Air Conditioner Installation Warning

Air conditioner installation. The forgotten service. We’re all familiar with air conditioning units, at least as far as usage goes. As time passes, they become easier and easier to operate. Many come with thermostats that adjust everything for you to maintain your most comfortable temperature. They come with timers and turn themselves on and off. If you want to change settings manually, you don’t need to stand up and approach the unit; that’s what the remote control that come with a lot of air conditioner models are for – although with all the self-regulating mechanisms these units have available, you’d hardly ever need the remote controls in the first place.

Air conditioners have become an essential part of many households and there are a variety of air conditioners available on the market for different prices, serving different purposes and under different brand names. Buying an Air Conditioner is not at all difficult, owing to the many companies selling them these days. The tougher task is the air conditioner installation once the unit has been purchased.

Correct air conditioner installation is very important, as it has quite a bearing on the actual effect of the air conditioner. Incorrect air conditioner installation can lead to

1. High electricity bills
2. Poor cooling air circulation
3. Maintenance problems
4. Energy Inefficiency

Many studies have proven that air conditioners that are improperly installed reduce its capacity and efficiency by more than 20%. Incorrect airflow problems are another common problem with improper air conditioner installations. In fact, appropriate air conditioner installation is one of the four elements needed to maintain an economical, efficient and comfortable cooling system.

First, it is important that the airflow over the fan coil unit goes through the forced air duct system in the air handler.

Secondly, the refrigerant charge must be at a proper level.

Third, the outdoor air supply unit must be fixed in the right place.

Finally, the control system, especially the thermostat that turns the equipment on and off, must be at a hands reach.

These general air conditioner installation guidelines are applicable to all Air Conditioners units. Air conditioners come with an Air Conditioner Installation guide that should be read thoroughly and can prove to be quite an asset.

However, these days almost all companies offer to send a technician to your home or business to perform air conditioner Installation, and it is advisable to allow an air conditioner Installation professional to handle the very tricky work

Selection of the location

When selecting a location, the first thing you should consider is whether you’re installing an indoor or an outdoor unit. For an indoor unit, make sure there are no obstacles to air conditioner installation within the vicinity. Ideally, the unit should be installed two meters above the floor, and it goes without saying its location should allow for good air circulation, meaning, its vents should not be closely positioned to anything that could block air flow to the rest of the room.

For an outdoor unit, the base and housing should be securely installed on a level surface. No plants or animals should be positioned near it, as the heat coming from the condenser will adversely affect these. Lastly, if you plan to place a canopy or a similar cover on top of the unit, to protect it from the elements, make sure the canopy will not impede the dispersion of heat of the outdoor unit.

Installation

The outdoor unit should be firmly fixed on its cement base. This becomes increasingly important as you go higher up, because the strong winds in high elevations can physically move both the base and the air conditioner and cause damage to your unit, not to mention increase the risk of accidents. For the indoor unit, it should be levelled properly after it has been installed, to prevent water from dripping into the interior of the building.

Aside from safety considerations, another reason why the air conditioner installation should be firm is because an unstable unit would create vibrations, leading to a noisy fixture that will produce an annoying sound the whole time your unit is operating.

Connection of pipes and wires

The pipes that come with the air conditioner all have to be connected securely to prevent leaks and other malfunctions. Usually, you would hear a clicking sound once the pipe is installed properly. Wires, on the other hand, should be covered with insulating material, especially the connections. Afterwards, both pipes and wires should be wrapped up and securely fixed into the wall to prevent accidents.

Testing

Once the unit is firmly in place and all pipes and wires are connected, it’s time to test. Plug the air conditioner into an independent power socket and turn it on. Test the remote control if you have one. Let the unit run for half an hour or so on cooling mode, to see if everything is working as it should. If not, see if you can find the problem and fix it. If you can’t find the problem, then maybe it’s about time you get an air conditioning installation professional to help you out.