Installation of a Central Air Conditioning System
If you’re thinking of investing in a centralized air conditioning system for your home, you likely have many questions. One of the most important ones is how the unit will be installed in your house. By having a general understanding of the entire installation process, you can better decide whether you want to call in a professional or try to do it yourself.
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Understanding the Components
Before we can discuss the actual process of installing a centralized air conditioning system, it’s important for you to understand the various components of the unit that you choose. There are three main types of AC units that can be installed in your home. These include split system units, packaged units, and ductless mini-split units.
Split Systems
Split systems are the most popular type of home air conditioning system that people have. With this type of system, you’ll have two separate units. The first unit is installed in your basement or in a closet if you don’t have a basement. The second unit is installed outside of your house, and it’s connected to the indoor unit via copper piping.
Packaged Systems
Packaged air conditioning systems are best utilized for properties that don’t have enough indoor space to house part of the air conditioning system. With packaged systems, there’s only one air conditioning unit, and it’s placed outside. The unit is typically placed on either the ground level or on the roof.
Both packaged systems and split systems utilize ductwork that runs throughout your home. Ductwork is comprised of large metal piping that directs air throughout the various rooms of your residence. You can locate the ductwork by looking for the vents that are present in each room.
Ductless Mini-Split Systems
Unlike split systems and packaged air conditioning systems, ductless mini-split systems don’t require existing ductwork to be present in the house. However, this setup does require that a wall-mounted unit be placed in each room of your home to adequately cool your entire property. These units allow you to set individual temperatures for each unit instead of setting one main temperature on your thermostat.
A Note on Ductwork
When you’re having a new split system or packaged air conditioning system installed in your home, you’re going to need ductwork. If your house already has existing ductwork for a furnace, it’s very likely that you can use that for your new AC unit as well.
If your residence doesn’t already have ductwork running throughout it, this can be a big expenditure. While your HVAC contractor may be able to be strategic about hiding some ductwork in closets, it’s highly likely that they’ll have to cut into your walls to install a large portion of the ductwork. You can avoid this by opting for a ductless mini-split unit over the traditional split system or packaged system unit.
Placement Is Everything
One extremely important part of the installation process is choosing the right location for your air conditioner’s components. If you’re installing a traditional split system, you’ll simply have the indoor unit put in your basement or a closet in your laundry room. The key for placement of the indoor unit is simply putting it as close to where the ductwork is as possible.
When it comes to the outdoor unit, you’ll need to be very selective with where you place it. You’ll want to avoid placing it near any windows, as the sound of it running can create a constant buzzing noise. The location of the outdoor condenser unit needs to be completely flat for it to work properly.
Upgrading Versus New Construction
If you already have a central air conditioning unit installed in your home and are just upgrading it, the process will be much smoother. Your cooling professional will simply remove the old equipment and replace it with your new unit. They may need to reposition the concrete slab that your outdoor unit sits on to accommodate the new system’s size.
If you’ve never had a centralized air conditioning unit installed in your home before, the process is going to take longer. Your cooling professional will have to drill holes through your foundation to allow copper tubing to be positioned to connect your indoor and outdoor air conditioning units. It will also be necessary to run electrical wiring to the thermostat, indoor unit, and outdoor condenser unit.
Unrivaled AC Installation
Guaranteed Comfort Heating & Cooling provides quality air conditioning system installation throughout the Windsor area. We also offer heating, plumbing, and indoor air quality services. Give us a call today to get the assistance that you need.