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5 Things You Should Know When Installing an Air Conditioner
Posted On: June 23, 2022
With the heat of the summer approaching, you may be looking to buy a new Central air conditioner.
Here are some tips to help you get the job done right! Today’s residential air conditioning systems are not as simple to install as they may appear.
Merely connecting all the tubing and wiring is just the beginning.
Beyond that, there are several important steps in the installation that can either make it or break it for you!
Here are 5 very important things that need to be done properly for your new air conditioner to last a long time.
This is how we do it day in and day out.
Number 1 - The installation of the evaporator coil (usually above your furnace) is a crucial part of a good install.
It must be installed in a way that directs all the air flowing out of your furnace, through the new matching evaporator coil.
This ensures that no air is flowing around it.
Also, the air leaks in the sheet metal work should be sealed with tape or sealant made for this purpose.
In the field, we often see an installation where the coil is mounted so that much of the air is flowing around the coil, which was never right to begin with.
We use 26 Gage Galvanized Metal Angle for this purpose because we come prepared to do it right.
Number 2 - The airspeed needs to be set at approximately 350 to 400 CFM per ton for air conditioning to work as it was designed to.
This is a very important step that is needed later when testing the level of “charge in your new system.
" Also, be sure to know the type of restrictor device your system has.
Is it a piston-type or a TXV (THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVE)? It is not unusual, on a service call, to see that an installer has left the furnace fan speed set in the factory position, which is usually too high and a good indication that the charge was never checked when the AC was installed.
There can be a more negative effect on piston-type systems if the airflow is too high or low.
Systems equipped with a TXV also need to have the “bulb” installed in the correct location and orientation.
So many times, when removing someone’s old system we see the bulb still sitting in the shipping location, which means it was never working right from day one.
Number 3 - With today’s systems running on R410a refrigerant, it is more important than ever to have inert gas such as NITROGEN flowing through the copper tubing.
This is used to move the refrigerant from the outside unit (condenser) through the inside unit (evaporator).
The reason for this is that oxides can occur from the brazing process, and they contaminate the new system before it even starts.
This result can result in poor performance and a short life span of your new air conditioner.
Number 4 - It is important to test your new system for leaks before starting it up for the first time.
This is a two-part process that we follow on every installation.
The first step in this process is to pressure test all the welded joints, and since we are using NITROGEN for brazing, we just leave it connected to your new system.
Then, we pressurize the evaporator and new copper line welds up to 200 PSI for a few minutes.
If there is a leak, it will show on the gauge, and you may even be able to hear it if it's big enough.
It's not uncommon to have a small leak at this time because sometimes the position of the joint is difficult to access.
So by using NITROGEN as a first step, the system can be pre-approved as leak-free.
Number 5 - The final step we take, for all new installations or on any repair calls, is to use a Micron gauge to prove that the new system is 100 percent leak-free.
We pull our vacuums down to 250 microns using a properly calibrated digital gauge.
You cannot pull a deep vacuum, such as this, with any kind of small leak or non-condensable in the lines.
Once we establish the deep vacuum, then and only then, do we release the refrigerant from the new AC condenser that comes with a factory charge, which is usually sufficient for installations.
The final part of the start-up process is to measure the charge to ensure it is within the manufacturers' specifications.
We use digital gauges, which measure all the important things needed to be certain the system is right on the money, such as using a superheat calculation for piston-type systems and sub-cooling for systems equipped with a TXV.
We usually end up either having to add a bit of refrigerant to the system or remove a bit of refrigerant depending on the length of the tubing or other variables to dial in the charge just right.
Sometimes it takes an extra bit of time but now you are ready to enjoy many years of trouble-free air conditioning to keep your home comfortable through the hottest days of the season.
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See What Our Customers Are Saying:
Jun 4, 2018
End to end service. From quote, overseeing installation, contacting and making arrangements for energy audit. Warranty program is comprehensive. Cleaned up mess of assistant walking through my place without proper indoor foot covering when I pointed out that I was not happy about footprints on my floors.
Jun 11, 2018
In April we hired Twintech Heating & Cooling to replace our 20 year old water tank & 35 year old air conditioner. We got 5 estimates for the job & decided to go with Twintech for the following reasons.
- The Sales Manager, Dave, was very personable & knowledgeable as all of our questions were answered. (We had a list of questions we asked each of the contractors when we got the estimates)
- We got 5 estimates for the job. All contractors verbally told us they had the required qualifications but Dave was the only one to physically show us their license & insurance documentation.
