Important Pointers for Installing Residential Air Conditioning
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As the heat of the summer beats down upon your home, you’re likely dreaming of the perfect, cool space to relax. If you don’t have an air conditioning unit or you need a new one installed, there’s no better season to bring one into your abode. However, there are some important factors that you should consider before installing domestic air conditioning in your house.
1. What is domestic air conditioning?
Air conditioning aka AC or A/C refers to the usage of a device to remove heat and moisture from a room in order to give comfort to the occupants. Domestic air conditioning systems are of several types — ranging from central air conditioning systems through outdoor compressors to small plug-in units that you can place on the floor or mount in a window.
2. How does home air conditioning work?
Whether central air conditioners, split systems, or wall-mounted ones, AC systems have similar working components. They have a refrigerant, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a condenser coil. All these components work together to transfer heat and moisture from the inside of your home to the outside.
So basically, all types of air conditioners use energy to take away the heat from any space.
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3. Do you need planning permission for air conditioning?
Generally speaking, you don’t require planning permission before installing domestic air conditioning units. So, you needn’t apply for one. However, you may need planning permission if you’re thinking of installing large or noisy units. As long as you install air conditioning systems under permitted development rights, you’re good to go.
4. What are the popular types of domestic air conditioning systems?
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There are many types of air conditioners. These are:
Window air conditioner (Cost: $550–$3,000)
This compact unit is installed in a window and is a perfect choice for cooling just one room. It functions by pushing the warm air out of a room and blowing cool air into it. The cooling takes place at the front while the absorbed heat is released through the outdoor part of the unit.
Through-the-wall air conditioner (Cost: $300–$1,500)
A through-the-wall air conditioner is installed flush with a wall for a streamlined appearance. It has higher cooling capacities than a window AC.
Portable air conditioners (Cost: $345–$700)
A portable indoor air conditioner cools air and then directs it back into the room. It then vents any warm air outside through an exhaust hose installed in a window. It needs no installation.
Ductless, mini-split air conditioner (Cost: $1,300–$4,500)
These split systems work quietly and have high energy efficiency. They also look neat, are flexible, and provide both heating and cooling. Typically, they have an outdoor compressor or condenser and an indoor handling unit — connected through an insulated conduit.
Central air conditioning (Cost: $660–$4,000)
Central air conditioning is perfect for larger homes. It circulates cool air through supply and return ducts. Once the air becomes warm, it then circulates it back to the air conditioner through these ducts.
Heat pumps (Cost: $500–$8,000)
A heat pump works by pulling heat from the outside air or ground to warm your home or pulling heat out of your house to cool it.
5. What kind of ductwork do you need for an AC?
If the ductwork in your house is not installed to carry cool air throughout the structure, you may need to address this before bringing in an air conditioner. Note that the duct seams and joints have to be properly sealed. Any licensed professional can review your current ducting and advise you on a plan moving forward.
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6. What size of air conditioning should you go for?
Quite obviously, the square footage of your house will be a determining factor when choosing an air conditioner for your living space. An air conditioning contractor will be able to determine which models and equipment size will work best for your home.
You can consult the Manual J software by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) to calculate residential load and ensure that the air conditioner is up to your local building codes.
Air Conditioning Units are rated in BTUs or British Thermal Units. The term BTU refers to the amount of heat that an air conditioning unit can remove from a designated amount of square footage.
7. What is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)?
It’s essential to understand the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio before purchasing an air conditioning unit. The ratio is based on how much cooling the system puts out for each unit of energy it consumes. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the equipment.
After January 2006, the government mandated that new air conditioning units must have a ratio of at least 13. It’s possible to find models with a rating as high as 23.
8. Where should you place your condenser?
Before you have an air conditioning unit installed, you need to find a shady area for the condenser. Condensers placed in overly lit areas can overheat, inducing costly damage in the process. Additionally, it needs to be in a location where its airflow will not be blocked. This will ensure maximum efficiency whenever it’s in use.
9. What is the cost to install an air conditioner?
The average cost of installing air conditioning ranges between $3,300 and $6,000.
