A/C Installation: 4 Steps Every Professional Should Take

You have one chance to make sure your new A/C installation is performed by qualified technicians. If not, you’ll be feeling the effects and paying the price as long as the unit is on the job. A study by the Department of Energy (DOE) states that up to half of central air conditioners and furnaces in the U.S. were not installed according to accepted standards like the DOE’s Quality Installation Guidelines. Homeowners who purchased these systems are stuck with high operating costs and poor performance for the entire service life of the unit—an average of 15 years.

Getting A/C installation right means contracting established local HVAC professionals. Here are the four hallmarks of a competent job.

Size It Right

The BTU cooling capacity of your new air conditioner must be an appropriate match for the thermal characteristics of your home. This is also known as its “cooling load.” An accurate cooling load calculation by a qualified professional utilizing industry standard software is a prerequisite to every competent installation.

Test and Seal

Aging, leaky ducts spill large amounts of conditioned air, often negating potential efficiency and cooling gains you expect from your new A/C installation. In many states, local codes now require ductwork to be tested and meet leakage standards before a new air conditioner or furnace is connected. A qualified HVAC contractor will suggest duct sealing options when required.

Balance the System

Balancing means measuring the flow of air into individual rooms and adjusting in-duct dampers to ensure that every room in the house receives the proper volume of cool comfort. Air volume delivered through supply ducts should always equal the amount taken out through return ducts to maintain neutral balance.

Check the Refrigerant

Low refrigerant levels cause disappointing performance and high utility costs, and can even damage expensive A/C components. A professional installer doesn’t take proper refrigerant level for granted. He always measures the refrigerant charge during installation and verifies it again after the unit has been tested.

For professional A/C installation that meets industry standards and your expectations in South Texas, contact CCAC, Inc.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about professional A/C installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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