If you’re considering replacing your home cooling equipment, you may be wondering what’s involved in a typical A/C installation process. When it’s done right by a qualified HVAC contractor, an A/C installation follows certain procedures to bring you the greatest comfort and energy saving benefits:
Correct Equipment Sizing
Accurately sizing your new air conditioner is critically important. If it doesn’t have sufficient capacity, your A/C won’t keep your home cool enough. If it’s too large, it will cycle on and off too quickly to adequately cool and dehumidify your living space. That frequent on-off cycling can also put extra strain on the system and shorten its life span. To size your A/C correctly, your contractor will do a detailed load calculation using Manual J from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).
Inspecting Ductwork
Inspecting your existing ductwork is another essential element of your A/C installation. If they’re in poor condition, uninsulated and leaky, your HVAC ducts can cost you up to one-third of the cooling output of your efficient new cooling equipment. To prevent these costly losses, a knowledgeable HVAC pro will fix any defects, seal the joins and seams with mastic sealant and insulate the ducts with R-6 insulation.
Checking Airflow Rates
Your contractor also performs a vital airflow rate check once your new A/C is in place. He’ll make sure the rate of flow across the cooling coil falls within your manufacturer’s specified range so your A/C operates efficiently at its full cooling capacity. An experienced installer knows that insufficient airflow not only affects your energy costs and comfort, it can also ruin key system components.
Verifying Refrigerant Charge
As one of the final steps, your HVAC contractor charges your new A/C with the amount of refrigerant recommended by the manufacturer. Verifying the correct refrigerant level averts issues such as excessive energy consumption, ineffective cooling and unnecessary wear that causes a premature failure of your costly new equipment.
To learn more about the A/C installation process and how new equipment could improve comfort in your Lorain home, contact the pros at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio 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.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
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Serving the Lorain, OH Area