The total cost varies depending on the size and type of AC or HVAC unit you choose.
If you require additional ductwork or an inspection by an HVAC contractor, the AC installation rates will go higher. Keep in mind that getting a new ductwork installation will cost you up to $9,000 while repairing your existing ductwork will add about $1,000 to $3,000 to the total cost.
10. Should you hire a professional for the project?
Hiring a professional to install your air conditioning system can be costly. However, it’s a price worth paying for the sake of comfort and a hassle-free installation. You should be prepared to spend an average of $5,000. Some homeowners pay more, depending on the amount of space that needs to be kept cool.
One helpful tip that has saved consumers money is only cooling areas that are thoroughly trafficked. If you live in a temperate climate, you can opt for a portable air conditioner that’s highly efficient and also cost-effective.
Planning to install an air conditioning system? Get a free estimate through our air conditioning installation cost estimator
Read more: How to deal with a difficult contractor
Add-ons
You have the option of equipping your domestic air conditioning unit with add-ons to do more for you. For example, you may want to upgrade your indoor unit with a heat pump, which allows it to work as an air conditioner as well as a heater.
Before you have your system installed, think about add-ons that you may want to purchase. This way, you can ensure that everything is in place at the same time.
Installing a new air conditioning unit can not only provide more comfort indoors but also add value to your home. By doing your research and considering these important factors, you can make a wise investment in your home and improve your comfort level during the sweltering summer months.
READ MORE: What’s the Best Time of Year to Replace Your HVAC System?
Written by Krystle Vermes. August 10, 2015
Krystle Vermes is a professional writer, podcaster, and creator of GetSpooked.net with a background in both online and print journalism. She graduated from Suffolk University with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism.
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I’m glad this article explains how it’s important to find a shady area for the condenser and to figure out what size you need to keep your house cool. If you have the proper size of air conditioner, it would probably help it work well for your home as well as help it run efficiently and last longer and ensures you have somewhere to install it. When you’re choosing your type of air conditioner, you’d probably want to either make sure your installation company knows the type of system or choose a company that has experience with it.
My parents are thinking about remodeling their home and upgrading their HVAC system. They’re hoping to make their home more energy efficient. I like your tip about making sure to place your condenser unit in a more shady area. I didn’t know that costly damages can occur if they’re exposed to bright and hot areas. I would also assume that you’d want to have a high-quality AC pad made from concrete. I’ll let my parents know about this.
You make a good point that you should make sure to get an outline about what work will be done to your air conditioning unit and how much it will cost. I would think that this would be especially important for commercial companies because they need to keep track of their finances even more than residential people. They’d just need to find someone who deals with commercial air conditioning who’ll be able to give them an estimate and repair the system.
Hey guys. I randomly found this article on the internet and figured I’d give my two cents. There is definitely some good information in here. I would ad that when picking a good AC Contractor make sure you check their online reviews! It is hard for contractors to hide from bad online reviews. Great info!
Thanks for the suggestion about the AC unit placement. I am looking to get an AC installed and I found the perfect place behind my house and under my deck. Now I need installation services.
Good Krystle,
Love this one for ac installation,Because when summer is on its top Air conditioner will have to do a lot of work and during this period due to lot of working sometimes it stop working and when we hire any ac repair expert he ask us sky touching price.Your this article will help us for finding the best work output and also air conditioner repair expert will also know that we also have some knowledge about it so he will not ask for extra more money
I do like it when you said that an AC condenser must always be placed in areas that are shady because putting them in overly lit places can cause them to overheat. If so, then I will have to note this down for when we get the AC unit replaced. After all, the overheating of the condenser seems to be the primary reason why we need to get it replaced. Thank you.
Thank your for mentioning needing to find a shady area to install the unit. I didn’t realize that it could affect the efficiency of it or that it could damage it over time. I’ll be looking for a good place to install our new unit and maybe cultivate some shade for it.
I like how you pointed out that the square footage of your house will be a determining factor when choosing an air conditioner for your living space. My sister-in-law and her husband are in need of a new air conditioner for the summer. I think it would be really helpful if they contacted a professional to help them figure out which unit to pick and get it installed correctly.
