Mistakes You Can Make When Replacing Your Own Air Conditioner

Do you think you have what it takes to replace your old air conditioner with a new one? You may be surprised to learn that there are a lot of mistakes that can be made when doing this appliance swap. You may want to hire a professional to avoid making these mistakes.

Buying An Air Conditioner That's Too Big Or Too Small

The first thing you'll need to decide on is how big of an air conditioner you need to get for your home. Unfortunately, getting the right sized air conditioner is difficult if you have not done it before. It is not as simple as buying one that is the exact size as your old air conditioner either since factors can change that require different sizing. For example, you may have improved the insulation in your home over the years, had new windows installed, or added an addition to your home.

There are benefits to having your home sized by an HVAC professional to know exactly what kind of air conditioner needs to be installed. They factor in livable square footage that needs to be cooled, your home's energy efficiency, and even the climate that you live in.

If you do install an air conditioner that's too big, you could end up with several problems. The home may reach the proper temperature very quickly, but then fail to maintain that temperature. This results in the unit constantly turning on and off, which is not good for its lifespan. And air conditioner that's too powerful can also cause condensation to accumulate in the ductwork, which causes mold growth.

If the air conditioner is too small, the unit will run much more to get the home to the proper temperatures. This causes unnecessary wear on the appliance and premature failure.

Moving The Air Conditioner To The Wrong Spot

Think you'll take this opportunity to move the air conditioner do a different place? This can cause problems if you don't know all of the guidelines you need to follow. If you are caught by a city building code inspector, you'll need to remove the air conditioner and place it in the correct position.

For example, an air conditioner needs to be a certain distance from windows so that fumes do not leak into the home. It also cannot be placed within a certain distance of the property line so that the sound does not disrupt your neighbor.

For more help, contact an HVAC company with air conditioning services.