When you want to add an HVAC system to your home perfectly, you have a few options at your disposal. Most homes have some sort of heater or furnace that has a central blower. If that is what you have in your home, you can add a new AC unit without any problem. If the home does not have central heating and air at all, you will need to have ducts installed around the house. If you choose not to install ducts, you can use a ductless system that will keep the home comfortable. Continue reading to learn how to handle any situation when you are ready to install an HVAC unit in the house.
Check For A Furnace
The first thing you need to do is check for a furnace. As described in Thermo Dynamix LLC, If the house has a furnace, it has central heating and air. This means that you can blow air through the ducts with no trouble. If there is no furnace, you will use a ductless system that will be described later in this article.
Adding A Condenser
If you want to add air conditioning to the house, you will add a condenser outside that produces cold fluid, that uns a large fan, and allows the indoor blower to blow cold air through the house. The condenser must be installed on a flat surface such a concrete slab, and the condenser should be as close to the location of the furnace as possible.
A hose and wire will run from the condenser to the indoor furnace. The hose will take all the cooled refrigerant, and the wire will connect to the furnace’s power. This means that the thermostat will send a signal to the furnace to deliver cold or hot air.
If you must add wiring and hoses to the house, you can drill a small hole in the exterior of the house, feed the hoses and wires through the hole, and lead those wires to the furnace. There is a special connection on the furnace where you will add the condenser, and you can connect the system before turning on the circuit breaker and testing the system.
If the condenser does not have a concrete slab to sit on, you should get poor a flat slab or ask a professional to do the job for you. If the condenser is not on a flat surface, it cannot run efficiently. You must check your local building codes to ensure the condenser is the proper distance from the house. In most cases, this distance is only a few inches, but you must complete the installation properly so that you do not need to do it again.
Add The Cage Or Casing To The Condenser
The condenser and condenser fan sits under a cage or casing. The cage or casing will be bolted to the concrete slab that you have used, and you must ensure that the cage or casing remains in place unless you need to service the unit. You may also remove the casing if you need to clean out the condenser. Leaves and debris might get into the casing, and you want to remove the debris before it causes damage.
Wire The Condenser
You must wire the condenser to ensure that it has power. You can easily wire the condenser while the circuit breaker is turned off, and you can test for power when you turn on the air at the end of the project. Turning on the thermostat should give you a click from the furnace, and that should signal the condenser to start running.
Check The Hoses On The Furnace
You are not qualified to open the furnace. The exterior of the furnace has special fittings that you will use for the hoses and wiring. You should ensure that the installation is done properly, and you must check the front panel of the furnace for any problems. If the furnace’s light is flashing, you have likely installed part of the system improperly. Check the wiring, hoses, and condenser again. Leave the circuit break off while you complete your inspection, and turn it back on to check once again.
Test The System
You need to test the system by turning on the AC on your thermostat. If you get cold air in the vents, you have completed the installation properly. If you do not get cold air, you likely have an issue with the coolant or hoses for the condenser. If you do not get air, you must check the wiring for the blower. If you get nothing, you may not have cleared all the errors in the furnace. If you are convinced that you have done the job properly, you should turn everything off, wait ten seconds, and turn it back on.
What About Ductless Systems?
You can use ductless systems in a home that does not have ductwork. You may not want to spend the extra money on ducts, and you can add ductless units to each room. A modern ductless unit can produce a lot of cold air, and you can use the fireplaces to heat the house. Ductless units can be covered with wallpaper to match the decor of each room, and you will avoid using window units.
This is not a traditional air conditioner, but you can easily set it to run on a timer. You can turn a ductless air conditioning unit off when you leave the house, and you can turn it back on when you get home.
Conclusion
Ensure that you have followed these steps when you want to add an HVAC system to the house. If you do not have ducts, you must hire a professional to install the ducts for you. You may also want a professional to install a gas furnace. An electric furnace and air conditioner can be installed over a weekend, and you will save quite a lot of money. You can service the unit yourself, and you can even attach electric units to your solar panels to conserve energy.
