Ensuring a Quality A/C Installation: Your Homeowner's Checklist

So your air conditioner is on its last legs, and you’re shopping for a replacement? You’ll be pleased with the variety of choices you have and the supreme energy efficiency that today’s systems offer. But getting a new air conditioner involves a lot more than choosing the right system. You must make sure that the installation is as good as the unit itself. How do you do that? Follow this checklist before, during and after your A/C installation. Your contractor should adhere to each point.

Before installation

Your contractor should conduct an accurate load calculation, taking into account factors including the size of your home, its orientation, the number of windows in your home and number of family members. This load calculation will yield the proper size for your new system. Your contractor should then tell you the size he recommends and why this is right for your home. Your contractor should also provide Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute certification for the new equipment.

During installation

• Your contractor should inspect your ductwork and recommend any necessary repairs. These may range from simply sealing leaks to rerouting entire sections. Short, straight ducts are ideal. Your contractor should measure for leakage after the repairs.
• Your contractor should measure airflow and refrigerant charge to ensure that they’re both sufficient.
• Your contractor should test the thermostat and make sure all wiring is safe and operational,.

After installation 

You contractor should provide you with your owner’s manual and recommended maintenance for your new system. Ask him if he offers a maintenance package. And, of course, he should come with excellent references.

An air conditioner is a sizable investment. It’s meant to serve you well for many years, and only a quality installation will do. To ensure that your air conditioner performs exactly they way you expect it to, contact CCAC in Corpus Christi. We excel in products, installation and maintenance. Give us a call. We’re happy to help you with any of your home-comfort needs.

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 A/C installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock