Air conditioner is a device that is designed to create comfortable living conditions in the house. For its work, it uses a very harmful liquid called refrigerant. If the air conditioner installation rules are not followed during installation and operation of the device, it may cause freon leakage, short circuit or even fire.
Therefore, before installing, it is recommended to consult with experts. Nevertheless, for experienced home craftsmen, there are several recommendations that will help you do the installation yourself, which will save on the cost of installing an air conditioner from 18,000 to 30,000 rubles on paying a professional.
Principles of good editing
In order to ensure the correct functioning of the air conditioner, it is necessary to select a model adapted to the structure of the house, area, number of rooms, etc. before installing it. Air conditioning selection criteria:
- Power to be learned according to the cooling surfaceor room volume.
- The sound level of a device that can be more or less noisy.
- The design of the air conditioner is an important selection criterion.
- Imperative for split systems working for cooling and heating.
- It is necessary to correctly determine the heat balance of the house to ensure high-quality heating and the selection of the most suitable air conditioning system.
- The design features of the building, their careful study is mandatory before the installation and installation of air conditioners.
For an ideal location, the outdoor and indoor units of the machine should be installed as close to each other as possible so that you do not need to buy an additional connecting pipe. Energetically, the smaller the distance between these two units, the less heat loss.
Installation and installation of air conditioners should ensure its best performance.
- The outdoor unit is best fixed at zero.
- A noisy unit mounted on a wall can cause unpleasant vibrations.
- Avoid direct exposure to air, which may affect the effectiveness of air conditioning.
- If necessary, install an outdoor unit that protects from the sun, rain and drafts, but it is better to take advantage of the site where it will be cheaper to install an air conditioner.
- Place the indoor unit in an open area to ensure the best air exchange.
- To preserve the he alth of residents, the air supply should not be directly directed topeople.
- Follow the rules for installing the indoor unit of the air conditioner, as well as the recommendations of the manufacturer and supplier regarding the distance around the indoor unit. In any case, keep it away from heat sources, heaters or windows.
Influence of the external structure of the house
If the user lives in an apartment with a small balcony or has a common wall with other owners, the installation site is chosen so as not to violate the rights of neighbors. Air conditioner installation regulations require that noise protection conditions be met and if the system is installed a few meters from a neighbor's windows or doors, the user should test it for sound pollution in order to comply with local protection regulations. Neighbor approval is likely to be required before installing the unit.
As a detached home owner, remember that installing an air conditioner should not reduce the fire resistance of any wall or affect the structural integrity of the home. There are many other factors that can affect the installation of a new air conditioning system and set limits, you need to know them before installing air conditioning in an apartment.
Ideally, the outdoor unit should be installed where there is plenty of free space on both sides to allow airflow and service access. If a split system or multi-outlet system is selected, the outdoor unit must be installed on a solid base - attached to a wall or to a concrete slab.
Outdoor unit location
It depends on various factors. It is worth installing the unit so that the distance from the indoor unit is as short as possible. The bracket for the outdoor unit of the air conditioner has an L-type supporting structure attached to the outer wall of the building. And you can also place the unit on the supporting structure of the roof of a building or on a concrete screed, on the ground.
In the case of heat pump air conditioners, the outdoor unit should be installed about 30 to 50 cm above the ground to allow drainage and condensate to collect during the defrosting of the outdoor unit. In addition, outdoor units should be installed in well-ventilated areas. Where possible, the device should be easily accessible for business purposes. It is not recommended to mount the unit near windows and building entrances.
Equipment and supplies
For independent work, the user must be properly equipped. Some spare parts are supplied with the kit upon purchase, but then you will have to purchase the necessary tools, equipment and non-standard equipment yourself. The rules for installing an air conditioner require that only certified materials be used during installation.
Materials supplied with air conditioning kit:
- Air conditioner with refrigeration connections between two units, typically 10m.pipe of the desired length. Experts advise avoiding the use of connected hoses in several pieces, which increase the risk of leaks.
