Purchasing a new air conditioning system for your home can be quite exciting. However, you likely have many questions about its installation. Below, we’ll discuss the common steps that happen during professional air conditioner installation so you can have a better understanding of the entire process and what to expect.

Initial Consultation

When you first decide that it's time to upgrade the air conditioner in your home, one of our technicians will come and do an assessment. They'll listen to your needs and help you decide the appropriate type of air conditioning system that fits within your budget. During this consultation, they’ll assess the layout of your home and other factors like your door and window placement to determine the appropriate cooling capacity for your new air conditioner. Once a quote is given and you accept it, we'll order your new appliance and schedule an installation day that works best for you.

Walk-Through and Old Unit Removal

When our technicians first arrive at your home, they'll do an initial walkthrough to confirm the installation location and understand the access points. They'll make a plan for directly removing the old unit and taking it outside to our vehicle for disposal. The whole process will start with the removal of your old unit. All the power will be shut off, and the refrigerant will be safely removed from the system. We’ll need to remove the old indoor unit, which could be a standalone air handler or an evaporator coil positioned above or below your furnace, depending on your current setup. In some cases, the old indoor air handler unit may need to be dismantled into smaller pieces to get it out of your home. We'll also remove the outdoor condensing unit (commonly called the condenser) located outside your home. We recommend replacing old refrigerant lines during installation. Using new lines ensures proper sizing, refrigerant compatibility, and helps prevent contamination that could harm your new system. Mixing refrigerant lines for systems using old refrigerants can actually damage your new unit.

Old Wiring Removal

It's common practice to remove any old wiring running into your existing air conditioning system and update it with new wiring. During this step, the circuit breaker will be shut off to your HVAC system. If your existing disconnect box isn’t up to current code or compatible with your new system, we’ll install a new one. Most manufacturers require proper electrical disconnects to meet warranty standards. It's very typical for HVAC system manufacturers to require a separate disconnect box on top of the initial circuit breaker as part of their installation procedure to maintain the warranty coverage on your new air conditioner.

Installing New System

The outdoor condenser unit must sit level and in an area of your lawn that doesn’t flood. Our technicians will work to repair any old AC pad you have to ensure that it's completely level and solid so it can hold your new condenser unit with ease. During this step, we will measure airflow and verify that the blower operates at the correct speed to ensure your system is cooling efficiently. We’ll install your new indoor air handler unit and safely connect it to your new wiring. We’ll run new refrigerant lines and secure them to both your indoor air handler unit and the outdoor condenser unit. Additionally, we'll install a new condensate pipe so all the condensation your air conditioner produces gets directly drained to your floor drain or the outside of your home, depending on your individual setup. We recommend having a new thermostat installed when you upgrade your AC system. This will work to ensure you get updated technology, and the new thermostat will have a similar life span to that of your new air conditioner. Getting a smart programmable thermostat can be a great way to ensure energy-efficient system operation and give you more control over your thermostat’s settings. Once the indoor air handler unit, refrigerant lines, and outdoor condenser unit are installed, we’ll adjust the refrigerant charge if needed, based on the length of the refrigerant lines and system specifications.

New System Commissioning Process

Our technicians will perform a commissioning procedure to ensure your new system is operating efficiently and as part of the manufacturer's necessary installation process. This is where they start up your system and check for proper voltage and system operation. They’ll measure the refrigerant levels and make any adjustments as necessary. They’ll check the airflow across your coils to verify blower speed is correct and calibrate your new thermostat to ensure it's reading the correct indoor temperature. Our technicians will ensure the condensate drain line is working properly and test all the safety switches on your new unit to verify they're working appropriately. This whole process will usually take about 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

Cleanup and Final Walkthrough

After commissioning your new system, our technicians will clean up all their tools and any protective liners they used. They'll do a final walkthrough with you and run through the system's operation, show you where the filter is, and provide you with warranty information. This is where you can ask any questions about the system, and we'll answer them for your convenience.

Preparing Your Home for Installation Day

Most standard AC installations are completed in one day. If ductwork modifications or other updates are needed, it may take longer. There are multiple things you can do to adequately prepare your home for it. One of the first things you want to do is clear out the space around your indoor air handler unit, thermostat, and outdoor condenser unit. The process goes much smoother when our technicians are able to easily access these locations. Also, keep in mind we’ll need a direct route from your indoor air handler unit to the outside of your home and from your outdoor condenser unit to your driveway or street. Take note to clear out these pathways for easy access in and out. It's best to have someone at your home during the entire installation process to answer any questions the technicians may have and to do a final walk-through with the new unit. If you have pets, be sure to have a safe location for them to be in throughout the installation day, away from where the technicians are working for their safety. Don't forget about clearing space around all your indoor vents. Our technicians will need to walk around your home and ensure every vent is working correctly. Be sure to have a space available so that we can maneuver our vehicle into a safe location. This will not only allow our technicians access to the vehicle to get appropriate equipment, but also for loading and unloading your units. Additionally, verify that the circuit breaker for your HVAC unit is properly labeled.

Expert AC Installation Service

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® provides expert AC installation service to the Ramsey, MN area. We can also help with all your air conditioner replacement, repair, and maintenance needs. Regarding maintenance, we offer a valuable plan with many benefits that will help you keep track of your annual tune-ups. As we say, Always On Time...Or You Don't Pay A Dime!® Call us today to schedule your next service consultation.