Summary
Air conditioning installation: who to choose?
The essential prerequisites for an air-conditioning system
Advice on air conditioning installation
The hard installation
Commissioning the air conditioner
Many principles and rules make the installation of air conditioning very complex! If it is mandatory to call a professional with a certificate of competence for the commissioning of the unit, the installation is up to you. But if you are far from being an excellent do-it-yourselfer, it is better to call Gateway Home Comfort.
Air conditioning installation: who to choose?
Nothing prevents you from taking care of it yourself, but make sure you are capable of doing it. This is a very complex and sophisticated piece of equipment, which makes it all the more difficult to install your air conditioning.
Its performance and longevity also depend on it, hence the importance of going through a professional air conditioner installer.
The essential prerequisites for the installation of air conditioning
Once you’ve made your buying decision, you’ll want to get to the heart of the matter fairly quickly. However, installing air conditioning is not a matter of luck. It is essential to think about it beforehand in order to guarantee correct and long-lasting installation. What you need to plan for:
make a heat balance to know which air-conditioning model to choose;
think about the evacuation of wastewater or condensation to the outdoor units (split);
know the amperage of the air conditioner to determine its protection;
Avoid obstacles that hinder air diffusion and return air.
Advice on air conditioning installation
Monobloc or split (even reversible), the installation is not the same according to the type of air conditioning chosen. While the first is a temporary solution, the second is much more efficient. The power and noise are quite different, as well as the difficulty of installing the air conditioning!
The basics to know
In any case, some advice is always worth knowing:
Power is supplied to the indoor or outdoor unit depending on the make and model. To find out, check the operating instructions for your unit.
Avoid elbows for your pipes.
Drill a hole in the wall and give it a coat of paint.
Hide cables and ducts as well as possible.
All work put together, for a professional, an 8-hour installation time per unit seems reasonable. Be careful, this time may vary greatly depending on the constraints, difficulty of access, working at height, the complexity of the installation, etc. For example, to install a mono split, an outdoor unit, and an indoor unit, count 2 × 8 hours, i.e. 16 hours of work all-inclusive. So make sure you have plenty of time!
Precautions
Firstly, it is important to keep in mind that the manufacturer’s recommendations for installation must be followed. Some non-compliance with the recommendations may void the warranty, particularly concerning the shaping of the piping.
When installing the outdoor and indoor units, check the recommendations regarding the space required around the units. This point is essential because if it is too small, the air passage may be obstructed, which will reduce the performance of your units, or even cause them to fail.
Condensates
The evacuation of condensates (condensation water from the air) requires special attention to avoid creating water infiltration in your walls or foundation for the outdoor unit.
This drain is made of plastic tube (crystal or corrugated) and must allow the condensation water to drain by gravity: count at least 1 cm/m of a slope.
If it is impossible to respect this rule, then you will have to opt for a forced drainage solution by adding a lifting pump that allows the water to be raised and conveyed to the drainage point.
Inter-unit connections
To connect the units to each other, use refrigeration-grade copper tubing in coils, so that there is no need to extend the lengths.
At each end of the tubes, an expansion joint (conical flare of the copper tube) must be made to ensure a perfect seal between the unit connection and the tube. The professional carrying out the commissioning can take care of their manufacture.
The hard installation
After having fine-tuned your air-conditioning system and planned all the extras, you position your equipment for good. Once again, there are several things to respect. The installation of an air conditioning system must take into account the prerogatives of all units, both indoor and outdoor.
In short, the indoor unit must be on a solid surface. Its location must facilitate the connection of pipes and cables.
Finally, clearances must be delimited around it. As for the outer block, it must be close enough to the inner block (avoid back-to-back). You must avoid hot, humid places and places subject to waves: prefer a ventilated place, on the floor or on a wall.
Commissioning the air conditioner
The sale of air conditioners precharged with refrigerant is reserved for professionals or individuals who have concluded an agreement for commissioning by a professional with the necessary certificates. During this commissioning, the professional must check:
the correct connection of the units (electrical and fluidic);
make the expansions;
check the tightness of the unit;
empty the air present in the pipes (vacuum draught);
open the valves of the outdoor unit containing the refrigerant.
Depending on the length of the pipes, it may be necessary to top up the charge. Finally, he checks that the system is working properly and gives you a commissioning sheet.