- Twintech carried the Napoleon air conditioner & we wanted to support Canadian industry as it is assembled in Barrie On.
Safety is important at Twintech as demonstrated when we discussed with Dave, the need to change our install date because of freezing rain. Access was required by navigating a set of outside steps & Dave identified that safety took precedence.
On the installation date, Greg, Peter & Grant showed up on time & methodically accomplished the removal & installation of both units. The guys did a great job cleaning up as well.
When the job was completed we mentioned to Greg that we were pleased with the work they had done & were going to have them come out & do our furnace inspection in Sept. Greg said we can save our money as he had inspected the heat exchanger on the furnace while doing the job & there was no need to have another inspection in Sept. We were very impressed with Gregs initiative. This is top shelf service. Thank you Greg.
As the weather was too cool to complete a functional test of the air conditioner on the installation date, Dave made a follow-up call to us to see how things were going & Greg also came out to check the operation. No problems.
We are very happy we hired professionals like Dave, Greg, Grant & Peter & have no hesitation in recommending Twintech Heating & Cooling. They will now be our "go to" guys.
Nov 18, 2018
These guys are the best. From start to finish they exceeded my expectations and delivered a great product. They accommodated the nuances of my 100 year old home which was really appreciated. The install was easy to schedule and done fantastically. Im so excited to have an efficiently heated and cooled home.
Aug 12, 2018
Twintech were fast and efficient contractors. It only took 48 hours between an initial home visit and complete installation. The workmen were polite and hardworking. The site was left clean with the old furnace etc. removed. They helped arrange an environmental assessment in order that I could receive the maximum rebate. They even called me within a week to determine if I was satisfied with their work and to reassure me that I could call them anytime I experienced heating difficulties or had any questions. I recommend Twintech for your heating problems.
Jul 21, 2018
Courteous and professional service from initial consultation through to the installation. We highly recommend Twintech for outstanding service in the industry. Competitive pricing, professional and accurate advice, attention to detail, respect for their client's home and cleaning up at the completion of installation.
Jul 12, 2018
Last night was the coldest day of the year so far and I woke up to my house being 54 degrees... I called Twintech at 2:45am and Greg was on site by 3:30am. The furnace required a part and he returned to his shop and came back to my home around 4:15am, furnace up and running by 4:30am. THANK YOU TWINTECH! Your service is second to none.
Jun 25, 2018
After much research & getting 4 quotes, we hired Twintech team for our new furnace installation, prices were fair, they carried great product brands & more importantly installation was expertly done by one of the owners (Greg & his assistant Peter) which gave me an added piece of mind. Dave was very organized & answered all my questions in great detail, especially re: the Enbridge & Govt. rebate program.
Jun 10, 2018
My old air conditioner was 20 years old and developed a Freon leak and it was more cost effective to replace rather than repair. There are a large number of heating and air conditioning companies available in my area so I contacted several for quotes. Twintech heating and cooling responded quickly to the inquiry I left on their website and their sales person Dave came by the following day. He was knowledgeable about the field and was able to show copies of the various refrigeration and gas fitting licenses along with workmens compensation, TSSA and other certifications. He also suggested a particular manufacturer and model of AC unit appropriate to my house and gave me a quote. Since the price was reasonable, service had been good and the reviews on the internet were also good, I decided to purchase an AC unit from them. Installation was quickly scheduled. They showed up on time, did a good job installing the new unit including some sheet metal work to get the new heat exchanger to fit in the furnace duct, and cleaned up afterward. In addition, they noticed that my existing AC was installed too close to the furnace exhaust (based on building code) and were able to mount the new AC the appropriate distance from the exhaust. Overall, they did an excellent job and were a pleasure to work with.
Jun 5, 2018
All interactions from sales to installation were Courteous and professional. The installation was seamless and the attention to detail including clean up was outstanding. I highly recommend TwinTech Heating and Cooling.
May 17, 2018
Twintech's Salesman Dave arrived promptly was friendly and courteous, listened and assured us the installation would be completed according to our requests. The crew arrived early morning on May 11th, 2018 and worked through till late afternoon non-stop. They were very friendly, very professional, their expertise was excellent, their workmanship outstanding and the installation was completed in a timely and efficient manner. We were completely satisfied and happy with the quality of the work.
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