You have decided that you want to air condition your home, but are uncertain if it is a job you want to tackle or one that is best left to a professional. Make sure that you check the warranty that came with the air conditioner because if the air conditioner is self-installed the warranty may be invalid. In most jurisdictions, the only person who is allowed to install the refrigerant in the air conditioner is a licensed air conditioner professional, known as an AC contractor.
It is important to know that AC installation is not a job for a weekend handyman. Installing an air conditioner is a lot of work along with needing to have some acquired skills working with ductwork, carpentry, copper pipes, and plumbing. Before you even purchase your air conditioner you will need to know the total area of your home that is to be cooled where you are going to put both parts of your air conditioner, and what size unit you will need in order to cool the area that you want cooled. You should also find an online air conditioner capacity calculator to help you determine what is needed for a specific AC installation.
Some of the tools you will need include a vacuum pump, hose set, pipe cutter, and a refrigerant manifold gauge. You will also need a solid stable pad on which you will position the outside unit. This pad is made from concrete, wood that is weather-resistant or any other composite material that will be suitable for long-term use outdoors. It should also be placed away from the exterior wall so the vibration will not be transmitted back into your home and give you easy access for maintenance.
You will also need to select a central location for the air conditioning unit that comes inside. The best location will allow for air distribution throughout your home. It will also provide easy access to the external wall where the drainage pipe, electrical wiring, and copper pies to the unit outside are installed. You have to make sure that close attention is pay to where the drainage pipe is installed because it needs to drain where the water will not pool. If you have little or no experience bending and flaring cooper pipes you will have to learn how to do this before the pipe can be installed or cut.
As you can see, AC installation requires experience and many different tools that a homeowner handyman would not generally have in their toolbox or have experience with so you should hire an AC contractor install the AC.
