The average HVAC system can last 10-25 years. While multiple factors can contribute to where a unit lands on this wide spectrum of durability, one of the most important is installation.
Properly installed HVAC systems are far more durable than those that weren't set up right the first time. That's why it's essential to place a condenser unit on a quality HVAC mounting pad for optimum durability.
Enter PolarPad. As the base for an AC unit, the PolarPad HVAC mounting pad is the platform your HVAC units will stand upon for the rest of their lives. Its stable, lightweight plastic construction is instrumental in improving the durability of an HVAC system, and its corrosion resistance helps units stand firm in the toughest industrial environments.
Let's explore the PolarPad in more detail and see how it can improve the life of your HVAC system.
The importance of durability in HVAC mounting pads
HVAC mounting pads mean the same to an HVAC system as a foundation does to a house. Just as a house's foundation ensures that the rest of the structure stands securely in place and endures the test of time, HVAC mounting pads provide a sturdy base for your unit and keep it from toppling over. And just as foundations are the first component you build for a house, HVAC mounting pads are the first part of a proper HVAC installation.
Also similar to foundations, HVAC mounting pads can significantly impact a system's durability. Low-grade materials can deteriorate over time under stressful operating conditions, and that can cause HVAC units to become unstable, potentially leading to damage. The result can be increased maintenance costs and a shorter system lifetime, whereas a durable mounting pad can add to the longevity of a unit.
They may not be the first thing customers consider when choosing an HVAC unit, but mounting pads provide a rugged, durable resting place for their system, making them fundamental to any successful installation.
Comparing materials for HVAC mounting pads
Companies make their HVAC mounting pads from various materials. Each comes with drawbacks and advantages, so it's essential to familiarize yourself with them to be able to choose the right one for your unit. Here's how they stack up:
- Concrete: As the conventional mounting pad material, concrete is well-known for its superior strength. However, concrete is susceptible to cracking and weather damage, which could hinder your system's stability. Additionally, a concrete pad installation can be labor-intensive (and, therefore, expensive).
- Metal: Metal is also renowned for its toughness and strength, but its heaviness can make installation challenging. More importantly, metal is prone to rust and corrosion under water or chemical exposure, making it an unsuitable choice for certain industrial environments.
- Rubber: Rubber is far more lightweight than concrete or metal, and installation is easier. However, it does tend to degrade under high mechanical stress, causing it and the rest of your HVAC unit to lose stability.
The role of plastics in ensuring durability
The weight they must support and the intensity of their operating conditions require mounting pads to consist of rugged materials. But they must also be cost-effective and lightweight enough to ensure convenience—both on installation and your customer’s wallet.
At DuraPlas, we believe that plastics are the material that best does the job. Here's why:
- Material properties: Plastics are notorious for their weather resistance, corrosion resistance, and strength under physical stress.
- Ease of handling: While other materials, such as concrete and metal, can be heavy and unwieldy, plastics are easier to install.
- Cost-effectiveness: Plastics are a highly cost-effective material, and the ease of installation also helps to keep your expenses down.
While these properties make plastics the best all-around material for many HVAC mounting pads, it's still essential to consider the plastic polymer type for your mounting pads and the manufacturing method used to build them.
Polyethylene's superior mechanical strength and toughness make it the ideal plastic material for an HVAC mounting pad, and the injection molding process is a manufacturing method that delivers high-quality products with superior mechanical strength. That's why the PolarPad HVAC mounting pad is made from injection-molded polyethylene for optimal strength and resilience.These material properties are what sets PolarPad apart from the other solutions:
- Strength: Polyethylene is one of the most durable plastics around, and the bottom of each PolarPad is ribbed for extra strength. This ensures that PolarPad can withstand the highest mechanical loads of its class.
- Lightweight: Even with such high strength, polyethylene is much lighter than concrete or metal. PolarPad's lightweight yet rugged design makes installation much simpler than other materials — without compromising strength.
- Toughness: PolarPad is heat and cold resistant, and the polyethylene's chemical stability makes it corrosion-resistant.
Mechanical strength, lightweight design, and temperature and corrosion resistance at a reasonable cost—these properties set PolarPad apart as the perfect solution for nearly any environment.
Choose your HVAC solution wisely
HVAC systems are vital to many industries and companies that depend on keeping their facilities at the optimal operating temperature. That's why ensuring these systems' proper performance and longevity is critical.
Choosing the right mounting pad for your HVAC installation is the first step to ensuring that the HVAC system works as intended for a long time in the most demanding conditions. This will reduce a customer’s operational and maintenance costs and help achieve production consistency.
Check out DuraPlas' PolarPad today to learn how it can support the installation of your HVAC system and, therefore, prolong its lifetime and help you cut costs.
