Red Carpet Service, from the side-yard pad to the attic hatch

Pad level

Twin Trane condensers, halfway through commissioning

Tap or hover a mark. Each one is something a technician checks before a new system is signed off, and worth asking about if yours was fitted by someone else.

1. PADA level padThe condenser sits on a pad set dead level, clear of the gravel bed. A unit that leans strains its compressor mounts and slowly rubs its own refrigerant lines.
2. LINEInsulated suction lineThe larger copper line carries cold vapour back to the compressor. Its foam jacket stops it sweating down the brick and losing capacity on a July afternoon.
3. COILCondenser coilHeat pulled out of the house leaves through these fins. Kept clear of clippings and leaves, the coil sheds it at the efficiency printed on the label.
4. VACVacuum pump on the valvesBefore refrigerant is released into new lines, they are pulled into a deep vacuum so moisture and air come out first. The pump stays on until the gauge holds.
5. TRANEThe badge on the lidA Trane Comfort Specialist install. The same technicians service every other major brand, so a different badge is never a reason to replace a working system.
6. ZONEA second systemTwo condensers usually mean two zones, often one for upstairs. Each gets its own pad, its own line set and its own commissioning before anyone signs it off.