- Condensate drain pipe, the length of which is usually up to 30 m. When installed, it must have a minimum slope of 1 cm, if this is not possible, then a mini-pump will definitely be needed.
- Screws and anchors not supplied with air conditioner. Before installing an air conditioner at home, they are selected in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Electrical cables for connection to the protection system in the form of circuit breakers.
- Finishing materials: mortar, paint to hide the holes left during installation.
- Pipe insulation materials to ensure optimal and energy-saving performance.
- Tools required for installation.
Installation of SPLIT systems
In the air conditioning industry, one of the most commonly used types are split air conditioners. These systems consist of two separate parts, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, which are connected to each other with copper piping to form a closed circuit. Currently, most manufacturers offer split air conditioners that can operate in cooling or heating mode. The heating process is carried out by the heat pump by changing the cycle. To ensure the design mode of operation, it is necessary to follow the rules for installing the outdoor unit of the air conditioner and choose the rightpower.
Assembly of split air conditioners.
- Choose the right place to install the indoor and outdoor units. When choosing a location, you need to ensure an even distribution of air in the room and ease of use of the system. Excessive drafts should not be allowed in the area where people are permanently located.
- When installing the indoor unit, consider accessing the unit to clean the filters and disinfect the evaporator.
- After selecting the correct installation location, the indoor unit is assembled first.
- It is mounted on the frame, marking the center of the position, aligning and fixing the structure.
- Then a 65 mm hole is made in the wall so that it is covered by the indoor unit, through which the installation of pipes, electrical and condensate drainage will be carried out.
- The hole is made with a slight slope from the outside.
- It is recommended to install a protective sleeve in the hole, and on the side of the outer wall - a socket that closes it and increases the aesthetics of installation.
- Drainage of condensate from the indoor unit should always be done in a natural way, if possible, with a pipe slope of approximately 3%. A solution with a condensate pump should only be considered as a last resort. The pump is a mechanical part that serves to discharge condensate and increase the reliability of the air conditioning system.
- After installing the condensate drain system, it is necessary to check its patency by pumping about 2 liters of water through the drain into the drip tray.
- If air conditioningoperates year-round, a heating cable must be installed in the drainage pipe. Before hanging the indoor unit on a stand installed on the wall, it is necessary to connect a cooling unit to it.
- The connection must be a screw connection, so special care must be taken to ensure that the refrigeration system is strong and tight.
- On the outer surface of the socket, when tightening the screw connections, use a paste that prevents the nuts from self-twisting.
- It is necessary to insulate the piping connections on the indoor unit to prevent moisture condensation on the outer surface of the pipes and streaks on the wall below the indoor unit.
- Install the outdoor unit on an L-type support structure.
- The unit must be installed at a safe distance from the wall to allow free airflow through the condenser for maintenance and cleaning.
Leak test
After following the rules for installing air conditioners on the facade of the building, you need to connect the cooling system. When installing the structure, it is necessary to ensure the sealing of the refrigeration lines in order to protect against the ingress of impurities into the interior of the pipeline, as well as to install oil traps that return oil to the compressor crankcase. During installation, the permissible differences in levels and lengths of the installation specified by the manufacturer must be observed.
Test onoverpressure tightness of the refrigeration system must be carried out using technical nitrogen. In the case of air conditioning systems using R410A refrigerant, the condensing pressure can reach approx. 37 bar in heating mode. Therefore, the pressure value at which it is necessary to check the system is 43 bar.
The leak test guarantees the performance of the device, as well as the vacuum test performed by the vacuum pump. These tests are especially important for beginners who do not have enough experience and practice in creating quality connections. During the overpressure test, all leaks will be detected, which will prevent the release of refrigerant into the atmosphere. Tightness in the simplest version is checked with a solution of soap and water, applied to bolted joints.
