layers of soundproofing materials.
A thick layer of foam rubber in the noise-insulating "pie" can smooth out the noise from the water pouring from the height of the fifth floor
Consider an example of effective noise insulation from scrap materials:
- First layer - self-adhesive vibration isolator STP type. It is sold at an auto parts store. We glue this vibration isolator on top of the visor.
- Second layer - foam rubber with a thickness of 2-3 cm. We glue a layer of foam rubber on the silicone.
- Third layer - roofing material. As a finishing layer, soft tiles, ondulin are suitable - they do not make noise in the rain.
Such simple sound insulation will be a real salvation from the annoying knock of rain drops on a metal visor.
Yes, and it is quite possible to do this work with your own hands, provided that the air conditioner unit is not higher than 2 floors.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Types of perforation for duct grilles for outdoor units of split systems:
Visual instructions for installing the basket on the ventilated facade of the building from one of the manufacturers of boxes for air conditioners:
To protect the unit of your air conditioner from the effects of precipitation and mechanical damage, preferably simultaneously with installation of climatic equipment install the basket on the air conditioner.
At the same time, it is important to choose the optimal design so that it not only protects, but also be moisture resistant, provided free air exchange, was able to withstand gusts of wind, the load from falling icicles and snow hats from the roof.
Do you still have questions regarding the selection and installation of the basket? Ask our experts and other site visitors - the comment form is located below. Also here you can share your personal experience of making and installing the basket, add unique photos of your work.
