Split System Air Conditioner Installation
In today’s modern homes, a decent air conditioning system is a must if we are to maintain a comfortable living condition for our family. Not only do air conditioning systems maintain the necessary temperature needed in days when the temperature gets too high and unbearable, an effective air conditioning system keeps our family safe from sickness and diseases that may arise from the hot temperature.
Needless to say, the job of an air conditioner system is to remove heat from inside the house and transfer it outside. An air conditioning system is composed of several tubes that are cooled by a liquid refrigerant. Air is then gusted into these tubes transforming the refrigerant from liquid to gas.
The main task of this gas refrigerant is to absorb the heat from the area where it is blown. Another tube from the air conditioning system is utilized to absorb this refrigerant from the air and transform it back to liquid. The liquid will then be disposed outside the room from the back of the air conditioning system.
Different air conditioning installation style
Depending on your home or office needs, there are different types of air conditioners according to functionality. We will focus on one of the most famous type of air conditioner: the split air conditioner and later discuss about split system air conditioner installation.
A split air conditioner has 2 component units, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator, the cooling tubes as well as the fan that blows the refrigerant into the room. The outdoor unit on the other hand contains the expansion regulator, condenser and the compressor.
Unlike window air conditioners, split system air conditioners do not require you to make a hole on your wall. It is good for people who consider aesthetic appeal and avoid clutter in their houses. It also does not take a lot of space compared with window air conditioners. In addition, a split air conditioner can cool up to two rooms.
Split system air conditioner installation is the most critical aspect of this air conditioning unit. If installation is done incorrectly, the air conditioner might experience some maintenance and mechanical problems. Moreover, the air may not be as cool as it is supposed to be due to leaks in the refrigerant.
Because of this tedious and painstaking work, split system air conditioner installation should not be done by a beginner but by an expert AC technician. It requires a lot of experience for one to correctly install this type of air conditioner. Let us enumerate some factors one needs to consider in wall mounted split system air conditioner installation:
- Place of installation of both indoor and outdoor units
Air Conditioner Installation for Indoor Unit
The initial step that one needs to do in split system air conditioner installation is consider the location of the indoor and outdoor units. For the indoor unit, it should be placed in a location where the air can be gusted throughout the entire room.
Furthermore, if you are installing the air conditioner inside your bedroom, the AC should be mounted on top and directly above the bed. Other possible places are the wall in the direction of your feet from the bed as well as the other side of the wall.
Bear in mind that split system air conditioner installation of the indoor unit requires mounting the unit in about eight to ten feet from the floor. This will ensure that the cold air is spread evenly throughout the room and that the cold air is utilized by the room and not only the hot ceiling where the AC is installed.
In addition to the height, keep in mind that the AC should still be within reach for convenient cleaning and changing of the panes and the air conditioner louvers.
Lastly, if you are to install the air conditioner on top of a window, ensure that it is proportioned and symmetrical with the window. You wouldn’t want to ruin the aesthetics of your room.
Air Conditioner Installation for Outdoor Unit
Outdoor unit split system air conditioner installation should be done in a location where there is flowing air. As previously discussed, the outdoor unit houses the regulators, condensers and compressors. These parts need ventilation and perhaps the best place to mount the outdoor unit is on a terrace. If unavailable, you will need to mount it on a shaded location preferably above the wall or you may also choose to hang it on a canopied and supported external wall.
Similar with the internal unit, the external unit should also be accessible for maintenance purposes to lengthen the service life of the unit. Regular maintenance checks should also be performed to ensure that the parts are working well. The wall where the external unit is mounted should not be hindered by other walls or structures. Hindrance of such sorts will damage the outdoor unit and may even cause burning of the compressor.
In addition, the outdoor unit should be placed on a firm surface to avoid damage from the unit’s own vibration. Failure to do so may lead to noises coming from the outdoor unit and spillage of the refrigerant when the copper tubing breaks out.
The height of the outdoor unit should match that of the indoor unit. Not doing so may lead to poor performance of the air conditioner. For example, if the outdoor unit is placed at a lower level, then compressor power will be used up in trying to push the refrigerant against the pull of gravity to the indoor unit, thus leading to poor performance of the air conditioning unit. Outdoor units are generally silent so you need not worry about noise disturbances coming from the outside unit.
Lastly, the distance between the indoor and outdoor units should always be kept at a minimum. The low temperature of the refrigerant reacting to the atmosphere generally leads to some refrigerant loss and consequently reduces the cooling effect of the air conditioner. The distance between the two units should not be more than 15 meters.