Filling the system with vacuum
After a successful leak test, you need to create a vacuum in the refrigeration system. For this purpose, a vacuum pump is used, which removes air and reduces the pressure in the refrigeration system. Under reduced pressure, moisture from the air evaporates and the unit dries. During vacuuming, its duration and external temperature are of great importance. The lower the outdoor temperature, the lower the pressure must be reached during installation, and the time is increased. For systems with pipe lengths not exceeding 10 m, a test duration of at least 60 minutes is recommended.
The purpose of using the pumpis not only creating a vacuum, as some users think. There is another equally important obligation - the creation of conditions so that the internal moisture has time to evaporate. Proper implementation of this requirement is essential for the life of the air conditioner. Moisture left in the refrigeration system reacts with the oil to form acids that damage the motor windings in the compressor. It can also freeze and block the extension element.
During the creation of a vacuum, there is time to make electrical connections in the outdoor and indoor units at the same time. It is good if the air conditioner is connected in the switchboard to a separate protection element. During this work, you must read the manufacturer's instructions for assembling the electrical connections of the indoor and outdoor units.
Adding refrigerant and starting up
After a vacuum is created in the device, you can fill the system with refrigerant. In the case of split air conditioners, the outdoor units are filled at the factory with an appropriate amount sufficient for the piping length specified by the manufacturer. If the unit will be installed with more than 10 m, you need to determine the amount of additional refrigerant and add it before opening the valves of the outdoor unit. The volume per extra meter depends on the capacity of the system and the diameter of the pipeline. For 1⁄4 inch pipe, the amount of additional refrigerant is 20g/m.
After filling with freon, the air conditioner is started using the remote control and the cooling mode is set, the readings are monitoredpressure on pressure gauges connected to the service valve of the air conditioner. The pressure measured by the manometer during cooling operation is the suction pressure. For the R410 A coefficient, it should be about 7.5 bar, which corresponds to a refrigerant evaporation temperature of +2 degrees.
Maintenance
A properly installed split system should please the user for many years. It is very important to remember the need for periodic external and internal inspections, preferably before the spring and autumn periods of operation.
The frequency of inspections depends on the location, the degree of environmental pollution and the intensity of use of the equipment. This is necessary to protect the he alth of users, the correct operation of the system and the warranty service of the device.
It is important that the air conditioner is in a convenient location for maintenance. Filters should be periodically cleaned of dust. On the outdoor unit, dust or fallen leaves may obstruct the airflow.
Users should periodically check for liquid leakage and remember to clean the condensate pan. Finally, to get the most out of an air conditioner, the room must remain airtight to prevent hot air from being sucked in. The latter circumstance leads to a decrease in comfort and significantly increases energy consumption.
Most Common Editing Mistakes
Installation is not easy, and evenfull compliance with the installation rules of the air conditioner is not enough for the device to work properly. Errors in the assembly of air conditioners are:
- Poor location of the indoor unit.
- Incorrect connection of the factory section installed in the device with the rest of the system. This violation can lead to leakage and loss of refrigerant.
- Loose fastening of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner.
- Incorrect connection of the unit to the outdoor unit, which may cause leakage and loss of refrigerant.
- Inadvertent pinching of copper piping when bending the unit. It should be remembered that the copper pipe must be correctly bent with a right angle bend. Otherwise, it is flattened, and the refraction of the section leads to the restriction of the refrigerant flow and incorrect operation.
- Incorrect installation length or height, missing bracket for outdoor unit.
- Incorrect routing of the condensate unit.
- Incorrect connection of the drain to the sewer system, such as no siphon, direct connection creates fetid odors coming out of the air conditioner.
- Incorrect choice of device cooling capacity. The norm of 1 kW per 10 m2 - in homes, offices and other institutions, which will significantly increase the cost of installing an air conditioner.
- Installing the condenser without damping washers, resulting in the transmission of vibrations from the unit to the building.
- System pressure failure after refrigerant is released and air conditioner is turned on.
Unprofessional installation carries a high risk. The subsequent trouble-free operation depends on the diligence and accuracy of the assembly performed before installing the air conditioner in the apartment. It is worth remembering that even the most perfect device will not last long if the assembly is done carelessly and in violation of the basic rules.
