Buying an air conditioner is the first step. It is much more difficult to install it. You can do it yourself, but it takes a long time. Or you can choose the fastest way and entrust ac installation Los Angeles to professionals.
Preparation
You can install an air conditioner at home yourself, but then you would have many tools in your arsenal that are unlikely to be useful later. Therefore, if you are not confident in your abilities and do not plan to do this work professionally, it is better to entrust the task to professionals.
Find the following parameters in the instructions for the air conditioner:
- The height difference between the indoor and outdoor units is usually 5-7 meters.
- The maximum length of the refrigerant line is usually from 3 to 10 meters.
- The distance from the indoor unit to the wall and ceiling is usually 10-15 cm in any direction.
- The outdoor unit is usually mounted just below the window sill, up to 50 cm to the right or left of the window opening. It should be 20-25 cm away from the wall to absorb enough air. Special brackets are used for mounting. Be careful—make sure that the installation site does not go into the territory of another floor or apartment; otherwise, neighbors will have problems.
When installing an air conditioner in an apartment on your own, the most important part is choosing where to place the air conditioner. Ideally, it is in the middle of the room so that there are no obstacles to airflow in front of it. You cannot place the indoor unit close to furniture, above a cabinet, or less than two meters from the opposite wall. Do not exceed the area recommended by the manufacturer. However, there are no restrictions on the minimum area; the main thing is to follow the above rule for two meters.
Therefore, before buying, mark the dimensions of the outdoor and indoor air conditioner units on the walls so as not to make a mistake.
Installation of air conditioner units
We installed the outdoor module on L-shaped brackets attached to the house’s outer wall. If it is possible to reach their location without lifting your feet off the floor, that’s great. If not, you must order the services of a tower, industrial climber, or suspended platform. Installing the air conditioner yourself in a private house is much easier – a stepladder will come to the rescue. You are also lucky if you are simply updating the air conditioner and have already prepared brackets from the previous model. There may also be special baskets in new buildings for installing the air conditioner in a pre-prepared place.
The brackets are fastened with strong impact screws that are inserted into the dowels. After installation, check their strength – they should not wobble. Apply a level – the outdoor unit should stand level without tilting to the right-left and back and forth. After this, all that remains is to put the device on the brackets, secure it with screws from below, and once again check the correctness of the installation.
Installation of the indoor unit begins with fastening the mounting plate or separate brackets (in the cheapest models). Be sure to check it with a level to exclude any distortions.
The step-by-step instructions for installing an air conditioner with your hands have two options. You can lay communications from the indoor unit to the hole through a groove (channel) or over it, covering the pipes with a decorative casing. The first option is more complicated but looks better—it will suit a major apartment renovation. The second is simpler but will not suit aesthetes.
The indoor unit of the air conditioner is applied to the plate. It is advisable to lift it together so as not to accidentally drop it during installation. The device is attached to the plate with screws – they can be located only on the sides or on four sides.
Ducts and connection
This is the most difficult and important stage. First, the air conditioner is connected to the power grid. The socket is only useful for models with a capacity of up to 2.5 kW (models with a capacity of up to 9000 BTU). The rest are connected directly to the panel. In a private house, the yellow-green wire is brought to the ground; in an apartment building, it is brought to the zero block (neutral).
To install the air conditioner yourself at home, think about how the connecting route will be laid out. Mark each turn – the angles should not exceed 90°. Measure the length of the main line and cut the copper tubes with a margin of about a meter. Put thermal insulation on them. The most durable are elastic polyurethane hoses – lasting 5-7 years.
Lay the main line.
To bend the pipes, use special tools that do not leave cracks, dents, or other damage. Threaded flanges must be put on the ends of the copper tubes, then flared, and nuts must be installed to connect to the fittings. Only after connecting can you fix the main line to the wall with special clamps.
An electric wire and a plastic drain hose are laid parallel to the copper tubes. Connect them to both units in strict accordance with the instructions. Do not mix up the terminals—this can damage the electronics.
Final preparation and start-up
To install an air conditioner in the house with your hands, you must pump out air and water from the main line. To do this, connect a vacuum pump to special valves in the main line (the same special equipment that only installers have and is necessary for installing air conditioners). The pumping process takes 30-60 minutes.
All that remains is to pump in the refrigerant. To do this, connect a cylinder to the main line through a pressure manifold (also special equipment for installation). The required amount of material and the pressure in the system are indicated in the instructions. Observe it exactly to 2-3 grams and 0.1 bar to get the ideal temperature in the house. Subsequently, the refrigerant is changed once every 1.5-3 years, depending on the model and power of the air conditioner.
The final stage of installing an air conditioner yourself is connecting the electricity. For the first 30 minutes, the device operates in self-diagnostic mode. Everything will supply cold air according to the selected settings if everything is in order. If you make a mistake, the indicator lights on the front panel will flash.
Common mistakes when installing an air conditioner
Saving on air pumping
Plugs may remain inside if you try to squeeze out air when pumping in refrigerant. As a result, the device will not work normally – the fan will supply warm air, and an error signal will appear on the control panel.
Poor-quality rolling
If you incorrectly connect the edge of the tube with the nut and nipple, the refrigerant will leak out at this point, breaking the compressor.
Saving on materials
When deciding to install an air conditioner themselves in a private house, many buyers choose too thin tubes or hoses made of the wrong material—aluminum instead of copper. When installed, they bend and break, so you will spend more on buying new ones and trips to the store.
The manufacturer’s requirements, or rather their ignoring. If the line is longer, with a large difference in height, or with a smaller slope than indicated in the instructions, the air conditioner will not be able to start in normal mode. Even if it turns on, the compressor will wear out much faster.
Installation without approval
Many cities require the preservation of facades and compliance with the architectural ensemble. If you install an outdoor unit without permission, it can be removed forcibly.
An indoor unit should be installed with airflow directed at the face, for example, opposite a sofa, bed, or chair. This can lead to frequent colds and discomfort during use. It is best to place the indoor unit above the headboard so that the airflow from the air conditioner passes over the person.
Placing the outdoor unit on an unsupported surface, for example, a thin wall of a balcony or loggia. When operating in this position, the outdoor unit can create additional vibrations and noise for the entire structure. At the same time, you and your neighbors can experience discomfort from this.
For the best results from your investment, it’s important to install, connect, and use the air conditioner correctly and to clean it periodically. Otherwise, you experience problems when you install an air conditioner yourself.