Thanks for pointing out that it is important to check the ductwork before getting a unit installed because it should be able to carry cool air throughout the property properly. I will keep this in mind before having a unit installed on our property. We just bought an old commercial property that has no AC unit as of now because the previous owner took it with them. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for these tips for installing a HVAC system. It’s good to know that ductwork in your home needs to be reviewed and inspected first to make sure the unit will work effectively. It sounds like you should schedule this well before the installation so you can make any necessary changed to the ductwork before then.
I’m glad that you elaborated on the different things you should consider when having an AC unit installed. In my opinion, one of the most important things to look for is a shady spot for your unit; it can really lengthen the life of your unit. My mom has been looking into getting a new unit installed on her home. I will be sure to share these tips with her.
I appreciate your advice to find a shady area for the condenser. We need to get our air conditioning replaced and we have been thinking about a few places the condenser can go. We never considered that it would need to be in a more shady area. We’ll make sure that we find the best place for it that we can manage.
I was very pleased to find this web-site. I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post
I’m sure the size of your house will be the biggest factor in determining which type of air conditioner you will want to get. You want to make sure you get one that is big enough for the square footage of your house, like you said. I’ll have to hire someone to come assess this for me.
I’m glad you pointed out that we should have a shady location picked out for the condenser before we have a new AC unit installed. My husband and I need to have a new AC installed, so I’ve been doing some research about preparations to take and how to find a quality contractor. I didn’t realize the condenser needed to be in a shady place, so thanks for letting me know!
Thank for sharing these valuable tips.A re are right, these must implement when planning for new air conditioner unit.
Nice post. These tips for introducing an AC system. It’s great to realize that ventilation work in your home should be evaluated and assessed first to ensure the unit will work viably.
Thanks
Thank you for explaining how important the placement is. I never thought about how it might not work as efficiently if it was in direct sunlight. It’s definitely something that we’ll be thinking about before the technician comes to install the unit.
Thanks for pointing out that before you have an air conditioning unit installed, you need to find a shady area for the condenser. My husband and I are thinking about having a new air conditioning system installed because our old one doesn’t work very well anymore. I think that making sure we have the right spot to install the condenser would help make sure that our new one would work better and that the installation process can go smoothly.
Thanks for explaining that a licensed professional can help us determine if our duct work is in good enough shape for a new AC unit. My husband and I recently bought an old fixer-upper home that needs a lot of work before it’s livable, including a new air conditioning system. I’m glad I read your article because I didn’t previously realize the importance of having the air ducts evaluated and updated as well!
Thank you for explaining what to consider when getting an air conditioner unit installed. We are needing to get our AC installed soon. We will make sure to keep this information in mind.
My dad has an HVAC system that is really old and starting to make some whiney noises. It could be really helpful for him to be able to get a professional to install a new one for him. Thanks for the tip on how the square footage will be able to help you choose the AC unit size for the home.
Thank You for sharing the factors Consider Before Domestic Air Conditioning Installation
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I am quite certain I’ll learn plenty of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
Thanks for these tips for installing an HVAC system. It’s good to know that ductwork in your home needs to be reviewed and inspected first to make sure the unit will work effectively. My home is needing to get a new heating system and I am very worried about the process as I want it to go well. It is nice to know that an HVAC contractor will help guide me through the process.
I like how you said that it’s worth paying a professional to do the job for a hassle-free installation and that you should factor in the square footage of your home when choosing a unit. My husband and I are needing to find an air conditioning installation service this month to keep our home cool and nice in the day. I’ll have to use these tips to help us find a good air conditioning unit and professional service.
My aunt has been thinking about how it is really warm in her home and her AC unit isn’t doing much to cool down her home. It could be really useful for her to get a new unit installed by a professional. I liked what you said about the condenser will be more efficient when the airflow is not blocked.
You made a good point that I should make sure that my condenser is in shady spot to avoid overheating. The heat of this summer made me realized that it is very much worthwhile to regulate the temperature in my home for my own convenience and well-being. I’ve been having a moments of dizziness lately even if I make sure to keep myself hydrated.