When you’re looking to replace an old air conditioner or install an entirely new one, you may be curious about what goes into installing the system from beginning to end. You may be surprised to learn that there are a lot of steps involved, and the process itself isn’t easy! Here, we’ll list the general steps in order to let you know what to expect.
1. AC Home Estimation
Before any physical work can be done, a professional AC installer will first come to your house and estimate what size unit will work best for your home. Sizing is probably the most important step, though, because an AC system that is too small will work harder than it needs to and use more energy to cool a home, while one that is too big will cool a house too quickly, then have long periods of shut-off, which will actually not keep the house’s temperature consistent.
During this step, you will also get a first idea of the cost for your new AC unit and be given an estimate of how much time installation will take.
2. Initial Safety Checks
When installers arrive at your home on the first day of installation, they will speak to you about the areas they will be working in and give you a review of the work they will be doing so that you are informed of the process to come. They will also take a moment to clear the areas where they will work and lay down protective sheets on the floors along with tools and other small pieces of equipment.
After this, if you have an existing air conditioner to be replaced, the installation team will assess it and decide how to remove it safely. In accordance with EPA standards, refrigerant is not to be released into the air, so handling and disposing of the old refrigerant in your unit will be the first priority for both your safety and the environment. Once the refrigerant is removed, the old AC unit will be disconnected from electricity and be carried away for recycling.
3. Addition of the New Air Conditioner Condenser
Once your old outdoor air conditioner unit, the air conditioner condenser, a new one is ready to be installed. Depending on the age of your last air conditioner, a new concrete base may need to be poured. If you did not have an existing unit, you would also need a new base, and this may need to be set overnight to ensure it hardens and remains level for the air conditioner condenser to sit on.
Once the concrete base is set, the new AC unit will be rolled in. It will be placed on the base and checked for any damage that could have occurred in transit to your home. Next, new copper refrigerant lines will be installed and connected to the unit with brazing, a form of welding. When this line is brazed in, it ensures that no refrigerant leaks will occur in the future, giving you one less repair to worry about.
4. Installation of Evaporator Coil and Filter Dryer
The evaporator coil, the indoor control unit of your AC system, will now be installed inside your home, likely in an encased, insulated small cabinet. If you had an AC system previously installed, this would just replace your old evaporator coil box, and if not, then it will likely be placed near your home’s furnace system access point.
After that comes the installation of the filter dryer system, which will both dry excess moisture and filter the liquid in your AC’s refrigerant system. This will likely be installed just by the entrance of your AC to home copper cords, shielding it from the weather. It will be sealed through brazing, too, to prevent any refrigerant leaks.
5. Addition of New Wiring and a Drain Line
Last will come the electrical and drainage part of the installation. Your new AC system will also come with new high and low voltage wiring, connecting it to your home’s breaker system and safely regulating its electric usage. After that, a plastic pipe will be installed on the side of your house, right next to the outdoor AC condenser, to ensure the moisture your AC unit removes from your home during cooling can escape, creating a less humid environment inside.
If you’re ready to have a new AC unit installed in your San Antonio home, give us a call at Rosenberg Plumbing & Air, and we’ll get this process started for you. We also offer heating and cooling repair, installation, and maintenance plus ductless, heat pumps, ductwork, air quality inspections and sanitizers, dehumidifiers, and commercial services.
Tags: AC Education, AC Installation Guide