What All Is Involved In An Air Conditioner Installation? | Dallas, TX
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The last thing that anyone wants to hear is that they need a new air conditioning unit, but if you have no other choice then you will have to shift your focus towards understanding air conditioner installation. In Dallas, TX, you have no option but to go with an HVAC company that can offer you a fast installation time, as going without AC is not a possibility. with the hot heat of the Dallas sun, it can actually be dangerous to not have AC in your home, especially if you don’t have great airflow from your windows or have elderly or young children in your home.
If you have already scheduled air conditioner installation then you may just be wondering what to expect. This is perfectly normal since most people don’t have to replace their AC unit more than once or twice in their lives if they are lucky. Outside of the high cost, the process is pretty straightforward if you allow a professional to handle the installation which is always the preferred choice. Your AC is an expensive piece of machinery, so you don’t want to leave it to just anyone to handle.
Can I Install My Own Air Conditioner?
A lot of people start to research air conditioner installation soon after they find they need an AC because they want to see if they can handle the installation on their own. However, we don’t recommend that any Dallas, TX homeowner attempt to install their own unit unless they happen to be an HVAC technician. Air conditioner installation is a very complex process, and the installation of your unit heavily influences its overall lifespan. An AC system that is installed correctly will last much longer than one that is not.
When you consider how much a new AC unit costs, you want to make sure that it makes it to the end of its lifespan, and if you have it serviced on a regular basis you may even make it a few extra years which no one will complain about. Keep in mind also that if you do not professionally have your AC unit installed you will probably void your warranty. With any luck, you won’t need to replace your new unit, but if something funny did go wrong you don’t want to find out that your warranty is void and you will have to buy a second unit within just a few months of the first one.
If you are really concerned about saving money, then the smartest thing you can do is hire a professional HVAC company in Dallas, TX to handle your installation. Taking proactive steps to ensure that your investment is protected is the best way that you can save money during the process. This includes remembering to book an annual service to keep your warranty valid and hiring a professional HVAC company to handle the task.
How Can I Prepare for Air Conditioner Installation?
There are not a lot of things that you need to do prior to air conditioner installation, but there are a couple of things that you can do if you want to help streamline the process. One thing you can do is make sure that your vehicles are not blocking the outdoor AC unit. A lot of units are located close to or next to the driveway, so if you are home you will need to move your car out of the way so that the unit is accessible to the HVAC technicians. It is also not a bad idea to make sure that all kids’ bikes, scooters, balls, etc are out of the way so that the technicians do not trip on them or need to move anything once they arrive.
Keep in mind that there is also an inside component to air conditioner installation, so you need to make sure that the HVAC technicians have clear access to the inside of your home as well. If you have a dog or cat, it is a good idea to take them to a friend’s home for the day or lock them in a safe room that will not have to be accessed by the techs. This helps keep everyone safe. Keep in mind that even if you have a friendly pet they may accidentally escape out the door while the technician is working which is a situation you want to avoid.
In addition, you will want to make sure that the HVAC technicians have room to work during the air conditioner installation. Usually, this means creating a four-foot pathway from the door down into the basement or first floor where your HVAC system is located. You will also want to create a four-foot radius around the actual HVAC unit so that they can work without being impeded by anything. This will also help protect your personal belongings so that they are not accidentally damaged.
Finally, keep in mind that the HVAC technician will need access to your thermostat and air vents at the end of the setup process when they are testing the new AC unit to make sure that it works right. Therefore, you should reasonably clean a pathway to the thermostat and lower air vents in your home. While most HVAC techs do not expect a sparkling clean entranceway, removing debris so they can work quickly makes the job more enjoyable for everyone involved including the Dallas, TX homeowner.
How Long Does Air Conditioner Installation Take?
