Learn more about Air Conditioning
Air conditioning installation may involve a significant investment, but it’s also one that can improve your daily comfort and productivity while adding measurable home value. Choosing the right AC unit for your home requires a thorough process that includes reviewing your heating, cooling and insulation needs as well as assessing any potential changes to your ductwork. This article will describe the complete AC installation process and how to avoid the common pitfalls that can jeopardize your new air conditioner’s performance.
In-Home Visit and Estimation
An in-home visit from an experienced estimator is an essential first step in the process of installing your new air conditioner. During this visit, important information will be collected and passed to the installation team. It’s also a great time to discuss any future maintenance plans you might want to include.
Prepare for AC install
Before the AC installation starts, you should be provided with a list of the members of your installation team. This will help you feel comfortable and prepared when they arrive at your home. Many companies will even send photos of the team along with their bios to add an additional level of safety and security.
During the prep phase, your installer will prepare your line set for refrigerant. They will remove the old air conditioner and disconnect all electrical wiring. They will then drill a hole into your home’s band board and push out the line set in a coil until they reach the disconnect box near your air conditioner. This is where they will connect your new air conditioner to the line set and drain lines.
The installation team will then mount the indoor air conditioning unit on a platform. They will make sure that it’s properly matched to your window or wall opening, cutting foam weather stripping to length and attaching it to the frame of the window, if necessary. The installation team will then connect the unit to its condenser and run an electrical line from the condenser to the house’s service panel, if needed.
Importance of providing correct BTU size for efficient cooling
It’s important that you provide your installer with the btu size of your existing air conditioner, which can be found on the model number label or underneath the grill of the indoor unit. This will ensure that your new air conditioner is the correct size to efficiently cool your home without overworking it and wasting energy.
Your installer will connect your new air conditioner to its line set and drain lines and test it for proper operation. They will also run the thermostat through its cycle and check to make sure it’s functioning correctly.
Thorough testing of new AC unit
After a visual inspection of the work completed, a final walk through will be conducted by the entire installation team. They will review warranty and maintenance information and answer any questions you might have about the operation of your new air conditioner. It is at this point that any progress payments or signatures will be collected as outlined in your contract.
The whole process can be lengthy, but it’s worth the time and effort when you choose a company that has a solid installation team with years of experience. Avoid companies that cut corners with installation and leave you with a system that isn’t up to your expectations.