Three New Air Conditioner Mistakes To Avoid

If you are having a new air conditioner installed, you trust that it will be working well and efficiently as soon as it is in place. By ensuring that the following mistakes are avoided, you can be sure that your AC will perform as promised.

1. The Unit Is Too Large

An overly large AC unit won't cool your home more efficiently; instead, it will just cost you more money in the long run. A unit must be sized to fit the square footage of the area it is cooling. If the unit is made for a larger space, it will be more prone to freezing up and short cycling —- both issues that can lead to an increase in energy bills. Freezing and short cycling also put more stress on the air conditioner, which increases the chances of breakdown, expensive repairs, and a short service life. Instead, simply make sure that the unit you choose is sized to fit your home appropriately.

2. The Refrigerant Pipe Is Too Long

A common mistake is to simply reuse the old refrigerant line pipe or to use the stock length pipe that comes with the new unit. This pipe connects the exterior unit to the indoor air handler so that the refrigerant can be routed between the two. If the pipe is too long for the new unit, it will impact the cooling cycle. This can lead to short cycling or an inability for the unit to easily cool the home to the desired setting. Verify with your installer that they will be taking the extra steps necessary to size the refrigerant line to your new air conditioning unit.

3. There Isn't Sufficient Clearance

The exterior part of your AC unit needs at least 2 feet of clearance on all sides in order for air to circulate properly. Failure to provide this clearance increases the chances that the unit will overheat and suffer mechanical failure. Part of the problem is that the unit won't be able to release heat well, but another issue is that condensation may build up in the unit and have no way to escape. If the new exterior unit is larger than your old unit, you may need to have the AC pad moved or expanded in order to ensure there is enough clearance. Further, if you have a screen or fence around the unit, this may also need to be moved in order to provide sufficient clearance.

Contact your air conditioning installation service to make sure these issues won't impact your new unit.

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