Dude at the supply house said my panel placement was wrong

Last Tuesday at Adams Alarm Supply in Phoenix, this older installer I've seen around walked up and told me I put the main panel too close to a return vent. He said condensation would kill the board in under a year. Has anyone else dealt with HVAC airflow messing with their equipment?

2 comments

2 Comments

dianaanderson1mo ago

Condensation would kill the board" - that's the real kicker. I've seen moisture from HVAC vents fry more than just panels, it gets into everything nearby if the airflow's wrong.

martinez.kim1mo ago

Wait, has anyone actually tried putting a small drip shield or even some aluminum tape above the panel to deflect any moisture before it gets in? I've seen condensation drip down from vents so bad it stained the drywall below, so I could see that killing a board fast if the air is humid enough. That older installer might have been right to warn you, but I'd check if the vent is actually blowing cold air right at the panel or if its just a return sucking dust. Either way, a cheap sheet of thin plastic or some foam insulation between them could save you a headache.