When building homes in Gomel, boxes for air conditioners are installed — but this will only make it worse for residents
New houses in Gomel have started to be built with special baskets for air conditioners to preserve the external appearance of the facades. However, this creates problems for residents, writes "Flagstok".
New building on Kosarava Street in Gomel. Photo: "Motsnyya Naviny"
During the construction of new houses in Gomel, the practice of installing boxes for air conditioners on the facade is being expanded. One example is the multi-story buildings on Kosarava Street, which "Motsnyya Naviny" drew attention to.
The innovation was commented on by local specialists in social networks, who noted that it would not make the installation of equipment easier for residents — on the contrary:
“The baskets are located in the most inconvenient places, which leads to an increase in the cost of air conditioner installation and its subsequent maintenance. And this is the situation in all houses in the city where such 'improvements' are provided. Exterior — yes, but for the apartment owner — no.”
Specialists explained that ordinary installers would not be able to reach the boxes, so for both installation and maintenance of the air conditioner, industrial climber services would have to be ordered.
Judging by public procurements, the houses on Kosarava were built by the Gomel House-Building Plant, and the know-how itself was adopted from Russia, as noted in the comments.
The innovation has also long been criticized there, with clear explanations of what it will turn into in practice: residents install air conditioners directly under the windows, and the boxes remain empty.
New building in Moscow. Video screenshot
Under one of the videos, it was explained:
“There is such a concept as standard installation — the outdoor unit under the window. In the video — installation into a basket with an alpinist, the cost increases by the price of the service. And further, all manipulations with the outdoor unit, refilling, cleaning — an alpinist will always be needed.”
Commentators agreed with this opinion and added:
“It’s cheaper to install it under the window, because the baskets are located in a place inaccessible from the window. Alpinists and aerial platforms cost a lot of money, and for maintenance, you also have to shell out a lot of cash again for access, whereas installing it under or next to the window in an accessible place is easier and cheaper, and you can easily service the climate equipment.”
In Belarus, permission from the local housing and communal services (HCS) is required to install an air conditioner. Therefore, residents of houses with boxes may be obliged to install air conditioners only in the baskets.