Instructions from A to Z for installing an air conditioner in an apartment

In a hot summer, the room where the air conditioning works becomes a blissful oasis that you do not want to leave. Realizing all the advantages of chilled air, while the city is melting from the heat, people start in advance, even in winter, take care of installing this wonderful device in their home. After reading the forums with reviews, choosing and buying the right model, you are faced with the following dilemma associated with the installation: do it yourself and for free, or call a private wizard. If you have chosen the first option, then read the article, where we will show you how to install an air conditioner in an apartment on your own, as well as provide photos and video materials as visual instructions.

There are many types of air conditioners for an apartment, the most famous is called a "split system", the installation of which will be discussed later. It consists of 2 blocks: the internal one is an evaporator, and the external one is a condenser, which are connected thanks to electric cables and 2 copper tubes through which freon flows. A plastic tube is branched from the inside to drain the condensate.

A video tutorial where you will learn about the necessary tools and the most common mistakes made during installation:

Step-by-step instruction

First you need to install an external unit. It’s good if you have an open balcony in your apartment. This will provide unlimited access to the air conditioner. If you decide to install the air conditioner on the balcony, which is glazed, then the condenser is mounted on the outer wall of the house, in which pre-make holes. Anchor bolts and reliable brackets will help fix the external part of the system to the surface. To protect the device from precipitation, build a visor above it.

Before you install an air conditioner in an apartment with your own hands, read the following tips:

the mounting surface must be flat and strong;
living on the first floor, mount the unit at a height of at least two meters so that it does not become a target for thieves;
when choosing brackets, take into account that they must support a weight 2-3 times the weight of the equipment;
living on the upper floors, but without a balcony (loggia), you have to use the services of climbers (pictured below) or a car with a special staircase in order to install air conditioning in the apartment from the facade.

Having installed the outdoor unit, we drill a hole in the wall necessary for connecting the cables and pipes with the refrigerant that connect the disparate parts of the split system. Then a “waterproofing cup” is mounted, where we lay wires and tubes. The next step will be to install the air conditioning indoor unit in the apartment on your own. Before designating with the place where you place it, read the following recommendations:

the footage between the indoor and outdoor units should be no more than seven to thirty meters (the specific figure depends on the model of the system itself);
the housing located in the apartment must be located from other things (with respect to furniture) at a distance of not less than three meters;
in order not to blow and not get sick, refrain from installing the air conditioner over the bed and the place where you work, as well as over batteries, heaters, fireplaces, etc.

Classification of indoor units:

Ceiling
Floor
Wall mounted

When installing wall and ceiling air conditioners, we fix rather strong brackets on which we fix the device. With the floor device, everything is much simpler: it does not need to be fixed at all, but only put in a specially designated place in the apartment.

Important! If the floor unit is not level, then all condensation drops will be on the floor. Place it properly right away, because after installing the air conditioner, you will not be able to carry the case anywhere!

Next is the process of gating special holes for wires and tubes that connect the indoor and outdoor units. In many cases, the walls, the ceiling will be shaded, and occasionally the floor. If this process is complicated for you, then just put the communications in a plastic box that will not disturb the interior of the apartment.

When connecting blocks with wires and tubes, use fittings. It is forbidden to untwist freon tubes at the joints and bend 2, 3 or more times. Be sure to drill your own line for the drainage hose in order to drain the condensate from the indoor unit, for example, to the street. By connecting the system, we carry out the vacuum of communications to eliminate unnecessary moisture and air from them. This process is carried out only with the help of specialized equipment. Next, you yourself need to think about a separate power supply for the air conditioner in the apartment. To do this, you need to conduct covert wiring (in the gates), and in the switchboard you need to install a separate machine. Cables are placed in the gates.

Check if you managed to do the installation of the air conditioner with your own hands at home. To do this, use a specific test program that is activated the first time you turn on the device. A positive result will be when the equipment will function well, without vibrating the case.

Finally, we recommend that you watch the detailed video instructions for installing the air conditioner with your own hands, starting from the indoor unit and ending with the external one:

In this article, we provided step-by-step instructions, as well as videos and photos, which clearly explain how to install an air conditioner in an apartment or office on your own. In general, the installation of such a device is a troublesome and responsible matter. If you miss one of the instructions or make a mistake, you can simply lose your expensive equipment or ruin the repair that has already been done.

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