New cooling equipment is a major investment, and it must be installed correctly to provide optimal comfort and energy efficiency. For a successful A/C installation, make sure your HVAC contractor follows these four best practices.
Sizing Equipment Correctly
Properly sizing a new A/C is critical. Undersized equipment simply won’t keep your home cool enough, while an oversized unit can cost you in terms of cooling capability, humidity control and even equipment longevity. Installing an air conditioner that’s too large leads to short-cycling that doesn’t give the equipment enough time to cool properly or remove moisture effectively. Repeated on-off cycling also puts more wear on cooling system components, resulting in a shorter life span. To correctly size an A/C, your contractor should calculate the required capacity using the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)’s Manual J.
Inspecting Ductwork
It’s vital to have the existing duct system assessed and any deficiencies addressed as part of the installation process. To prevent conditioned air losses of up to 30 percent of new equipment output, your contractor should ensure that any disconnected or damaged areas are fixed, all accessible ducting joints are sealed with mastic or metal-backed tape, and R-6 insulation is installed.
Verifying Correct Airflow Rates
After the new air conditioner is installed, an experienced contractor will verify that the rate of airflow through the system is within the range specified by the equipment manufacturer. If needed adjustments aren’t made and airflow across the evaporator coil isn’t sufficient, it impairs crucial heat transfer. This not only restricts the new equipment’s cooling capabilities, but it can also ruin key system components over time.
Checking Refrigerant Levels
Charging the system with the right amount of refrigerant is another necessary step in a successful A/C installation. If your contractor doesn’t follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and your system has too much or too little refrigerant, it puts extra strain on the cooling system. With improper refrigerant levels, you’ll find it more difficult to stay comfortable and pay unnecessarily high energy bills as well.
Learn more about Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating’s expert A/C installation, or give us a call at 888-414-4655.
