When you are remodelling a house, you have inherited an old house, or you want to save some money, you can do a DIY air conditioner installation. The tips below explain how to complete the process, and you can get the work done on your own if you are careful to complete each step. You may not be an HVAC professional, but an air conditioning installation stays away from gas lines, oil lines, and other things that should not be touched.
Do You Have The Proper Duct Work?
You must ensure that all the ductwork around the original furnace is in place. If you are installing a new device, you must have the ductwork installed. When you are dealing with an existing furnace, you should ensure that all the ductwork is in good condition. You can replace or replace any exposed ductwork before continuing with the project, and you can go outside to start work on the condenser when this is done.
Start With The Outdoor Condenser
The outdoor condenser should be installed on flat ground. If you have a flat surface for a new condenser, you can install the condenser right away. If you are replacing an existing condenser, you must make sure it is not settled on uneven ground.
Turn off the circuit breaker inside the house to ensure that no electricity is flowing to the device. You can remove all wiring and hoses at this time. You should label the hoses and pipes to ensure they are installed in the right place when you bring in a new condenser.
If you are installing a new system, you can drill a tiny hole in the side of the house to feed the hoses and wires through.
Hook up the hoses and wires to the same locations on the new condenser. Ensure that the condenser is bolted to the flat surface that was chosen, and check the condenser cover to ensure that it is locked tight. If the condenser is not secured, it could be damaged or torn apart by a storm or heavy winds.
Check All The Hoses
All the hoses that attach to the condenser should be inspected as they go from the outdoor condenser to the interior furnace. If these hoses or pipes are damaged, they need to be replaced as soon as possible. You can replace hoses with a copper pipe if you want something that is more durable, and you can use copper pipes to create angles as the pipes through the house.
Check The Fittings On the Furnace
You should check the fittings on the furnace to ensure that the furnace is connected to the outdoor condenser. These fittings can be replaced or repaired at this time. You should also check the filter in the unit. You need new filters if you want the AC to be as effective as possible. You also need to check the blower inside the furnace.
Replace The Blower Fan If Needed
You may need to replace the blower fan in the furnace long before the rest of the furnace needs to be replaced. A blower fan is a singular unit that you can easily pull from the furnace. Turn off the circuit breaker, remove the casing for the blower fan, and remove all the wiring. You can install the fan in the same place, add the new wiring, and close the casing.
Reconnect The Power
You must reconnect the power to the furnace and AC to ensure that both units will communicate with one another. The front panel of your furnace has a small light that will flash if you have any issues. Refer to the owner’s manual if the light is flashing. You may need to turn off the power again to check the wires or condenser hoses. When these issues are resolved, the light will stop flashing.
Install The Thermostat
You can install the thermostat, ensure that it has batteries, and turn on the air conditioning. You should hear the click of the unit turning on, and you should hear the blower fan running. Hold your hand up to any vent to feel cold air passing through.
If you do not feel cold air, you must turn off the unit immediately. If you do not feel any air, you should turn off the unit, and you can complete your installation if you feel cold air.
Common problems when you initialize your unit include:
- Hot air that is caused by a kink in the condenser hoses or pipes.
- Hot air caused by a loss of power to the condenser.
- Hot air cause by a condenser coil that was not installed properly.
- Hot air caused by a lack of refrigerant in the condenser.
- A short or malfunction in the blower fan.
You can repair all these small issues at any time, but you must turn off the circuit breakers, check every part of the system, and start again. Because you have an understanding of how the system works, you can repair these problems when they occur during the year. You must, however, understand when it is time to replace things like the condenser or blower fan.
If something is wrong with your furnace, you may need to ask a professional technician to check the device because you do not have enough experience to open the panel, check the motherboard, or disconnect the furnace completely. You can share any information you have with the technician, and that insight will help them get their job done faster.
Do not hesitate to contact the air conditioner installation service if you realize you are stuck in the process. Any AC installer will have more experience than a homeowner and will be able to spot signs of damage that require professional intervention in time. This is important as it helps to avoid costly repairs to your air conditioner.
Even if you are on a budget, you can still hire an air conditioning contractor who has enough experience on the Fee4Bee website. The advantage of independent air conditioner technicians is that they can offer you affordable air conditioner installation costs without any loss of quality of work.
Conclusion
When you want to replace your air conditioner, you can use the tips above to make your home much more comfortable this summer. Ensure that your condenser is sitting on level ground, check all the hoses, and ensure that the power is turned off while you work. You can complete this project over a weekend, and you will save quite a lot of money on labor charges. You also learn enough about your air conditioning that you can repair it on your own when you need to.