While every situation is different depending on the size of your home, size of the unit, the delivery process, and unexpected issues, for the most part, most AC systems are installed within four to eight hours. Therefore, while you should plan for the process to take the entire day, it is very rare that the unit will not be installed by the end of the day. The only time this usually happens is if something is wrong with the unit and the manufacturer needs to be contacted for a replacement. Short of this, you should have access to your AC again by the end of the day.
What Should I Expect During Air Conditioner Installation?
Are you curious about what actually happens during air conditioner installation? The very first step process involves hauling away the old AC systems. Usually, this is included in the price of air conditioner installation and in some cases will even be done the day before the new unit arrives depending on whether the old unit is functional or not. If it is not longer working, sometimes the HVAC company will decide to haul it away before the installation to save some time. At any rate, this has to be done before any work can be done on the new unit that will help you cool your home down again.
Once the area is empty and ready to go, the condenser will be installed. The condenser is the outside part of the AC that is responsible for turning AC gas into liquid via cooling. It has to be out of the direct sun which is one reason that it is usually placed next to the side of the home. At the same time, you want to avoid unnecessary rust so it is never placed near a gutter. If you have an existing concrete slab from your old unit then it will be placed on that, otherwise, a new slab may be delivered along with the condenser.
After the condenser is in place, the wires will be run into your electrical circuit panel and then new pipes will be run to your furnace. While you may have wires and pipes in place, most companies prefer to run new lines so that your entire system is updated as part of the air conditioner installation. After all, you don’t want to pay for a brand new system and then rely on wiring that is decades old to power it.
The next step is evaporator coil installation. This is a very precise part of the air conditioner installation and is one reason why you want a professional to handle it. Both metal cutting and drilling will have to be completed before the coils are ready to be mounted on the top of the furnace. Along with the condenser installation, these are arguably the two aspects of the installation process that determine the lifespan of the unit.
Once the evaporator coils are in place, the HVAC techs will run two refrigerant lines that will connect the evaporator coils and the condenser unit. The lines are generally run along the top of the ceiling which means that an EPA contractor has to handle it. This is important if you intend to list your home in the future, as it is something that an inspector may note if it is done incorrectly.
Finally, the contractor will need to connect both the high voltage and low voltage lines. Since both involve electricity it is best to leave the air conditioner installation to an expert because you want to ensure that any electrocution or fire risk is eliminated. AC’s usually run on around 220 volts of electricity, which is quite a bit of power. Your AC unit will need to be connected to its own dedicated circuit within the electrical panel. The low voltage line on the other hand is used by the thermostat and while not as heavy as an energy consumer, still needs to be properly set up since the AC will not run if the thermostat is not properly measuring the temperature in your home.
Do I Need to Do Anything After Air Conditioner Installation?
At the end of the air conditioner installation, everything should be taken care of for you so that the only thing you need to worry about is sitting back and enjoying cold air in your Dallas, TX home once again. The HVAC technician who installs your AC unit should clean up any debris or dirt that was kicked up during the process and all components of your old system should be hauled away as part of the installation process. If you have not yet paid for the service in full, this will be expected at the end of your visit unless you have already set up alternative payment plans.
The one thing you will want to keep in mind after your installation is your annual service visits. Now that you know how expensive and time-consuming an air conditioner installation can be, your main goal should be keeping your current AC working as long as possible. As mentioned earlier, the number one way to extend the lifespan of your HVAC system is with an annual cleaning. This annual service call includes thorough cleaning and proactive service so that if any issues are noted, they can be corrected before they compound and shut your AC system down.
Most HVAC companies recommend an annual HVAC cleaning and the spring is a great time to schedule this service call. Of course, you can do it anytime that works for your schedule, so long as you remember to do it. We have customers that prefer the fall because the season is winding down so if anything needs to be done it won’t impact their AC use in the middle of summer.
If you are thinking about replacing your AC unit and need air conditioner installation in Dallas, TX, or just need an annual service call, we can help you with that. One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas is happy to help with all of your air conditioning needs. Give us a call today and we will find a spot in our schedule to make sure that you always have access to cool air in your home.