8 Common AC Installation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Looking to invest in a new air conditioner? Thinking of installing it on your own? If so, you’d better be careful: AC installation mistakes are quite common.
Wondering what such mistakes entail? Then you’re in the right place. Here are 10 common AC installation mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Choosing the Wrong Size AC
One of the most common mistakes that people make when installing an air conditioner in their home is choosing the wrong size air conditioner. Failure to choose the proper size can have fairly large consequences, leading to AC dysfunction and energy efficiency issues.
Whereas installing an AC unit that is too big for your home will result in short-cycling, installing an AC that is too small for your home will result in overwork. In both cases, the AC will take on unnecessary wear and tear, resulting in a premature demise.
In short, you need to get the size right. Find more information on the matter by clicking this link.
2. Implementing a Poor Drainage System
In the midst of an air conditioner’s operation, it creates a fairly substantial amount of moisture. If this moisture isn’t filtered away properly, it can damage everything in its proximity. This includes your house, leading to deteriorated drywall, backed-up pipes, mold growth, and musty smells.
Unfortunately, implementing a poor drainage system is one of the most common air conditioner mistakes in existence. As such, there are quite a few homes out there suffering from such water damage.
If you have any questions about how to install your drainage system, you’re highly advised to call up a professional. He or she will install the drainage system for you, ensuring that everything is in its right place for the foreseeable future.
3. Installing the Thermostat in the Wrong Area
If you’re like most people, you don’t realize that the location of your thermostat has an effect on the functionality of your HVAC system. But, you can rest assured: it absolutely does.
Unfortunately, improperly positioning the thermostat is one of the most common air conditioner installation mistakes in existence. As a result, many ACs end up working harder than they would otherwise.
The question is: where should you install your thermostat? Ideally, it will be in a spot far away from air vents and in a location where the sun rarely shines. The more regulated you can keep its temperature, the more accurate it will be, and the more precisely your AC will operate.
4. Improperly Sealing the Ductwork
Another AC installation mistake to look out for is improperly sealing the ductwork. In doing so, you can greatly affect the efficiency of your AC, letting forced air seep out of the cracks in the ducts as it’s passed through them.
In actuality, there shouldn’t be any cracks in your ductwork at all. Any and all cracks should be closed up with a permanent sealer (not tape, which is only a temporary solution).
If you need assistance in sealing up your ductwork, you should give a call to your local HVAC company. They’ll ensure that your ducts are snugly secured in their entirety.
5. Placing Your Condenser in the Wrong Area
Your AC’s condenser is vital to its overall operation. The less work it does, the more efficiently your AC will run. This will allow not only for optimal energy savings but for optimal AC lifespan as well.
How do you reduce strain on your AC condenser? Well, maintenance for one. But in addition to maintenance, you have to place the condenser in an appropriate area.
Simply put, the less sun it’s subjected to, the less hard it will have to work. So, when installing your condenser, make sure it has plenty of shade.
6. Choosing the Wrong Spots for Your Vents
The location of your vents is vital to the functionality of your AC. Place them in the wrong area, and your home will struggle to reap adequate airflow. Unfortunately, this is a mistake made by many.
How do you avoid it? By spreading vents out evenly throughout the home, and by putting them in places where they won’t easily be covered up by other objects.
7. Adding Too Much Refrigerant
You have your AC system set up. Now, all that’s left to do is to add a bit of refrigerant. Uh-oh; you added too much and now your system is malfunctioning.
Don’t let this happen to you! When adding refrigerant, you need to follow the guidelines closely. Adding too much refrigerant can ruin your entire air conditioning system, costing you substantial amounts of money in the process.
To be safe, you’re advised to just bring in a professional HVAC technician. Professionals are well-versed in these processes and will ensure that your system is set up in an optimal manner.
8. Not Providing the Condenser With Enough Clearance
In order for an AC to run optimally, its condenser needs to have at least 2 feet of clearance on each of its sides. If it doesn’t, it will struggle to intake air and will work much harder than it would otherwise. This will result in increased energy usage as well as undue wear and tear.
As such, when installing your AC condenser, you need to be mindful of the things that surround it. If at any point you hope to use that area for the storage of other items, you need to switch its location.
Want to Avoid AC Installation Mistakes at All Costs?
AC installation mistakes can cost you dearly. Want to avoid them at all costs? If so, we here at [company_name] are the people to see.
Located in Gainesville, Georgia, we’ve installed countless ACs over the years. Regardless of your AC installation needs, our team of dedicated HVAC specialists can accommodate you.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
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