During the summer the heat can be overbearing at times. Most people are going to cool off the only way they can indoors by simply turning on the air conditioner. Some homes just don’t have that luxury. Even if these homeowners wanted to have an air conditioner placed in their home the sheer cost of having the AC installed can be astronomical. This guide is to give the average person tips on how to install an air conditioner themselves.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions: The instructions that are given to install the device are given for a reason. Remember to follow every instruction outlined to the fullest extent of the manual. If there is something that is difficult to understand, never be afraid to call an HVAC professional for assistance. Make sure to gather all required equipment outlined in the manual in order to make sure the process goes smoothly.
- Choose a spot to place your AC unit: The central unit is often where the air will come from when the air conditioner is turned on. So the homeowner must choose the best place to put the central air unit outdoors. The unit needs to be placed in an area that is on level ground so that the unit won’t move. It is important to make sure the unit does not absorb a huge amount of sunlight. The unit must also be placed close to an electrical unit that will allow the unit to be turned on and off if need be. The unit must be placed further away from any area where water can damage it. For safety reasons the unit must be placed away from any other electric or gas devices. Make sure there is enough space between the AC unit and the wall of the home. This will allow you to tinker with it once the process is completed.
- Cut a small hole in the wall of the home: A small hole must be cut into the wall of the home near the outside air condensing unit to enable wires and tubes to be run through the home. Run wires through the main electrical panel in the home. Afterwards the tubes are to be run towards the furnace. Remember to have an object or a marker which can be used as a point of reference.
- Cut an opening in the side of the supply plenum: The supply plenum is located at the top of the furnace. The opening is made in order to mount the evaporator coil inside.
- Install line set: The line set is made up of two refrigerant line sets that connect the condensing lines to the evaporator coil.
- Prepare high voltage connections: An electrical connection must be made between the electric circuit panel in your home and the air condensing unit outdoors. You can prepare the wiring for hookup, but a skilled contractor is required to install the high and low voltage wiring as a precaution.
- Install a drainage tube: Use a drain connector tube in order to hook up your draining tube to the evaporator coil. This will allow water that hardens to empty into a floor drain.
- Keep it simple: Do what you are fully capable of doing without risk of making any mistakes that could damage your AC or your home. If there’s anything that you can’t do, allowing a contractor to handle the rest makes the most sense.
- Have a contractor take a look at it: A contractor should be the first person to look over the work to make sure the installation has gone well.
Installing any kind of air conditioning system in a home is a big investment and a very difficult process. Never feel like the process is a one man job. Finding a skilled contractor or HVAC professional can make all the difference and getting you the product you paid for.